Tiger Woods (Offical Thread)

[zincfinger]

I am not necessarily talking about playing these "sports" professionally.

That's exactly why I brought up the point previously of the measure of being good at a sport not being, can you do it at some subjective "decent" level, but rather, how well you can do it in comparison to others. No doubt, Michael Jordan can develop his golf game to the point that he can get around the links in "respectable" fashion. But the only objective criterion is, how well can his game stack up against the people who are truly experts at it. Vijay Singh could probably learn to knock down some threes with no one defending him, and could probably become decent in a local pickup game. But he'd look like an imbecile going against the real experts. As would Jordan on the golf course. Judging who would be more of an imbecile is purely arbitrary, and prone to the different natures of the sports (competing directly against your opponent vs. competing indirectly against your opponent). But in either case, the non-expert would be thoroughly dominated by the expert.

 

[OH10]

There's far too much to catch up on everything. And I hate to belabor a few points, but some people made some interesting comments.

1. The Babe Ruth thing. The guy was a tremendous athlete - he just didn't look like one. And I doubt anyone here actually had the luxury of watching in person (except maybe Best Buckeye). But what differentiated the guy from other guys in the game was his exceptional strength and hand-eye coordination. What separates Tiger is his exceptional speed and agility swinging a club - watching it makes my hip want to dislocate itself. The fact that he adds superior "touch" and poise doesn't take away from the fact that there is a significant gap in athleticism between he and the rest of the field.

And I'd still take Tiger in sprint over Babe any day. (George Herman is, of course, dead though).

2. Someone made a point about someone from the sport of basketball or football training and playing golf at a high level. I've got news. Great athletes in other sports have been trying for years to play golf at a high level, and I can't think of one that's ever come close to getting his PGA tour card. Tom Glavine is the best athlete golfer I can think of, and Tiger still gives him double digit strokes when they play heads up.

3. People have to stop lumping golf in with pool. It's an absurd comparison, and if you think its at all relevant to the discussion, then I'm sorry, but you're misguided.

i don't hate golf. don't let that stop you from putting words in my mouth though.

Sorry, you hate Tiger Woods. I'm still not sure why - to each his own. I'm sure your opinion of him in no way has had an impact on why you chimed in to simply say that golf wasn't a sport. Thanks for the input though.

 

[Wingate1217]

I think to settle this disagreement we would all have to get into a room and the last one standing would make the decision but would that person be the best athlete and in what sport

Now is drinking a sport????

 

[Mac]

Tennis took less physical exertion than recreational golf? I've played both and found tennis to be much more physically challenging than golf. Tennis easier to play, but athletic ability (speed, great physical fitness, etc) definitely is needed to play tennis and I'm not so sure it's necessary to play golf. Just my opinion. That's not meant to be an insult to golfers, I just found the constant running back and forth to be more exhausting than the constant walking around.

EDIT: Your edit changes my opinion, I'm more suited to walking than running around. That might have something to do with it. I can walk all day without problems, hence golf not doing much for me and tennis leaving me gassed after a game.

Probably the person's fitness level (how good of shape they are in) plays a role. I was in great shape in H.S. and maybe that played a part in why I thought tennis didn't take much out of me. Also the fact that I was quite fast (acceleration wise as well) helped a TON while playing tennis. Idk maybe I'm just a freak of nature

 

[jwinslow]

What level of tennis are we talking about?

Your style of play also has a large impact on the physical strain of the game. If you aren't hitting high torque serves/shots (both fast and spin), but more of a backboard (run everything down and keep it in play), it's considerably easy on your arm/shoulder/etc.

 

[Mac]

I played H.S. so it was competitive. Now I wasn't the best player on the team, but I was a middle of the team (skill wise). Now my style of play was about 75% of run it down and keep it in play just because I was quick and in good shape. But that still would tire any skillful tennis player just as much as them with the "strain" on the arm. It's just 2 different variables.

 

[jwinslow]

I played H.S. so it was competitive. Now I wasn't the best player on the team, but I was a middle of the team (skill wise).

Given the lack of a denial, I'm guessing you were one of those stinkin' "backboard" opponents

 

[Gatorubet]

There's far too much to catch up on everything. And I hate to belabor a few points, but some people made some interesting comments.

1. The Babe Ruth thing. The guy was a tremendous athlete - he just didn't look like one. And I doubt anyone here actually had the luxury of watching in person (except maybe Best Buckeye). But what differentiated the guy from other guys in the game was his exceptional strength and hand-eye coordination. What separates Tiger is his exceptional speed and agility swinging a club - watching it makes my hip want to dislocate itself. The fact that he adds superior "touch" and poise doesn't take away from the fact that there is a significant gap in athleticism between he and the rest of the field.

