Tiger Woods & Alpha Males

[August1991]

It seems weird for a nobody like me to express sympathy for an alpha-male billionaire like Tiger. But assuming this story unfolds in the way I suspect, I will.

All told, the most fulfilling life for any male -- no matter what his rank in the Greek alphabetic spectrum -- is the bourgeois one that we betas have thrust upon us by staid anonymity. Wringing out your socks doesn't seem like much fun. But the older you get, the more it grows on you.

Jonathan Kay

In an otherwise interesting column, I think that Kay could go further than he does in his final paragraph.

The idea of social Darwinism deserves circumspection but we now live in a world where we pass on not only our genes but also a host of other pieces of information and various chunks of knowledge and habits. The success of our children depends as much on the genes that they inherit as the education that they receive.

The male strategy of impregnating as many females as possible may work for fruitflies but it's questionable for humans. Dunno.

Edited December 17, 2009 by August1991

[M.Dancer]

It could qualify for Greel tragedy status....it has the components...a tragic character flaw, hubris, the Furys, the ineffeable hand of fate...

While someone like me could possible have an affair and not get caught simply because;

1) I don't have paparazzi interested in my photo

2) No one will ever be on Larry King or get a book deal simply because they have had sex with me

[Oleg Bach]

Correction - any male who allows himself to be manipultaed by coctail waitresses, sex workers or bleached out bimbo cut throat careerist gold diggers is not an alpha male. Any person who gets slapped in the mouth while you are out of it on pain killers..buy his alledgedly very pertrubed and assualtive wife is not an alpha male..nor is a quy who is holding the gas peddle to the floor while his wife is chasing him down the driveway swinging a golf club in a blind rage...and to end it- Tiger might have great hand eye cordination but that's about it for this billionare pin head who lets the little head in his pants rule him totally.

[Guest American Woman]

In an otherwise interesting column, I think that Kay could go further than he does in his final paragraph.

I agree. Totally.

Seems as if Tiger is now filled with remorse:

"I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves," Woods said on his Web site. "I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone."

"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart," he said.

"I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves," Woods said. "For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology." link

[Black Dog]

For me, this raises the eternal question of why proathletes/rockstars/movie stars etc bother getting married. The whole point of getting rich and famous is the ability to have vast quantities of sexual congress with endless numbers of the most attractive and game partners. It's folly to pretend otherwise.

[Oleg Bach]

Frankly the press release was drafted by a group of lawyers and a PR man - Tiger is not that smart as we now see - Money does not make for an Alpha male - It might just make for an Omega male - Look at Bill Gates - there is nothing special about him - why he's so dumb he can't even define what a good hair cut is.

[Oleg Bach]

For me, this raises the eternal question of why proathletes/rockstars/movie stars etc bother getting married. The whole point of getting rich and famous is the ability to have vast quantities of sexual congress with endless numbers of the most attractive and game partners. It's folly to pretend otherwise.

People with money and class marry well if they are wise - maybe it was Tiger who has no class...maybe his wife expected him not to behave like a dumb animal - I could see it if you were poor and married a dummie..I could see you wandering off to attempt to fix the mistake - but if you are intelligent - You marry - up - not down - Perhaps Tigers wife actually married down.

[Michael Hardner]

The Wiki page for world's largest divorce settlement will soon need to be updated.

[Oleg Bach]

The Wiki page for world's largest divorce settlement will soon need to be updated.

That's a hefty bill for a live in escort..at least she dropped a couple of kids - for that she will have to pay - getting back to the alpha male thing - when a corporation exaults a person who has certain animal skills - it is not the person that is the alpha male - It is the corporation that is the alpha male..Tiger is about as alpha as Mick Jagger or Paul McCartney who got robbed by a one legged high end prostitute - we will be talking about Apha FEMALES once the settlement comes through - Now that is an Alpha - a female that can rob a huge corporation of a billion bucks - and all done with female weaoponry - yep - now that's a woman! Sure would like me one of those Amazons - but you have to be true or you are in trouble...Tiger underestimates the power of real womanhood.

