Tiger Woods

[Aike]

Tiger Woods winning another Major today has gotten me thinking (dangerous, I know).

IMO, we may be watching the single greatest performer in the history of sports. I certainly cannot think of anyone with whom I have been more impressed in my lifetime. What do you folks think?

[joneagin]

It is fun watching someone like him. When you are actually watching someone play any sport, you usually arent able to say "this guy is the best there has ever been." Usually its at the end of his career or after it that people come out and say a guy was the best ever. We are lucky to have Woods playing right in front of our eyes and we truly can call him "the best ever." I think Jordan has the same arguement. By the time he was winning his 5th and 6th titles, you couldnt find many people who would argue that he wasnt the greatest ever. Other than those two, its tough, in major sports, to say we have seen somone like him.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

That was a great emotional finish for Tiger in his first Major since his dad died.. Congratulations !

[Athens2005]

Tiger will probably leave the greatest legacy of any athlete this generation.

Being a golfer, he will get a chance to make his mark for years to come, and that will probably be what separates him from the likes of Michael Jordan, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds (*cough*), etc.

[Old Blue]

As I was watching Tiger play this tourney in Beatletown. the thought did cross my mind that when he is totally on top of his game like he was last week, it was almost beyond sport. It was more artistry. Like being able to pull up a chair and watch Picasso paint one of his masterpieces right there in front of you. He's just so much better than good! Hats off to him. The finish was great and he was a very classy winner.

[BigBlue75]

I was very glad to see Tiger win the British Open again. I always admire someone who is at the top of their game, and especially those whose very presence in competition make those aroundthem want to do better and improve their game. I think when it's all said and done, history will look back on the last two years as the time when Tiger solidified his standing. Not so much in wins, but for the fact that we've seen that he is human and he is NOT going to dominate every tournament and he's going to make his share of bad shots, but we've also seen the human side of him as he's dealt with the loss of his father, which showed he's not made of stone and isn't the machine some would make him out to be. As young as he is, he'll probably end up owning every record there is to own in professional golf.

[jpay]

golfers aren't athletes.......

[Doug Hardin]

I'm hoping that someday we'll see Tiger and Phil playing together in the last group of a major with the winner not being determined until the last hole.

I think sports are more fun when there are legitimate rivalries instead of one dominating presence, regardless of how much the media will talk at length about how we as fans should appreciate the greatness of the dominant teams and athletes. The NBA was better when the Celtics and Lakers were playing in the Finals every few years in the 80s than it was when Jordan and the Bulls were dominating in the 90s. And as much as I hate both teams, baseball is more interesting when the Yankees and Red Sox are competing than when the Yankees dominated in the latter half of the 90s.

[Old Blue]

A lot of golfers aren't atheletes. Tiger Woods is, however. He is an athelete who just happens to play golf.

[jpay]

Old Blue wrote: A lot of golfers aren't atheletes. Tiger Woods is, however. He is an athelete who just happens to play golf.
The guy may have some athletic ability sure, But to suggest that he is one of the great athletes of all time is just silly...

[Athens2005]

jpay wrote: Old Blue wrote: A lot of golfers aren't atheletes. Tiger Woods is, however. He is an athelete who just happens to play golf.
The guy may have some athletic ability sure, But to suggest that he is one of the great athletes of all time is just silly...

No more silly than saying he isn't. In fact, much less.

Tiger Woods is a supreme athlete. Stand next to him and you'll see what I mean.

In fact, with his build, he could probably be a top-notch boxer, or martial arts expert.

The guy is ripped, has supreme concentration, and perhaps the best hand/eye coordination and body control of anyone, playing any sport, anywhere.

Can he run? I don't know. But, can Tiger make more money running sprints or playing golf?

It's called comparative advantage.

[Old Blue]

He is certainly ripped. He sort of looks like a welterweight to me.

[kentuckykid]

Its all in the definition, I don't consider race car drivers athletes, but a lot of people would disagree.

Tiger is in a class all to himself on the golf course, it would be futile to compare him to someone in another sport. I have stood next to him and it is amazing how he looks and how he prepares for an event.

