Pastor of First Church of Tiger Woods Steps Down

John Ziegler — an LA talk-show commentator — has been running the First Church of Tiger Woods since 1996 (and the website since 2000) — he was a huge fan of the golfer. But after learning about Woods’ recent shenanigans, he feels he cannot keep the site going any longer:

As I have documented in my columns below, Tiger is clearly no longer deserving of being seen as a role model or a hero and he has needlessly squandered his unique potential to be a positive force in our country and the world. While I am relatively sure that Tiger will make a comeback from this sad episode and that there will be great moments for him in the future, I personally am done with Tiger Woods and I doubt that I will even care very much about whatever else he might achieve on the golf course (for someone who once vowed to make sure he lived until he saw Tiger get to 19 major championships, I have a hard time believing I can write those words with such ease).

AFP does mention one problem with the disassociation:

… Ziegler’s reaction appears to fly in the face of the 10th of the “Tiger commandments” — “Thou shall pay no attention to Tiger’s apparent flaws.”

It may not be a religion story, but no doubt a lot of people treated Woods as a deity.

(Thanks to Lagunatic for the link!)

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Jennifurret

I’m surprised my mom doesn’t know about this church… She pretty much worships Tiger anyway. I really wish I was joking, she only watches tournaments he’s in, and those she watches religiously, and she has been totally freaking out about this stupid car accident affair dealie like it’s her own child. Oi. Golfers.
martin

I don’t know. Considering his connection to Nike and their motto “Just do it” I think he pretty much did what he always advertised 😀
SeanG

I guess Ziegler now has a “Tiger shaped hole” in his heart. I can’t tell if I’m more angry at the public who create a cult of personality around anyone rich and famous or at the people who are shocked that Tiger is, in fact, human like the rest of us and did something really stupid.
Noadi

That’s an awful lot of angst over a golfer cheating on his wife. He’s a human male, get over it. I can’t remember the exact statistic but we aren’t a particularly faithful species. That doesn’t absolve Tiger of his choices and hurting his wife emotionally but that’s between them and no one else.
jtradke

Has anything even been confirmed? I haven’t been following this, but all I can find is a bunch of “reportedly” and “sources say” without any confirmation.
bigjohn756

I have not paid much attention to this, but, from the bits I hear it sounds to me like Tiger has been convicted and sentenced with no evidence but hearsay. Also, his choice of women seems to leave much to be desired. Sounds like they are in the business of seducing men for money. It probably wouldn’t matter if it were Tiger or some other rich guy as long as the guy was stupid enough to fall for the deal.
Brian E

Ah, this is about the point that I START worshipping Tiger; great golf game, and nailing multiple hot chicks!

All praise Tiger!
littlejohn

What, a successful male athlete cheated on his wife?! I’ve never heard of such a thing. Tiger must not be a Republican. He cheated with the opposite sex.
kb

typical of any church, to shun leaders who sin, or make mistakes. ah well what can you really expect these days.
Jetson

Oh, poor, poor Ziegler 🙁 Wah, wah, wha…

Tiger let him down. Get a life Ziegler…Jesus.
Claire

Cripes, can’t anyone just leave him alone?!
Moose

I think Tiger should have used a ploy that would have worked for Bill Clinton-just seven words:

“Yeah, I nailed her, what of it?”

Whole thing would have blown over in a day or two. The “denial, coverup, hush money, admission of guilt” thing just prolongs it.

Besides-worshiping a GOLFER? That’s just wrong on soooo many levels.
Staceyjw

If he had got caught with a male prostitute in an airport bathroom, he could have gone right back to preaching after “praising jeebus for his love and forgiveness”. Tiger just doesn’t know that you can claim jeebus and act like alls forgiven.

Must be a slow news week.
AxeGrrl

this ridiculously spiralling hubbub is all about a golfer, people……a golfer.

slow news week indeed.
amk

By coincidence, I’m reading a lengthy 2005 profile of Ziegler by David Foster Wallace. It’s alternately maddening (because of all the footnotes) and insightful.
aspentroll.myid.net

Well. that’s the Christian way, take him out to city gate and have him stoned. I mean in the biblical way.