Just look at the Babe's record as a pitcher. Tell me he was not an elite athlete?

In 1916 while pitching for the Red Sox he finished the year 23-12, with an ERA of 1.75 ERA. He also had 9 shutouts that year. Not too shabby. His record of shut outs by a south paw lasted until the 1978, when Ron Guidry tied him. If he hadn't been so damn good at hitting, he could be one of the greats of pitching. His knowedge of what a pitcher was thinking made his at bats even better. He was such a good hitter that his BoSox mangers decided that he was more valuable in the line up every day.

 

[ImFrigginFly]

We just saw this past weekend how a really good athlete can crossover into golf. Tony Romo, who is actually a really good golfer, got embarrassed playing Torrey Pines, shooting an 84...and he's something like a 2 handicap. That's a full 12-14 strokes off of what Tiger shot on the same exact course, only with tons more spectators and competing with many more guys to WIN. And still after playing 72 holes on that 7600 yard golf course for 4 consecutive days, his final 19 holes the next day he finished at even par. On "one leg". Ridiculous I tell ya.

 

[Mac]

Given the lack of a denial, I'm guessing you were one of those stinkin' "backboard" opponents

I edited that post but I also must add, I did put a lot of speed on the ball not just one of those guys, just hit it and make sure it barely gets over the net and in the lines.

 

[zincfinger]

3. People have to stop lumping golf in with pool. It's an absurd comparison, and if you think its at all relevant to the discussion, then I'm sorry, but you're misguided.

To my knowledge, I was the only one who brought up pool. And if you thought I was lumping golf in with pool (i.e. saying they were the same thing, athletically speaking), then I wasn't clear in making my point.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

There's far too much to catch up on everything. And I hate to belabor a few points, but some people made some interesting comments.

1. The Babe Ruth thing. The guy was a tremendous athlete - he just didn't look like one. And I doubt anyone here actually had the luxury of watching in person (except maybe Best Buckeye). But what differentiated the guy from other guys in the game was his exceptional strength and hand-eye coordination. What separates Tiger is his exceptional speed and agility swinging a club - watching it makes my hip want to dislocate itself. The fact that he adds superior "touch" and poise doesn't take away from the fact that there is a significant gap in athleticism between he and the rest of the field.

And I'd still take Tiger in sprint over Babe any day. (George Herman is, of course, dead though).

2. Someone made a point about someone from the sport of basketball or football training and playing golf at a high level. I've got news. Great athletes in other sports have been trying for years to play golf at a high level, and I can't think of one that's ever come close to getting his PGA tour card. Tom Glavine is the best athlete golfer I can think of, and Tiger still gives him double digit strokes when they play heads up.

3. People have to stop lumping golf in with pool. It's an absurd comparison, and if you think its at all relevant to the discussion, then I'm sorry, but you're misguided.



Sorry, you hate Tiger Woods. I'm still not sure why - to each his own. I'm sure your opinion of him in no way has had an impact on why you chimed in to simply say that golf wasn't a sport. Thanks for the input though.

awww...did i ruffle the feathers of the Tiger lover?

Sorry if I don't eat at the 24/7 buffet that is Tiger Wood's media coverage. That, in no way, relates to me stating that golf isn't a sport. I was responding to somebody who said it was.

need anything else?

 

[Thump]

awww...did i ruffle the feathers of the Tiger lover?

Sorry if I don't eat at the 24/7 buffet that is Tiger Wood's media coverage. That, in no way, relates to me stating that golf isn't a sport. I was responding to somebody who said it was.

need anything else?

What's your definition of a "sport"?

 

[Ttown]

What's your definition of a "sport"?

Tibor

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

My $0.02:

Who really cares whether golf can be catagorized as a 'sport' or Tiger as an 'athlete'? Tiger has quite simply been the most dominating competitor in golf in a generation, is on a collision course for the GOAT title and has garnered the repect of the all-time greats. To say that it's not a 'sport' is irrelevant, though golf takes as much if not more mental toughness, preparation, consistency and concentration as any other so-called athletic competition. Whether or not you respect golf or not, you can't deny that Tiger is special.

Now, that being said, I consider golf to be a leisure activity. Sure, the PGA pits the most skilled golfers in high-payout tourney's, but millions of people around the globe play golf for a leisurely activity - not unlike bowling. Despite that, I don't think it detracts from what Tiger has done and will presumably continue to do: dominate a field of highly skilled competitors.