From close friends in different worlds to decades of reclusion from each other, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley and legendary golfer Tiger Woods have had a storied relationship over the years. However, despite all their differences in the present day, Barkley and Woods were quite close with each other back in the day. They were close enough for Woods to share his unusual upbringing under a muti-cultured roof.
After meeting each other for the first time at a party, Charles Barkley has known Woods since his Stanford days. During their multi-decade relationship, Barkley, on numerous occasions, has encouraged Woods to speak up about his heritage and racial identity. Similarly, in one of his excerpts from his book, Barkley urged Woods to talk about his racial experiences, which he hadn’t shared with the public.
One Sunday afternoon, Tiger Woods sat down with the Hall of Famer and delineated his childhood under a diverse roof. Woods’ father was an African American; on the other hand, his mother was an Asian, specifically Thai. Thus Woods admitted to experiencing a holistic view of the world at an early age due to the contrasting viewpoints passed down by his parents.
Woods confessed to being raised more in the Asian tradition. He described the experience as, “You had to do what you had to do if you were delegated a certain responsibility, and you never did anything to bring dishonor to your family. You can’t disrespect anybody who’s older than you, because if you do you’ve disgraced your entire family.”
Woods revealed how one had to uphold the highest standards while diligently coming through with your responsibilities. Moreover, if he failed to follow the rules, he confessed to facing grave consequences. “If I didn’t say ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘Yes, ma’am,’ “Thank you, ma’am,’ “Thank you, sir,’ I’d be smacked in a heartbeat, right on my butt. That’s just how it was.”
‘Such a Joke’: Americans and PGA Tour Fans React to Embarrassing LIV Golf Revelation
Renowned for Her Football Craze, Social Media’s Highest Paid Golfer Paige Spiranac Deplores the Most Annoying Part of College Fans