With thumping drums and grinding bass line Robert Palmer turned Addicted to Love into a hit song. With a different sort of thump and grind Tiger Woods risked turning his life into a base punchline.
Why would he do that? What is the deal with men and “love”?
Women, it is said, are addicted to the emotional aspects of love; men the physical. So, generally speaking, for men sex is key to relationship, and for women relationship is key to sex. We witness in the news what happens when a God-given spiritual intimacy is overwhelmed by fleshly desires. And why not give into fleshly desires if God is third or tenth or one-hundredth on your list of guiding principles. If we look to the world and the flesh first, we deny that which is greatest in human being: the spiritual.
In his mea culpa press conference, Tiger Woods said he had let go of the guiding principles of Buddhism in getting so much money and fame in golf. He felt entitled to give into temptations presented by his place in society and culture. Rich and famous men, like Tiger, face temptations not experienced by the average guy. As an average guy I do not have women “throwing” themselves at me. Nor can I throw money at them.
Generally speaking, actors, rock stars and athletes face pressures unknown to the common dude: Women available at any turn. Bar-flies and lotharios may aspire to thousands of conquests, but the opportunities require much more work, more effort in seduction and more potential rejection than the average rock star or athlete. Or so I’ve heard.
What is the deal with athletes and rock stars? If married they inhabit a “culture of adultery,” if single there exists a highly charged culture of sexuality. Or so I’ve heard. They are able to snap a finger, or point out a prospective “target” and that woman is brought to them after a concert or game. Tiger seems to have fallen into this trap. He felt entitled to his pleasures, even though he was married with children.
I don’t suppose many worldly people begrudge an unmarried star’s sexual conquest activity. But get married and look out. New rules apply in the public’s greater consciousness for those within the bonds of matrimony: fidelity and sanctity. Ideally marriage sets a person aside—outside—the domain of conquests. He is faithful. But old habits die hard. The culture of adultery obliterates the circle drawn around the married couple. When married athletes do give in to temptation—”What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”—they destroy a sacred trust.
The culture of adultery turns these rock star / athletes into man-sluts, or MUTS. They prove they are hound-dogs. The slang dictionary definition for slut is “a person, especially a woman, considered sexually promiscuous.” Promiscuous is “having sexual relations with a number of partners on a casual basis.” I have not heard of the term slut being applied to men who sleep around a lot. It should be. Or perhaps MUT will work. A woman called a slut can be understood with many shades of meaning, all negative. A slut bomb is the type of woman who will have sex with almost anyone in bed with them.
How does the athlete / rock star culture of adultery differ? They use their notoriety for notorious purpose. And because they do not need to work for their reward, the way a promiscuous woman can easily find willing partners, athletes / rock stars should be called man-sluts.
While he was still single I’d guess Tiger was something of a man-slut. Once married he became Infid-Eldrick. He has much work to accomplish before overcoming his sexual addiction; and more to restore trust in his marriage. I wish him the best, and God’s blessing. Because only God is capable of renewing sacred vows.
dmh
