First, further proof that making it to the big leagues is not a guarantee to living the easy life. Even if someone were to overcome the great odds and become a professional football player, many later come to regret it, notwithstanding the money.
Second, Tiger Woods (at least at one time, and I'm certain now) regrets the public scrutiny and lack of privacy famous athletes must endure. Apparently, Arnold Palmer set him straight.
In 1997, at the first Masters in which Woods played as a professional -- he won by an astonishing 12 shots -- he and Palmer played a practice round at Augusta National Golf Club. Afterward, the two had lunch in the champions' locker room at the clubhouse. During lunch, Woods explained to Palmer how difficult his life was at that moment.
"I can't be a normal 21-year-old," he said. "I have to sign autographs all the time, talk to the media after I play, do photo shoots for my sponsors. It just never ends."
Palmer, as he had done in the past with other players who had made similar complaints (notably, two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange), looked Woods in the eye and said: "You're right, Tiger, you aren't a normal 21-year-old. Normal 21-year-olds don't have $50 million in the bank. If you want to be normal, give the money back."
Also, it seems that Mr. Palmer is less than pleased with Mr. Woods' recently exposed transgressions.
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