Ron Artest's Open Letter To Tiger Woods

Ron Artest feels Tiger Woods' pain.

Ron Artest has been there. He’s cheated on his wife. He’s been vilified. He may be one of the handful of people in the world who have any understanding Tiger Woods is going through right now.

So Artest wrote Woods a letter and said not to let everything get him down.

I have made the same mistakes. Before I got married to my wife, I had a baby with another young lady, after I already had two by my girlfriend who is now my wife. We also had another baby which makes three for us and four for me. Two boys and two girls. My wife is a much better wife than I am a husband….

On the way to 2010 we had many ups and downs on the way, mostly my fault. But I really choose to work hard and play ball to support her and my kids. The same reason you are building your legacy. I have been disturbed by this because there are many people who are happy that this bad news has come out. There are a lot of sports announcers and regular reporters who are not perfect in their own homes, yet they want to bring you down. You have done so much for people, the sport of golf, and your family and you gave your wife a life that people can’t even dream of.

While the feeling among the general public may be different, the reaction to Tiger’s plight among professional athletes has been more along the lines of what Artest expresses. There is some empathy, with a little bit of “there but for the grace of God go I” thrown in. Many — most? — have made mistakes like Tiger and can easily picture themselves being skewered in the media for it. Few have been skewered like Artest after the Malice in the Palace brawl. While both men may have earned what they got, they can relate on a very basic level.

The letter also shows the more mature, soul-bearing side of Artest. The same one who confessed about drinking Hennessy before games and at halftime while in Chicago, and admitting that effected his play. Artest is addressing the mistakes of his past — in a very public, very Ron Artest way, but he is addressing things.

And he relates to Tiger going through a very painful and public humiliation. Ron Artest has been there.

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