Opinion: The 'Eldrick' Solution to Tiger Wood's Problems

(Feb. 20) -- OK, Tiger Woods, so you really want to change your image? Let me introduce you to a different breed of big cat: the Cougar.

Remember "John Cougar"? The pop-rock singer from the mid-1970s who changed his last name from "Mellencamp" for commercial purposes? "Mellencamp" was too cumbersome, they said. After he got fame and fortune, he went back to "John Mellencamp." The songs didn't change, but the image did.

Try this on for size: "Eldrick Woods." As in, "No. 1 golfer in the world, Eldrick Woods." As in "Husband and father Eldrick Woods." As in "I, Eldrick, take you, Elin, to be my ... etc."

Did you use "Eldrick" when you got married? Good. It's a perfect way to get away from that awful voice mail message tape, "Uh, hi, this is Tiger ..." You remember that one, right? "Eldrick" didn't make that call.

You'd have to change the logo, but Nike might be looking for a new image for you, too. And it's the least you can do for the company that stood by you while others scrambled over each other to see who could drop you first.

And then there's mom. Poor mom, stoic mom, the mom you brought to the statement ceremony probably because no one else in your immediate family would show up. I'm guessing Kultida named you "Eldrick."

She probably put a lot of thought and care into choosing that name, just like all moms do when they have a baby. You might not have liked that name, you might have thought "Tiger" was a better image, but remember, she chose Eldrick for you, her baby.

Now that her baby has grown up, and gotten himself in a peck of trouble, who's in the picture? Mom. Wouldn't it be nice to honor her by returning to the name she chose for you?

According to the baby name lists, "Eldrick" comes from the German meaning "righteous ruler." A righteous ruler for golf? Think about it.

Elaine S. Povich, a Washington correspondent and freelance writer, has two children, Mark and Kenneth, neither of whom has a nickname from a big cat.

To submit an op-ed to AOL News, write to opinion@aolnews.com.

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