MINNEAPOLIS -- Golf star Tiger Woods and his father, Earl,
stopped in Minneapolis to lend moral support and a few golf
pointers to youngsters and their parents living in the inner city.
The men chose Minneapolis on Sunday as one of five stops this
year for a Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic.
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Father and son have set their sights on rebuilding the inner city. |
Earl Woods, 67, honored men who have been learning how to be
better parents at Minneapolis' Center for Fathering. In the
Central, Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods where many of them
live, 78 percent of the households are fatherless.
Earl Woods also spoke at Central Community Church.
The day was about values and racial barrier-breaking, odd areas
of discussion for golf, a game that has long excluded the poor and
minorities.
"Someday, we might have a black president who went to Tiger's
clinic because we told him you have a right to dream - yes! - a
right to dream!" Earl Woods said.
Afterward, as some of the men stood in line to get Earl Woods to
autograph his best-selling book, "Training A Tiger," they talked
about the dreams they have for their children.
They accepted that Earl Woods has become a star for no reason
other than he's Tiger's dad.
"I'm OK with that," said Aaron Birge, 36, a former drug addict
now employed at an auto parts store, who is trying to learn how to
"be there" for his four children. "He deserves his own attention
for raising such a fine young man."
In the afternoon, Tiger Woods, 23, gave tips to 24 lucky golfers
who were selected for lessons by their youth programs. Another 100
received lessons from other instructors, and 1,000 kids and parents
were part of a pep rally in a makeshift amphitheater at Hiawatha
Golf Course.
Among the 24 kids who got the thrill of receiving Tiger Woods'
personal tips was Lon Wright Jr., 15, of Golden Valley. He began
golfing at age 12 after watching Woods on television and being
encouraged by his father to take up the game.
Preparing for Woods' discerning eyes, Wright's hands quivered
with excitement as he placed his golf ball on the grass, practicing
with his three-wood.
"Tiger Woods has brought the spotlight on golf for black
kids," said John Turnipseed, lead facilitator for Urban Ventures
Center for Fathering.
"He's the man. He has good manners, and he's good-looking.
We're not trying to make him a champion for all black people, but
merely a role model. I think he's the Jackie Robinson of golf."
By nightfall, the Woodses were partying at the Mall of America
in Bloomington to raise money for their foundation. Tiger Woods
said he has put "a few million" dollars of his earnings and
endorsement proceeds into the foundation.
