Tiger Phenomenon Not Based on Race

Bill Plaschke’s piece on Tiger Woods [May 20] had everything about Woods and society backward. I’m a great fan of Woods, just as I was a great fan of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Race has nothing to do with it; it’s about character. It’s about a human being achieving unparalleled excellence through natural talent, hard work, discipline, intelligence, focus, and a willingness to defer gratification to reach goals.

Plaschke writes, “Society is slowly being changed here.” Tiger Woods’ appeal is not changing society; it is reflecting it. The overwhelmingly white galleries that cheer for Tiger are not former racists who just had a change of heart because, as Plaschke wrote, he can hit a golf ball the length of three football fields. The great majority of Americans are not racists, and Tiger’s popularity demonstrates that. It might shock Plaschke to learn that the small minority in our society who are racists wouldn’t like Tiger any better if he could hit it the length of five football fields. To racists those things don’t matter.

The popularity of Tiger Woods is not changing attitudes; it is reflecting a society that is eager to embrace anyone of any color and any ethnic background who possesses Tiger Woods’ admirable qualities.

PAUL SIMON

Arcadia

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Why couldn’t the second coming have occurred in a sport slightly less bleak than golf? Wake me when we get to heaven.

TONY KURKUSH

Eagle Rock