|
Post by Admin on Apr 19, 2019 23:48:16 GMT
It was only a matter of time before noted golf obsessive President Donald Trump publicly congratulated Tiger Woods for his comeback Masters win on Sunday. He got around to it on Monday afternoon, but it was a lot more than just a run-of-the-mill “great job, champ!” tweet. Along with his congrats, Trump tweeted that he will be giving Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom for “his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE.” Only three golfers have ever been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Charles Sifford. George W. Bush gave it to Palmer in 2004 and Nicklaus in 2005. Barack Obama gave it to Sifford in 2014. Palmer received his award in his mid 70s, and Nicklaus in his mid 60s; both are widely considered to be two of the greatest golfers of all time. Sifford was the first African American to play on the PGA Tour, and has been called the Jackie Robinson of professional golf. He received his medal the year before he died at age 92.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 20, 2019 21:05:01 GMT
Tiger has marketed his status as a trailblazing black athlete, while also denying that it gave him any obligation to use his platform to say something about race or oppression. He not only wouldn’t be “Gandhi,” as his late father famously predicted when Tiger was barely old enough to drive; he would, in fact, resist any kind of social responsibility. That could still work in 2005. But in 2019, in the “shut up and dribble” era of Donald Trump, it’s a tougher sell. The tweeter in chief has turned every day into a political litmus test, and no arena has been spared, especially not sports. To say you have no opinion in this climate is in effect to have an opinion. Or as Dr. King said, “A time comes when silence is betrayal.” What’s more, Trump and Woods have been friends dating back to when Trump was just a reality-TV host and not whipping up white nationalists to threaten the life of a sitting member of Congress. When asked about their relationship, Tiger said, “Well, I’ve known Donald for a number of years. We’ve played golf together. We’ve had dinner together. I’ve known him pre-presidency and obviously during his presidency. He’s the president of the United States. You have to respect the office. No matter who is in the office, you may like, dislike personality or the politics, but we all must respect the office.” When asked to comment further after an Augusta tournament, he said, “No. I just finished 72 holes and am really .” Trump, unable to resist crudely placing himself in the middle of this feel-good Masters moment, tweeted that he would be honoring Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 18:00:37 GMT
US President Donald Trump has awarded golfer Tiger Woods the country's highest civilian honour, describing the 43-year-old as a "true legend" who transformed golf and then fought through years of injury to return to the sport's summit. Woods was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House on Monday, as he became the fourth and youngest golfer to receive the prestigious award. Trump announced last month that he would honour the star golfer with the medal, a day after Woods won a fifth Masters title, ending an 11-year major title drought having overcome personal and professional setbacks, including a highly-public divorce and multiple surgeries. An emotional Woods thanked those in attendance at the Rose Garden ceremony for their support through the years when he was not winning. "You've seen the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, and I would not be in this position without all of your help," he said after Trump placed the medal around his neck. "The amazing Masters experience I just had a few weeks ago certainly is part of the highlight of what I've accomplished in my life on the golf course."
|
|