Tiger Woods in DC - Lincoln Memorial Jan '09

> Tiger Woods was invited to speak at the inauguration.  
But he didn't deliver the message his inviters had expected!

>  Tiger Woods spoke Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington during
> "We Are One," an inauguration celebration for President-elect Barack Obama.
> Below is the text of his speech, entitled

"You'll Never Walk Alone,"
as posted on his Web site:

>
>  "I grew up in a military family - and my role models
> in life were my Mom
> and Dad, Lt. Colonel Earl Woods. My dad was a Special
> Forces operator and
> many nights friends would visit our home. They represented every
> branch of the service, and every rank. In my Dad, and in those
> guests, I saw first
> hand the dedication and commitment of those who serve. They
> come from every
> walk of life. From every part of our country. Time and
> again, across
> generations, they have defended our safety in the dark of
> night and far from
> home.
> Each day -- and particularly on this historic day -- we
> honor the men and
> women in uniform who serve our country and protect our
> freedom. They travel
> to the dangerous corners of the world, and we must remember
> that for every
> person who is in uniform, there are families who wait for
> them to come home
> safely.
>  I am honored that the military is such an important part,
> not just of my
> personal life, but of my professional one as well. The golf
> tournament we do
> each year here in Washington is a testament to those unsung
> heroes. I am the
> son of a man who dedicated his life to his country, family
> and the military,
> and I am a better person for it.
>  In the summer of 1864, Abraham Lincoln, the man at whose
> memorial we
> stand, spoke to the 164th Ohio Regiment and said:
> 'I am greatly obliged to you, and to all who have come
> forward at the call
> of their country.'
> Just as they have stood tall for our country - we must
> always stand by and
> support the men and women in uniform and their families.
> Thank you, and it is now my pleasure to introduce the US
> Naval Glee Club."
>
> I have never been more proud of Tiger Woods than when I
> heard his 2-minute
> tribute to the military at the Inaugural Celebration in Washington DC.
> You know he was greatly pressured to be there. You know the
> liberals have been mad at him for a decade for not joining their ranks. You
> know he didn't want to be there. So instead of paying homage to Obama, he paid
> tribute to our soldiers. Not one time did Tiger mention Obama or the
> inauguration or the new administration. You know, he knew he would disappoint,
> even anger, many, many liberals. But Tiger is his own man. His old man taught
> him to be his own man. Somewhere in that cold, gray Washington sky, old
> Earl was smiling down on his son.
>
> And there will be one more crying hug waiting for Tiger
> when he passes through the Pearly Gates!
>