The Secret Life Of Tiger Woods Analysis

Words: 976
Pages: 4

In the article, “The Secret Life of Tiger Woods,” by Wright Thompson, it shows what sacrifices Woods had to make during his life because he was so dependent on golf. In the article, “Are parents ruining youth sports? Fewer kids play amid pressure,” by Michael S. Rosenwald, it shows studies about how parents are ruining sports for kids. After reading both very informative articles, I believe the quest to become an “elite athlete” is ultimately not worth the sacrifice it requires to become one. Parents are pressuring these children to give up their childhood in order to become an “elite athlete” and sometimes receive a scholarship. In “The Secret Life of Tiger Woods,” his dad, Earl Wood, and his military friends were Woods’s only friends …show more content…
Woods never specifically asked Tiger Woods what he wanted to do with his life. As shown in the article when he declares, “Tiger said he would have been one of them [Navy SEAL] were it not for golf” (Thompson 10-11). Woods was obsessed with the Navy Seals. By the way he used their lingo, one could tell he wanted to be one, but Mr. Woods never gave him the option to choose. However, it is not just famous golfer, Tiger Woods, that was pressured into playing golf, kids all over have parents that are so obsessed with making their child an “elite athlete,” they found to be parents. In the article, “Are parents ruining youth sports? Fewer kids play amid pressure,” it gives facts about the number of children who have quit sports because they are no longer fun. The author proclaims in the article, “‘The system is now designed to meet the needs of the most talented kids,’ said Mark Hyman, a professor of sports management at George Washington University and the author of several books on youth sports. ‘We no longer value participation. We value excellence.’ And those studying the issue say they know whom to blame: parents” (Rosenwald 1). Parents are putting too much pressure on their children to be the best on their team,