Professional Golfers Make Mistakes Too

Okay, I don’t quite understand all the hoopla and hand-wringing going on with Arjun Atwal’s alleged street racing accident in Orlando, Florida. For those that don’t know, Atwal is alleged to have participated in a street race with John Noah Park where speeds exceeded 100MPH and ultimately cost Park his life when he hit a tree head-on. It’s incredibly sad when this happens, and I feel for Park’s family.

But understand one thing. Professional golfers are human just like the rest of us and they are just as liable to go off and make bad judgments like anyone else in this world. I read one commentary today that asked why high-profile athletes seemed to be attracted to nice cars and speed? Excuse me, but damn-near any kid that plays with toy cars wants them to go fast. Period. And unfortunately, this obsession carries over to their teenage years and that’s how terrible accidents happen.

To hold Atwal up to some phony expectation just because he is a professional golfer is completely unfair. Yes, we all do it and we expect professional athletes to be role models, and I’m no different in that regard with my expectations. I bet if you took a poll and it was answered honestly by pro athletes, 95% would be guilty of speeding and probably aggressive and/or reckless driving. And isn’t that just a microcosm of the country in general?

Odds are Atwal will be charged with some sort reckless driving or display of speed (or whatever euphemism is used for racing) that lead to Park’s death. And it will have been a tragic accident. Nothing more, nothing less.