Tiger Woods big record

In interesting news, Tiger Woods has done it again. In an example of what education, planning, and the avoidance of drugs can do Tiger has achieved a milestone that no other athlete has ever done. He's earned $1,000,000,000.

Yes, he has reached a mark that was long thought impossible to reach. And he did it without going to jail, shooting anyone, or getting high. He doesn't use steroids, he has a college education, he has a career beyond playing golf (remember that he designs golf courses and has a company for just that), he's married and has kids by the woman he married. The way the major media emphasizes the negatives of athletes (especially those of color) you would thing this combination of things could not exist.

The fact is that real wealth has been attained by Tiger Woods because he is smart. He has avoided the pitfalls that seemingly no professional in the NFL, MLB, or NBA can avoid. He is the best at what he does, and is not out to prove that he is gangsta or ghettofabulous. It's a message that I enjoy speaking about.

But he may not be alone in this landmark achievement for long. Michael Jordan is right on the heels of Woods. Which I also find great.

Jordan stopped playing in the NBA quite some time ago. He too is educated, unwilling to kneel to pressure to live or look ghettofabulous. He is the living image of a successful post-professional sports business success. And in relatively little time he too will be worth $1 billion.

When I think about it, I have to wonder. Why is it that the 2 most successful athletes ever, who happen to also be Black and well educated, are not emulated more? Why are there so few younger players that follow in their footsteps?

Of course there are plenty of kids in all colors that want to have the fame of a Woods or Jordan. There is no end of people that want their money. And there are extremely few who have their abilities to play sports.

But that's not what has made them great. Both men are hard-working, dedicated, intelligent professionals. They study their business moves as much as their sporting competitions. They plan and sow their actions, with purpose. It's something that an uneducated person cannot just stumble upon.

You would think that the media, especially Black media, would focus on that message. That the true key to success lies more in the mind than in the muscles. That this would be the goals we would want of all our children and those that choose to be athletes. Yet it doesn't happen.

I will bet that this is the only post or article that will mention the achievement of Tiger (and soon Jordan as well) in connection to his mind and education - not just his muscle skill and advertising friendly looks. And if I am right, the shame is not on Woods, or Jordan, but the media. Because the real message, the real achievement, the real greatness is the thing they aren't discussing.