It is not easy for me to pin point when it happened.

Maybe it was after I found out about Michael Jordan’s reported domestic violence or Michael Irvin’s drug issues.

Maybe it was after I found out that Kobe Bryant may have raped a woman or Ray Lewis may have killed a person.

Or maybe it was something as simple as being a naïve 15 year old and discovering pictures of a clearly inebriated Dirk Nowitzki online.

Whatever the moment was, though, I eventually gave up on idolizing athletes for anything other than their on-field performance. Although I cannot remember when I made the decision, I can say with confidence that my ability to enjoy sports has improved since then.

Following Tiger Woods’ first interview since stories of his infidelity surfaced, many questions about the athlete/fan dynamic have come to the forefront. How much of an athlete’s private life is the business of the public? Should the court of public opinion have any say on what the athlete does off the field? Do athletes have an obligation to be role models?

The problem with these questions is that a consensus can never be reached and, even if it were, neither all athletes or media members would change their behavior accordingly. Therefore, I offer fans this advice instead: For your own sake, if you want to idolize an athlete, focus on the athlete, not the human.

I can’t begin to explain my admiration for Tiger Woods, the golfer. As an awful golfer, seeing the things he does on the course is the only reason I consistently watch the sport. I find few things more beautiful than Woods using a nine iron to bend a 200-yard shot off pine needles around two trees and within five feet of the hole.

However, I find few things more disgusting than what I’ve heard and read about Woods in the past months. Even if Woods were single, the erotic text messages that were revealed are enough to make most people’s stomachs turn. The fact that he was married with kids makes it even more difficult to respect him as a human.

The fact is, though, that what Woods has done has nothing to do with golf. I have slowly (too slowly, probably) come to realize that in life, all human beings are extremely adept at letting others down. Because humans are flawed. Big time.

So the fact that Woods likes to have sex way, way too much should not have been completely shocking news. Just as I should not have been surprised about Jordan’s anger issues or Irvin’s drug problems. These people are humans.

I am not giving any athlete a pass here. I think I made it clear: I am disgusted by Woods’ actions. Instead, I am suggesting that fans do what is good for fans. Many fans want to “hold Tiger accountable,” but I am unsure what their plan of action is. Stop watching him play golf? All that does is keep you from watching the greatest golfer on the planet, and that has no effect on him.

It’s a shame all athletes cannot be great at their job and in their personal lives. I understand people, especially parents with easily influenced children, who feel athletes have a responsibility to be role models. Unfortunately, many athletes disagree and even fewer are capable of living up to those expectations.

So to all sports fans, I suggest you do as I do: Separate the athlete and his or her personal life, for your own good.

That is why when the best golfer I’ve ever seen takes the course in April at the Masters, I will be rooting for the man whose personal life I find despicable to win by 20 strokes.