This article first appeared on BASN on Feb. 10, 2010. But due to the recent sex scandal involving New York Congressman Anthony Weiner and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, we felt it was worth republishing.
"I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable." -- Tiger Woods.
By Eric D.Graham
NORTH CAROLINA (BASN) -- As Tiger Woods tries to deal with his promiscuity and possible divorce with his wife Elin, he is probably seeking advice from his agents, PR people, marriage counselors, and old golfing buddies. But I honestly believe he should just sit down and read the Book of Proverbs in order to gain a "little wisdom" about his current situation. The Book of Proverbs is one of the books of "wisdom" of the Old Testament that contains instructions for us to live by in our daily lives.
The instructions are practical and not complicated and easy to follow. For this reason, I recommend that the Book of Proverbs be required reading for every professional athlete, school teacher, movie star, business man, politician and student.
For instance, Chapter 10 verse 1 simply states: "A wise son makes a glad father but a foolish son is the grief of his mother."
This is quite simple, but so true.
This is quite simple, but so true.
Because one of the greatest sights in sports history was when Tiger was captured by the cameras hugging his father, Earl in a warm embrace with tears running down his face as he won his first Masters at 21 years old at Augusta.
Now, that was truly a picture of a proud father. But that memorable moment of sports history has been replaced with the painful expression on the face of Tiger's mother Kultida Woods as she leaves the airport while being harassed by paparazzi after her son's sexual affairs were leaked to the press.
Let's remember, there is nothing new under the sun.
So even though, we are discussing Tiger Woods scandalous affairs, the wisdom in the Book of Proverbs applies to you and I as well.
Let's continue.
Proverbs Chapter 5: verses (1-5) states: My son pay attention to my wisdom. Listen to my words of understanding. Be careful to use good sense and watch what you say. The words of another man's wife may seem sweet as honey. They maybe as smooth as olive oil. But in the end, she will bring you sorrow.
Now, former mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick should have paid attention to these words before he lied under oath about those steamy text messages to his chief of staff Christine Beatty.
Kwame' Kilpatrick however is not by himself because former Tennessee Titans All-Pro (QB) Steve McNair, who was killed in a bloody murder suicide at the hands of his mistress Sahel Kazemi, also failed to listen to the wisdom in the Book of Proverbs.
For instance, Proverbs 5 (5-8) states: "She is on the way to death, her steps headed straight to the grave. She gives little thought to life. She doesn't even know that her ways are wrong. Stay away from such a woman."
Isn't it amazing how accurate these scriptures are?
Even in 2010, these scriptures paint a perfect picture, especially in the case of Tiger Woods.
Let's see what Proverbs says about Tiger Woods, who allegedly had unprotected sex with hardcore porn-star Joslyn James.
"Stay away from such a woman. Don't even go near the door of her house. Or you will give riches to others. And the best years of your life will be given to someone cruel.
Let's examine the word cruel.
Another word for cruel is merciless, cold-blooded, heartless, meanness, sadism, or savagery. Do you remember 1988 when, then, R&B Bad Boy Bobby Brown had a hit song entitled "Don't Be Cruel" with lyrics that sounded something like this:
"We used to hang out tough. Just kickin' around. We discovered a love that had never been found. You gave me your heart, I gave you my mind. But a true love affair we could never find. Although I want you bad, I can let you go. Cuz' there's a lot of girls out there that won't say no. Roll to the fact that I want you Jackie. I want you more than human eyes can see. But you had to start illin', tryin' to make a killin'.Thought about the dollars I make, And you were willin'."
Damn, that's prophetic.
Because Miss.Joslyn James had her own press conference with her attorney Gloria Allred demanding that Tiger Woods apologize to her face-to-face.
Recently, Ms. James also appeared on Inside Edition reading all her private text messages that allegedly Tiger sent to her. She also made a shocking claim that she was pregnant with Woods' babies.
The first pregnancy, she claimed to have had a miscarriage. The second pregnancy, she claimed to have had an abortion.
Now, that's cruel.
