While at the gym this last week I had the opportunity to meet Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Both are in town for the U.S. Open. The gym that I go to is about three miles from Oakmont PA where the Open is being held. Now I'm not a sports guy in any way and to be honest I feel that they are overpaid jocks. But it's interesting to meet such famous people. After meeting Tiger I wished him luck at the Open. His response was "Thank you Sir, I really appreciate it". After his workout anybody that wanted an autograph or picture was free to ask especially kids. He would stop by the nursery and want to meet the kids. I was really impressed. Phil Mickelson on the other hand was the snobish kind of guy I expected. No autographs or pictures. Came in worked out and left, that was it. The rule at the club was don't bother Tiger or Phil while they worked out and they would stick around afterwards. This went on for three days - Monday thru Wednesday. No workout on the days of the Open.
What's your experience? How do you feel about these American Hereos? BTW I still feel that a guy that makes 110 million a year playing sports is still an overpaid jock - just well paid!

 

And yet, you just wrote approximately 200 words about meeting a couple of them....

 

Personally, I don't idolize them in any special way. If I saw/met one that I actually knew (I'm not into pro sports much), I don't think it would be a big deal. An actor that I really like maybe a different story.

2 things:

1) I feel these folks should be allowed to live normal lives as much as they choose to - don't bother them if they're just out for dinner (or a workout). Maybe Phil Mickelson just wanted to work out & be anonymous for a while. I can't blame him for that. For myself, I doubt I would ever walk up to anyone unless it was an event for that purpose, but I might give them a smile & thumbs up if they've entertained my in the past.

2) I don't begrudge any of them their millions. They are playing to a worldwide audience, and the size of the market determines the revenue. Pro sports is big business - shouldn't the source of all the hype get a good cut? Plus, because of them, thousands of people have jobs - cameramen, concession stand folks, construction workers for the stadiums, restaurant owners, etc without end. Like the CEO of a successful business, don't they dseserve something as the source of all this other revenue?

That said, kudos to Tiger Woods. If he can live up to the hero worship, so much the better. But I don't consider it an absolute requirement of the position.

JonasM

 

There is no doubt these folks are overpaid. Some of them realize that and make contributions to society with money and their time. Others are greedy jerks and don't care about anyone but themselves.

I believe what goes around, comes around for these people. It is certainly a factor when they look in mirror, whether they admit it or not.

 

Maury, I'm glad to know that Tiger was respectable. I like him. I don't know who the other guy is.

 

I ignore them, and they ignore me.

One the occasions that I've crossed paths with celebrities they've all been nice to all of the gawkers that gathered around them. But it's annoying when your waiter, flight attendant or date forget you exist for an hour while they bask in the glow of someone famous.

 

Well put

 

Levi, are you up for work??

 

Do they have a couch at the gym?

I have never been on a golf course in my life but I would consider it an honor to meet someone who is a living legend like Tiger Woods. For the most part I feel a lot of athletes, way too many, are overpaid when it comes to sports - especially team sports where they more often than not do not live up to expectations.

 

This is focused on athletes, probably because it started at a gym, but it's really about celebrities. And meeting a celebrity in out-of-context circumstances (like this encounter with Tiger) is generally a little intimidating, to me at least, for some odd reason.

But they're just people. Tiger gets kudos for his graceful handling of a situation such as this; on the other hand, I don't think it's fair to Phil Mickelson to judge him because he didn't. As has been said, maybe all he wanted was to work out in peace and quiet as anonymously as possible.

And, for me, the question of compensation is mixed up with this issue of privacy -- they get well compensated, sure; but they pay for it with their celebrity. Not everyone likes being in the spotlight all the time. HPH