Who knew?

It’s been a tough week for Tiger Woods.

But it’s only going to get tougher for the man many thought would surpass Jack Nicklaus as golf’s all-time major winner.

He may still do it, but like so many other athletes before him, he will do so with some baggage.

Woods made mistakes, we all do. Even if you didn’t believe it before, you most certainly can now. He’s human.

Still, Tiger made the same mistake athletes and celebrities have been making for years – they lied to the public.

I believe, as I always have, that the human race is a forgiving one.

If someone steps up and admits that they did something wrong and is sincere about their apology, we will forgive them with time.

Of course we will have to make all the snide little comments and the jokes at their expense.

There will have to be cartoons drawn and comedians will fill their act at their expense, but we will forgive them.

What we will not forgive is a liar.

There are times when it may be right to fudge the truth to protect someone, but it is not OK when all you are trying to protect is your self-image.

Tiger tried to do that earlier this week and when the truth started to leak out, it made him look even worse.

Who knew Charles Barkley was right?

He said while he was still a player in the National Basketball Association that people should not make role models out of professional athletes.

It’s so true.

I have always believed that role models should be someone you have a personal experience with.

It should be your parents, your brothers, someone in your community that has accomplished great things.

Those great things don’t include throwing a football 65 yards, hitting a baseball 450-feet or dunking a basketball.

Role models are those who help others in need without gaining anything from it.
Role models are someone who gives his life to save others.

Role models are those who step up even in the worst of times to do something positive.
It’s easy to be a leader when things are going great.

Real role models are those who can step up when the chips are down and deliver.
Athletes are here to entertain us. They are not here to show us how to live our lives.
You want to find a role model, take a look at a single parent, who works all day or night and still finds time to raise a family and provide the best life that he or she can.
Now that is a role model.

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com