Unfortunately, everybody, who's connected with Pro-golfer Tiger Woods, is trying to cash-in on his adulterous affair, lawyers, magazines, news programs, talk-show hosts, psychologists, photographers, sports writers and even rappers.
Yeah, rappers.
Recently, on FUSE TV's Hip-Hop Shop hosted by music journalist Toure', New York rapper Maino revealed that he has a new song entitled "Get 'Em Tiger" which he hopes to get one of Tiger's mistresses to appear in his videos.
Now, that's a low, down, dirty shame. But don't be surprised, however because that's exactly what the Book of Proverbs said that people would do. "Strangers will enjoy your wealth and what you worked so hard for will go to someone else."
Reportedly, if Woods' wife Elin Nordegren divorces him she could receive more than half a billion dollars.
Wow!!
Now that's some serious cash. Woods, who reportedly is "close friends" with NBA legend Michael Jordan, should have learned from his double-dealings which cost him around $168 million when his wife of 17 years Juanita Vanocy divorced him.
Woods, however is no different from any other man, who has cheated on his wife and felt that they would never get caught with his hand in the "cookie jar"
Whether it's Presidents John F.Kennedy or Bill Clinton, Reverend Jesse Jackson, ex-presidential candidate Gary Hart, former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, or South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.
Because what is done in the dark, will come to the light.
The Book of Proverbs, however cleverly states it this way. "The Lord sees everything you do and he watches where you go. And an evil man will be caught in his wicked ways; the ropes of his sins will tie him up. He will die because he does not control himself and he will be held captive by his foolishness.
Tiger definitely was a fool. But regardless of whether, it was Tiger Woods, Charles Barkley, Pastor Jim Swaggart, or former NY Governor Elliott Spizer, all of them fell victim to beautiful women.
Their lascivious appetite for sex, however led all of them to pay for prostitutes in order to receive sexual pleasure.
In chapter 6 :( 25-26) the Book of Proverbs warned us about dealing with these seductive street walkers. "Don't desire her because she is beautiful. Don't let her capture you by the way she looks at you. A prostitute will treat you like a loaf of bread. And a woman who takes part in adultery may cost, you your life."
The last verse is a powerful one "A woman who takes part in adultery may cost you your life."
Ask NBA Hall of Famer, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, whether this verse is true?
Because on November 7, 1991, like Tiger Woods, he also held a press conference to announce that he was HIV-positive.
But despite Tiger Woods' shortcomings and infidelities, the world shouldn't hate him. Neither should they hate Senator John Edwards. Or Talk-show host David Letterman.
Or Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant, who also like Tiger held a press conference admitting his adultery.
For Proverbs states in Chapter 6 (30-35): "People don't HATE a thief when he steals because he is hungry. But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole and it may cost him everything he owns. A man who takes part in adultery has no sense, he will destroy himself. He will be eaten up and disgraced and his shame will never go away."
This is so true.
The shame and disgrace may never go away from Senator John Edwards or Tiger Woods.
Their images maybe tarnished in our eyes forever.
So, for the next politicians, business executives, CEOs, educators, athletes, religious leaders and all men in general (myself included), take heed to the wisdom given by the Book of Proverbs.
"Be faithful to your own wife......"
So simple, yet so true.
NOTE: It seems as if most of the men mentioned in this article have bounced back from their affairs. This includes Michael Jordan, who recently got re-married, Tiger Woods, who got his swing back plus a new girlfriend U.S. Skier Lindsey Vonn, and former South Carolina governor Mark Stanford beat out Elizabeth Colbert, Stephen Colbert's Sister, for Congress in South Carolina.
Eric D.Graham, a graduate of Winston-Salem State University, where he received a B.A. in Mass Communication with a concentration in Radio and Television, with a minor in History, with an emphasis in African-American Studies, is currently the Managing Editor of Black Athlete Sports Network, where his articles appear daily along with his controversial cartoon character Bobbee Bee “The Hater.” Graham can be reached at lbiass34@yahoo.com or go to www.bobbeethehater.blogspot.com
