EDITORIAL by Dave Mishur -- In the midst of the current controversy churning about the mid-night ride of Tiger "Paul Revere" Woods, one glaring question comes to mind: Is this a teachable moment? And, if so, where is the Professor, Peacemaker, and President, Barack Obama?

Obama, who famously imposed himself in the minor dust-up concerning his friend, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the Harvard Professor, and the local gendarmerie, must certainly see the similarities in the situation of Mr. Woods.

At least the police have learned their lesson. They were roundly scolded by Obama for "acting stupidly" in the Gates case. But, regarding Mr. Woods, they have been a model of restraint. Only now, almost a week after the incident, have they decided to charge Tiger with the minor infraction of "careless driving."

If we may venture a suggestion, it appears that there is much more to learn from this incident. 

Clearly, Tiger needs driving lessons. That has been obvious to anyone who has watched him play golf lately. He's a reckless, powerful gent, who seems to feel he must be in charge at all times. No one should blame him for this, for he has literally millions at stake. But, to risk his physical safety in some mid-night junket is foolhardy, if not, as Obama would put it, "acting stupidly." What do you think a broken arm, or wrist, or even pinkie, might do to your game, Mister Tiger Woods? 

And, there are other lessons to be learned. The media have mentioned repeatedly that Tiger was driving his hulking Cadillac Escalade, surely one of the most outrageous vehicles on the road, "legendary" even, as GM's advertising likes to call it. Well, it is not meant to be driven off-road, obviously, nor is it meant to mow down trees and hydrants. With his money, Tiger can surely pick up some appropriate equipment from John Deere or Cat for those chores.

Furthermore, what about loyalty? What is he doing driving a Cadillac when Buick has been paying him millions to drive their Rendezvous SUV? Taking money under false pretenses might not be criminal in this case, but it is surely disloyal. And, with all the media mention of the Escalade, Tiger's hawking of the Rendezvous seems hollow and phony. Oh, well, at least he wasn't driving a Lexus. But then, on second thought (What a great name for a column!), if he had been he could blame the accident on the gas pedal-floor mat problem that's causing Toyota to recall millions of their vehicles. Seems the "relentless pursuit of excellence" isn't over yet.

Obama can help him with these lessons, and more. He can teach him the meaning and necessity of adversity. Let’s face it, once Tiger made his mark on the game of golf, he’s had pretty smooth sailing. The media love him, because he draws viewers, and so they have given him a pass for his antics on the course, things like throwing clubs, foul language, poutiness, and stuff like that. Just because the media lets him get away with boorish behavior on the course is no reason for him to behave like a spoiled brat off the course. 

If anyone can teach him how to deal with adversity, it’s Obama. He, also, waltzed into office on a sea of media adulation and public adoration. Now that a good bit of that has dissipated, he’s beginning to see that being president isn’t a walk in the park. Every day, every hour, he has to deal with national and international difficulties, not to mention some of the questionable characters in his own administration. He can’t go off driving wildly in the night, and neither should Tiger.

We suggest Obama, golf lover that he is, get Tiger on the phone and set up a teachable beer party, much like he did for Gates. He can include a few congressmen and other advisors. They can talk of golf, of life and love and things that go bump in the night.  And most of all, especially for Tiger’s sake, how to avoid things that go bump in the night.

Perhaps Tiger will realize from this excellent teaching adventure that life is a game, just like golf, where you have to play by the rules. No matter where or when. Even when you think no one’s looking. Even in the middle of the night.

Dave Mishur is an editorial writer for OneOnlineCommunity, based out of Pontiac, Illinois.