[Shwa]

The Wiki page for world's largest divorce settlement will soon need to be updated.

Unless Tiger appears on Oprah. I heard a news report yesterday on 680 that someone recommended that Tiger appear on Oprah and appear contrite. Can't wait. Maybe he'll get religion on TV. That would be cool.

[Argus]

I'm sorry. Alpha male? Is Tiger Woods known for conquering countries, beating up opponents, forcing competitors into bankruptcy so he can strip their assets? The guy is a golfer. He walks around on a manicured lawn and hits a litte ball into a little hole. Where does this "alpha male" status come from?

[M.Dancer]

Where does this "alpha male" status come from?

By being so focused and determined to hit a little ball into a hole better than anyone else.

[Oleg Bach]

Hitting a little ball with a stick does not a King Male or alpha male make...we are such jerks - we figure if a person has gathered up the most money then some how they are the most masculine and most powerful and the most fit to breed? That's a joke - there are tons of little weasils with billions who need a pill to gain an errection - at least Tiger seems to be assistance free - good for him...but - He really does not know how to control woman ...a true alph gains their loyality though love - not dick.

[Oleg Bach]

Tiger has perfect hand eye and reflex and body power - but his brain is small - and his you know what is big - look at his eyes - anyone see a super intellect in there? Alphas do not get into this kind of fix.

[Melanie_]

Headline in the Winnipeg Sun:

Tiger is a Cheetah!

[RB]

According to Peggy Vaughan 60 percent of men will cheat (from 1989 studies). 20 years later to present day 2009 I am surprise if this number did not increase, c'mon with the technology age, men access to women is simply accessing phone, text messaging, instant messaging, email, websites

Nothing new about men and their cheating ways - technology will be their downfall - keep those blackberry safe folks if you are cheating...and funnily you are not a cheater until you get caught

But, there is something about being an honest person. You wish to play the field stay single, no one gets hurt and everyone know the rules.

Cheats deserve no respect.

Edited December 5, 2009 by RB

[August1991]

I'm sorry. Alpha male? Is Tiger Woods known for conquering countries, beating up opponents, forcing competitors into bankruptcy so he can strip their assets? The guy is a golfer. He walks around on a manicured lawn and hits a litte ball into a little hole. Where does this "alpha male" status come from?

Uh, look above at Black Dog's post. Tiger Woods combines two attractive features for any discerning woman desiring successful children. He is physically able, which is the ancient identifier of a good mate. And he's rich, which is the modern identifier for being an alpha male.

----

Since you have drawn me to this thread Argus, I read through the comments. I'll be my pompous self (who? me?) and note that nobody seems to have gotten Jonathan Kay's point (or mine).

We now live in a world where money identifies alpha males. IOW, we live in a world where the success of our children depends not only on the genes they inherit. Their success depends on the money the children may inherit. Or more broadly and accurately, we live in a world where our children's success depends on the education they receive.

In such a world, the male strategy to impregnate as many females as possible is not a winning strategy since it doesn't lead to successful offspring. In the world of elephant seals, such a male strategy may be successful. But we humans do not live now in such a world.

IOW, we have shifted to a world where males must discern and choose females. I don't think males are good at doing that. I refer to this as the feminization of society. (Hey! I'm pompous! I'm allowed to... )

[BubberMiley]

According to Peggy Vaughan 60 percent of men will cheat (from 1989 studies).

And the other 40 percent would if they got the chance with someone attractive enough. They just don't admit it to themselves because they don't think the opportunity will arise anyway.

[Guest American Woman]

We now live in a world where money identifies alpha males. IOW, we live in a world where the success of our children depends not only on the genes they inherit. Their success depends on the money the children may inherit. Or more broadly and accurately, we live in a world where our children's success depends on the education they receive.

