Just do it!

Nike needs to grow a spine and take the appropriate action in response to Tiger Woods decision to opt out of playing golf for an indefinite period of time in order to deal with his self-indulgent, inappropriate discretions. They need to immediately suspend his endorsement deal and terminate any further financial payouts to him until the issue is effectively resolved.

Ironically, I read Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson’s rant citing “the most interesting aspect” of Woods’s humiliating fall is “the whole Barbie thing.” Robinson, in his characteristic mindset, dispels any intent “to pronounce judgment on Woods’s moral fiber.” Instead, he focused on “how much the women who’ve been linked to Wood resemble one another” and points out the obvious visual aspect that none of them have “yellow or brown skin.” Yeah, so what?

Robinson effectively flushed any remaining shred of his credibility as a mainstream journalist by focusing on the lack of racial diversity of the women Woods has allegedly slept with. By his murky focus on everything being an issue of race he seems to have painted himself as a staunch racist. Being a black man and playing the race card when he has nothing else factual to fall back on is just lame and unprofessional.

He’s another clear example of how easy it’s become to play the race card when a politician doesn’t get his or her way on a vote. US Representative Artur Davis, an Alabama Democrat, voted against a recent House health care bill and was immediately attacked and tagged by members of his party. Jesse Jackson even saw this as an easy target of opportunity and said, “You can’t vote against health care and call yourself a black man.” What?!

Making everything into a racial matter is the easiest way to deflect criticism and infer a sincere concern for those of color. Regardless of which side of the political aisle originates and presents it, the race card devalues the issue at hand and causes a division. The only good news is that a growing number of people are seeing through this facade.

Tiger Woods chose to pursue his indiscretions and has to face the consequences of them in the same manner as any other man regardless of racial makeup. The world, literally, viewed him as a straight shooting, what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of guy, and he proved us wrong. I liked him and I’m not even a golfer; he just seemed to be someone who’d make a decent neighbor and emulative role model. As it’s turning out, he’s just another talented athlete who let his ego run amuck with the assumption that he’d never get caught, but if he did his celebrity status would get him a free pass. Newsflash Tiger: This pass may be the highest price ever paid for a “ride.”

Come on Nike, just do it!