McCain is no Tim Russert; Obama is no Tiger Woods
(Today’s post was written by my father Dick Miller. Dick was raised a Republican, steered by good math grades and financial necessity to a career in engineering and high-tech software. He is now a born-again anthropologist/historian (it was always in him) and wants JFK (and Jackie) to return to the White House.)
I don’t generally get excited with the anticipation of something coming up on television, but there are (I should say were) exceptions: Meet the Press with Tim Russert and any golf tournament that Tiger Woods played in. In both cases you could say that each event was history in the making.
Tim and Tiger – what binds them? It isn’t Sunday TV journalism or golf. It’s a feeling of greatness, excellent, dominance, and the humanity of two special people. In each case, the man is bigger than the event. Sure, even now “If it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Press” – and another golf tournament final 18. But, I’ve recently discovered that the event just isn’t important to me.
I’m no longer interested in the Sunday finishes for whatever tournament is happening. Majors? I’ll be reading a good book. Maybe I’ll peek in during the last few holes to see who’s in it. It could be Phil, or VJ, or some unknown. Don’t care. Golf will begin for me when Tiger is back.
I stopped watching Meet the Press after Tim died. I have no interest in watching a talk show just like the others on cable 24/7, with nothing to do but fill time. I did tune in yesterday to see what Tom Brokaw might do – and I turned it off when neither of the McCain/Obama “surrogates” answered any of his questions.
The thing is this: Tiger and Tim transcend the event. Even if you don’t follow golf, you know all about Tiger. Even if you’re sick of the political talking heads, you would listen to Tim. There are probably other examples of such people. Bigger-than-the-game people might include Edward R. Murrow or Lou Gerhig — but not Adolf Hitler or Barry Bonds. Character counts. You can probably name a few of your own idols/heroes/models.
If we could design our leaders – president of the country, CEO of a company, coach of a team – we would want the quality of excellence we see in Tim and Tiger. Ultimately, we want them to be bigger than the game. Abraham Lincoln had it. Vince Lombardi had it.
Can either candidate channel a little of Tim and Tiger (or Abe or Vince?) Obama has the potential. McCain, maybe not so much. History will be made in November, but will it be great history?
About the Author: Randall H. Miller is an American college educator/blogger. He is also a former U.S. Army officer (82nd Airborne) with a M.A. in Diplomacy (focusing on International Terrorism) and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Use the form on the right to sign up and receive notifications of new content. The words and ideas expressed here are 100% his own and not those of his employers or affiliated organizations.