Do we really want lovable Rory McIlroy to turn into Mr. Grumpy Pants like Tiger Woods?
If I read another column, blog, Facebook post or Twitter dispatch about how Rory McIlroy has a chance to become the next Tiger Woods, I’m going to pull an Ohio State and trade my laptop for a nice tattoo.
It’s been more than a week since McIlroy destroyed the field in the U.S. Open and all I keep hearing is whether the refreshing young Irishman will transform himself into the cranky old Tiger we used to know and thought we loved.
The fact is, we never loved Tiger. We just loved his dominance.
In hindsight, Tiger was not an embraceable or endearing champion. He was a uncaring, robotic automaton to his enormous galleries, never gave anything of himself to the doting media and hardly ever signed autographs for his devoted fans.
Seriously, why would we want another Tiger Woods?
It’s like Orlando Sentinel golf writer Jeff Shain told me earlier this week when comparing Tiger to his contemporary Phil Mickelson. Shain said — and I’m paraphrasing — fans loved Tiger because of his golf game, but they loved Phil for being Phil. Another comparison might be Dwight Howard and LeBron James. Magic fans love Dwight because he’s a great player — and a great personality. Heat fans love LeBron because he’s a great player — period.
Rory McIlroy as the next Tiger Woods?
No thanks.
Here’s hoping McIlroy someday plays golf like Tiger, but keeps that same smiling, pleasant, polite personality that makes fans adore him like Phil.
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