[BigBlue75]

Tiger Woods might not be an athlete in the same way that a professional football player or basketball player is an athlete, but he IS an athlete nonetheless. An athlete's greatness needs to be judged against those he directly competed against. You can't compare Tiger's greatness to that of say, Joe Montana and Michael Jordan. We're talking three different types of athletes in three different sports. It's not fair to any of them.

[TitleistUKfan7]

Aike wrote: Tiger Woods winning another Major today has gotten me thinking (dangerous, I know).

IMO, we may be watching the single greatest performer in the history of sports. I certainly cannot think of anyone with whom I have been more impressed in my lifetime. What do you folks think?

Right now what Tiger is doing in the golfing world is absolutely incredible!!! One of the most dominate performances in my and most our lifetime. There is one golfer that comes to mind who did something that was more incredible and that was Bobby Jones. Winning the British Amateur, British Open, US Amateur, and US Open in a single calendar year. Back then that was known as the "Grand Slam" of golf. The PGA Championship was not considered at the time and The Masters did not exist yet.... as it was founded by Bobby Jones of course!!!

Also Jones never did turn professional. He won all of his majors as an amateur, got 3 degrees from college (law, literature, and engineering), and retired at the age of 28!!!!!!!

Tiger is the most dominant golfer in our generation and is on pace to break every one of Jack's records, but I think Jones still has some on Jack and Tiger.

[TitleistUKfan7]

Oh yeah, and Tiger Woods is an ATHLETE!!!!!!!!

[HOMEYCAT]

I did a show a couple of years ago with some guys who argued that Tiger was washed up. We played a few rounds, and one of these philosophers just happened to be Phil Mickelson's roommate and team mate at S.D. State. I told them both in no uncertain terms that they were full of poop. :cool:Tiger has won a few since then.....

[joneagin]

Thought we could bring this back to the top after his crushing performance at the PGA.

[Aike]

Earlier in his career, Tiger won a lot of tournaments by using his incredible imagination and scrambling ability. He hit enough once in a lifetime shots to last a 1000 lifetimes.

Lately, Tiger carves up courses and opponents with a surgeon's precision. Then, every once in a while he gets himself in a tight spot and pulls a shot out of his arsenal that reminds you just how deep is his reservoir of talent.

It kind of reminds me of the way that Jordan progessed from a rim attacker to a cerebral fade away shooter and post up player. But, for my money, Tiger is more amazing than even Jordan ever was. I bet Jordan would agree.

[Aike]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2555909 (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2555909%C2%A 0)
Woods is greatest individual athlete ever http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/columnists/Wojciechowski_Gene_55.jpg (http://x.go.com/cgi/x.pl?goto=http://search.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=gene_wojciechowski&name=SEARCH _m_archive&srvc=sz) By Gene Wojciechowski
ESPN.com

MEDINAH, Ill. -- You should probably sit down for this one. That's because I'm about to offend anybody and everybody who thinks golfers rank below rhythmic gymnasts, bowlers and tractor-pull drivers on the sports food chain.

Tiger Woods (http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/players/profile?playerId=462) is the greatest individual athlete of our time. OK, of all time.



Here's another good one, and I swear I didn't plagiarize anybody. These guys must be reading my mind. :lol:

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/pgachampionship06/columns/story?columnist=sirak_ron&id=2555794

[Aike]

Tiger wins again! Four in a row, now.

Managed to top a world class field even without the benefit of his "A game." Amazing competitor.

[surveyor]

Aike wrote: Tiger wins again! Four in a row, now.

Managed to top a world class field even without the benefit of his "A game." Amazing competitor.
Yep. Watched that one as well. Tiger was visibly upset with the way he played Sunday (and Saturday for that matter).
Tiger maybe played his "B" or "C" game Saturday and Sunday. Problem for Cink, Furyk, Casey and others is that they played horribly Sunday as well.

Kudos to Tiger for getting the job done, nonetheless.:thumbup

[joneagin]

Thought we could bring this back to the top...5th straight today...shoots 8 under after Vijays 10 under on Sunday.

[Aike]

I'm always up for this discussion. Just having trouble finding anything else to say. :cool: