First … let me say this:
Cheating is wrong.
Period.
(Conspicuous throat clearing.)
Buuuut …
If you’re the most famous athlete on the planet, and a
billionaire, and you’re on the road and your eye starts wandering — wouldn’t it
at least be understandable if you jeopardized your money, marriage and
reputation for an A-list Hollywood starlet, beauty
queen, or bootylicious pop star?
Again, I’m not condoning cheating …
Buuuuut….
When you think about the fact that grimy old senators and
shady televangelists have gotten caught cheating with pageant winners and Playboy
centerfolds; when you remember that a B-list hip-hop producer cheated on his
wife with one of the most luscious singers in the world, when you recall that a
famous actor in Hollywood lost his also-famous wife after frolicking with one
of the most desirable women on the planet — it makes you wonder …
What the hell are athletes thinking about?
Michael Jordan’s wife, Juanita, was a beautiful woman who
had been pursued by several notable men before meeting “His Airness.” Yet, he
cheated on her for years with a frumpy hotel singer named Karla Knafel
that he met in Indianapolis. The
affair became public after Knafel tried to sue Jordan
for not keeping his promise of a $5 million payday to keep her mouth shut. Mo’
money, mo’ problems indeed. Once the affair became public, Juanita walked way
with millions of Jordan’s
money.
Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, was a former video vixen (ahem)
who routinely appears on lists of the Hottest Athlete Wives. But Kobe’s
infamous rendezvous in Eagle, Colorado
was with Kaetlyn Faber, a hotel clerk who had apparently had sex with half the
town’s population in the week’s before. She also claimed that Bryant sexual assaulted
her and pressed charges. Bryant was arrested, and his reputation was damaged so
badly it took almost eight years for him to recover.
And now, Tiger. His wife, Elin Nordegren, is a Swedish model
and has appeared in magazines across the globe. Yet shortly after giving birth
to their first child, Woods began an affair with Jaimee Grubbs, the
ex-girlfriend of a reality show ‘star’ that was one of Woods alleged
mistresses. After a confrontation concerning the golf superstar’s behavior,
Woods was involved in a mysterious car accident that led to speculation that
she pummeled him with a golf club. Now that the affair is public, Woods reputation
is being sullied and he stands to lose his wife and, most likely — a significant
sum of money.
These athletes are all icons of their respective sports,
known all over the world and among the biggest money makers in entertainment.
Yet, they jeopardize it all for jump-offs that shouldn’t even register as
prospects in their entourages’ dating pools. Can somebody explain this? And for
the record, I’m still not condoning cheating.
Buuuuut …
–todd williams
