Mike Cullity

Remembering Mosi Tatupu

I was saddened to read this morning of the untimely passing of one of the New England Patriots' greatest unsung heroes, Mosi Tatupu.

Born in Samoa, Tatupu was drafted by the Pats in the eighth round of the 1978 NFL Draft out of the University of Southern California. In 13 seasons with New England, he made his mark as a special-teams stalwart and a bruising backup fullback, inspiring a group of loyal Foxboro followers who sat behind a "Mosi's Mooses" banner in the end zone.

Tatupu retired after a swan song with the Los Angeles Rams and went into coaching. He mentored his son, Lofa, at a Massachusetts high school; Lofa followed his dad's footsteps to the NFL and now plays linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. Mosi later coached running backs at Curry College when former Pats teammate Steve Nelson was the head coach.

While Tatupu was an inspiring figure on the field, he made significant impact away from it. In a column by Albert R. Breer in today's Boston Globe, Nelson is quoted as saying: "I've gotten calls all day from parents talking about how much Mosi changed their kid's lives."

Growing up a Pats fan in the '80s, I fondly recall many a Sunday afternoon spent in front of the TV rooting for Tatupu. And though my memory of it is admittedly foggy, my brother Dan will never forget the time we met Mosi, who was making an appearance at a sporting-goods store in our hometown. Dan recalls Mosi chiding us good-naturedly for the San Francisco 49ers hats we were sporting, gifts from an aunt who had recently returned from the Bay Area.

For a few classic Mosi highlights, check out the video above. Here's to a good man gone too soon.

Woods must back up words with actions

After two-and-a-half months on the down low, Tiger Woods yesterday made his first in-person public statements regarding his Thanksgiving weekend accident and subsequent revelations of serial marital infidelity.

In vintage Woods fashion, his public apology was meticulously choreographed, delivered to friends, supporters and selected media with no questions allowed. The golfer kept a stiff upper lip throughout the nearly 14-minute address, channeling his late Green Beret dad by keeping his emotions in check as he delivered his carefully scripted words.

Woods acknowledged that his fame gave him easy access to myriad temptations, and that as a result of his hard work to reach golf's pinnacle, he felt entitled to indulge. He also admitted straying from the Buddhist faith he was taught growing up. He apologized for his failings and the hurt they caused not only his family, but his legions of fans and supporters. He also lashed out at the tabloid media for hounding his family and pleaded with them to cease and desist.

As apologies go, Woods' mea culpa was certainly not the "Oprah" moment many followers and pundits seem to be craving. In the wake of the statement, observers questioned its sincerity and criticized Woods for refusing to take questions.

I came away with the sense that Woods is serious about mending his ways. He confirmed that he spent more than a month in counseling to address his problems, with more to come. And he asserted that for him, golf remains on the back burner pending his personal progress. He left open the possibility of a return to competition in 2010, but implied that it's a ways off. With majors upcoming at Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews, three venues where he has dominated in the past, his apparent willingness to forsake them in the interest of personal rehabilitation is a strong statement in itself.

As for his marriage, Woods correctly observed that his true apology to his wife, Elin Nordegren, will come through his actions, not his words.

With the Winter Olympics in full swing, we've been hearing a lot about redemption as athletes with past Olympic failures strive for gold. After his fall from grace, Woods has much to do to redeem himself in the eyes of his wife, his family and his fans. He appears intent on doing so. I hope he can back up his words with the right behavior.

 

Try carpet putting, Mr. Prez

While golf participation in the United States fell slightly last year, our fearless leader didn't have much trouble finding time to hit the links.

Research firm Golf Datatech reported yesterday that rounds played in the United States were down 0.6 percent in 2009 compared with 2008. Meanwhile, CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller blogged recently that during his first year in office, President Barack Obama played 29 rounds of golf.

While Obama is certainly entitled to some fresh air and recreation once in a while, 29 rounds is a pretty healthy amount of golf for the president of a nation awash in problems. I understand and share Obama's golf jones, of course, as have other presidents, most notably Dwight D. Eisenhower, who snuck down to Augusta National frequently and was pals with Arnold Palmer.

Eisenhower took his share of ribbing from Americans for his golf habit. But at least he was stepping out during the prosperous 1950s. As much as I would enjoy teeing it up with our southpaw commander-in-chief, he might want to stick to carpet putting in the Oval Office until the U.S. economy improves.