How Perspectives Have Changed

            Five years ago, three of sports most beloved figures were Tiger Woods, Brett Favre, and Joe Paterno; now they all quite possibly sports most hated figures. They faced scandals or inner conflicts that tarnished their legacies. Each of them excelled in their respective sports and broke many records in their careers. Tiger Woods dramatically escalated golf’s popularity and was well on his way to breaking most of golf’s records. . Brett Favre was on his way to obtain every major statistical record for quarterbacks and was football’s most admired athlete.  Joe Paterno had the most wins in college football history and was beloved as a fatherly figure by Penn State faithful. Over the course of the next five years, these beloved individuals’ lives would dramatically change and their legacy would be tarnished.  The saddest part is that we as fans praised these individuals as god-like figures and their own falling from grace instills the fact in us that they are also human. 

Tiger Woods: Five years Tiger Woods was fresh off winning the British Open and the PGA Championship, with his PGA Championship being his 12^th major victory. He was the highest paid individual in sports making 90 million dollars and was quite possibly sport’s biggest star.  Everything would change on November 27^th 2009 when Woods got in to a car accident. When asked why it occurred he said it was a “private matter”. In the days and months that followed, Tiger Woods’ infidelity, whether for right or wrong, would be revealed to the general public. The media and the general public would change their perspective on Tiger Woods from that point on. Tiger Woods’ poor etiquette and foul language while golfing would be shown more and more. Woods’ game was seemingly affected by the scandal as well. Woods has not won a major since scandal. A major victory this Sunday at Open Championship would officially end a sad chapter in Woods’ life and would likely improve his shattered legacy.

Brett Favre: In 2007, Brett Favre was undoubtedly, football’s most beloved figure. His love and passion for the game of football captured the heart of many fans. While in 2007, Favre, was close to beating many of Dan Marino’s records, he also was close to retiring. Many speculated that 2007 would be Favre’s last season. Favre played the 2007 like he was in his prime, though, throwing for 28 touchdowns and over 4000 yards. Favre lead his Green Bay Packers to the NFC Championship where he lost to the New York Giants in overtime, during a physically and emotionally demanding game. Favre retired from football on March 4, 2008. Favre in the coming months would regret his decision and opt to return to the in July of that same year. He got traded to the New York Jets that year and would retire again at the end of that season. Again during the offseason of that following year, Favre would come to regret his decision and this time in 2009 he would join his former rival, the Minnesota Vikings and have one of the greatest seasons of his career. Favre also fumbled the idea of playing before he returned to play his final season, in 2010. Overall, unlike the other two individuals on this list, Favre’s legacy was not shattered by scandal but by inner conflict. His inability to decide when to retire gave him a reputation as an attention hog and a diva.

Joe Paterno: This figure unlike the others listed above is not on this list for personal scandals or being a constant diva, but for harming the lives of innocent children. Joe Pa’s fall from grace is more dramatic and tragic than any other sports figure of his stature before him. Entering the 2007 year, Paterno was fresh off a victory in the Outback bowl. He was 80 years old and was entering his 41^st season as Penn State’s head football coach. To say he was beloved by fans would be colossal understatement; he was the face of not only Penn State but of college football.  His class and his commitment to his players would make him adored by Penn State Alumni. He was a father-like figure to the students of Penn State. Paterno’s dramatic fall would begin in 1999 when he failed to report Jerry Sandusky to the police. Not only did he fail to report the sexual predator but he continually allowed Sandusky to use Penn State facilities unsupervised and he allowed him to attract more victims to Sandusky over the years to come. Whether he was in self-denial about the situation or covered the scandal up for his selfish reasons, so his “beloved” football program wouldn’t exacerbate Paterno’s inability to do the right thing cost him his job and his legacy, righfully so. Overall Paterno failed to take action to the victims who had their innocence and pride taken by a sexual predator. This will go down as the worst scandal in sports history and Paterno will never be looked at the same.