It also depends on the parenting they receive, and in this day and age, with so many single mothers raising children as well as so many step-parents, the original genetic make-up carries less weight than it used to.

In other words, two children may have the same genetic make-up from the same father, but if they are raised entirely different, that will be the deciding factor in most instances.

[RB]

And the other 40 percent would if they got the chance with someone attractive enough. They just don't admit it to themselves because they don't think the opportunity will arise anyway.

That's it, that's it.

I declare men are hopelessly shameless. They up to no good.

I wonder who and where are the good men?

[PocketRocket]

That's it, that's it.

I declare men are hopelessly shameless. They up to no good.

I wonder who and where are the good men?

For years I've said (in a tongue-in-cheek way) that there are two kinds of men in the world; those who admit to being pigs, and those who are liars.

I've always qualified myself as an honest pig.

[kimmy]

I agree with Oleg (and I feel very strange saying that.) One can't identify an "alpha male" by looking at cars in the parking lot or bank statements. One can identify an alpha male by watching a group of men in a social setting. (yes, I once again offer an opinion based on observations from my years of waitressing.) In any group of men larger than about 2 or 3, you can observe an "alpha male" dynamic. You can start guessing just from where the men locate themselves: one will position himself in an accessible and relaxed location, and the others will locate themselves in relation to him. He is not necessarily the most successful man in the group, nor is he necessarily the biggest or fittest or oldest or most talkative... there's not necessarily any quantifyable factor that distinguishes this man from the others, except perhaps for his confidence. The other men in the group instinctively seek this man's approval... not necessarily in an obvious and obsequious way, but if they have a good story to tell or some hilarious zingers to dish out, they make sure he's hearing it.

I think this is the sort of Wild Kingdom definition that people usually associate with the phrase Alpha Male. It's not about money, it's largely a function of confidence and personal magnetism. Other men instinctively sense that this man is the leader of the pack. Women sense it too.

Is Tiger Woods that guy? From what I've seen of him during interviews, I wouldn't bet on it. He just doesn't come across as a guy who has the sort of innate social confidence that to me makes an "alpha male".

Guys with "alpha male" confidence tend to be successful in life. It serves people well in almost any field of endeavor. Almost everything human beings do benefits from that social power. But purely intellectual and purely athletic activities are exceptions. People who are the center of their social circles tend not to like putting in many hours of study or spending 10 hours a day practicing their golf stroke.

Leaving aside the question of what an "alpha male" really is...

I recall hearing (in a movie? tv show? book? editorial? I don't recall) someone say that the real test of someone's character is to give them the power to do anything they want, then see what they do with it (there's probably a famous quote on the subject, and I'm just too full of cough-syrup to remember.) And a lot of professional athletes are in this realm: they have fame and financial resources to get anything they want to have, do anything they want to do.

Some handle it well. Some of them make terribly poor choices. Some have even walked away from everything to join the army or sail around the world.

But given the world offered them on a platter, I think that most people would indulge. Most people aren't that good at resisting temptation. Pro athletes have a lot more temptation to deal with than most people. Women, drugs, and any kind of excess money can buy. Pro athletes have the same opportunity to screw up their lives as rock stars and movie stars, the only difference is that pro athletes are expected to maintain an appearance of propriety. As Kay's article mentions, adultery among men who have access to anything they want is hardly a secret or a mystery. If Tiger Woods has only had 1 mistress, he has conducted himself better than most.

-k

[Pliny]

Just to lighten up the situation I hear Tiger is going to be spelling his name with two 'g's.

[bush_cheney2004]

Just to lighten up the situation I hear Tiger is going to be spelling his name with two 'g's.

Yea, look at the bright side....Tiger won't be impeached by the US Congress.

[Pliny]

I wonder who and where are the good men?

Good for what?

Latest, I heard on Tigger is that he was on the night in question out on the town with his caddy and his wife was out clubbing.