A different approach to competition
After Phil Mickelson's win over Tiger Woods at the 2012 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM, sportswriter Rick Reilly, was interviewed by Colin Cowherd for ESPN radio.
Reilly spoke of Karma and Tiger Wood's approach to his game. While Reilly is welcome to have any opinion that he wants, his questioning of Tiger misses the point of what makes a champion.
First, Reilly suggests that Tiger has bad Karma which resulted from his treatment of people over the years. To carry this logic out to the end, Reilly is then saying that Mickelson won because Mickelson treats people better and therefore has good Karma. I would argue that Reilly is not in a position to judge another human being based on Divine Law. To suggest that one person's Karma is better or worse than someone else is both judgmental and presumptuous.
Rick Reilly then went into alleged details on how Tiger treats his coaches. According to Reilly, when working for Woods a coach cannot have another job and must be on call at all times. Assuming this is true, what Reilly and most people miss is that this is how a champion operates. It is one hundred percent. Every aspect of the preparation is controlled and practiced so that during the competition nothing will happen that is unrehearsed. No stone is left unturned. This can only happen if everyone involved is focused on one specific task. Multitasking and having different or competing interests does not make a champion.
Lastly, Reilly also said in his interview that Phil gives the fans time, even after a loss, and Tiger blows by fans. If this is true, I would argue that this is how Tiger conserves his energy. Further, this action does not mean that Phil has more respect for his fans than does Tiger. It simply reflects two different approaches to competition.