Comments on: Tiger Woods is the greatest sports figure ever

By: The Cultural Significance of Michael Phelps | Sports Business Digest

The Cultural Significance of Michael Phelps | Sports Business Digest — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:06:02 +0000

[...] endorsement dollars and have the same sort of impact that another dominant fringe sport athlete (Tiger Woods: Greatest Athlete Ever) has had over the [...]

By: emmettjones

emmettjones — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:01:29 +0000

Have to agree with you there…Tiger basically played on one leg, and had some incredible putts. He’s making people who never watched golf, myself included, watch every time he’s on TV

By: sportsattitude

sportsattitude — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:10:34 +0000

Emmett, can I change my vote? I don’t care what we call golf…what I saw yesterday at Torrey Pines rates second to none. My gosh, what a performance…

By: sportsattitude

sportsattitude — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:03:38 +0000

On the DH comparison, I would say that once the ball is hit he actually has to do something, like run the bases, break up a double play, tag on a sac fly. People have been having this discussion for ages now about whether golf is actually a sport. I think a lot of people can make a 35 yard putt, not as often, but they can. I think a much smaller number of people can hit a 95 mph fast ball coming straight at them. Pool, bowling, golf…I see them as mastering a skill of repetition in a forum where the average joe could also do as well if they practiced 80 hours a week for 20 years. I do not see them as sport. It always makes for good discussion.

By: Andrew A.

Andrew A. — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:07:54 +0000

Only in dreams or in another reality is golf as popular or as mainstream post-Tiger as basketball was post-Jordan. SportsCenter may cover more Tiger or more golf than ever before but the kids in the streets aren’t scrambling to a golf course as much as you imply. Ball in hand, they grab their Gatorade (or Tigerade) and head to the court to shoot some hoops …

By: emmettjones

emmettjones — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:03:49 +0000

I’m not sure how you differentiate between sport and skill, and since there is no clear cut definition, i just group them all together. The Designated Hitter in baseball stands still and tries to be accurate with their stroke as well, does that make baseball less of a sport?

Sure, baseball players have to hit a 90 mph fastball, but how many people can consistently make a 35 yard putt? And sure, you can say they make the putt because the practice it all the time, but isn’t that what every athlete does in every sport to make it easier?

By: sportsattitude

sportsattitude — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:50:25 +0000

I have to vote no. Golf to me is a skill, not a sport. He can have all the endorsements and sell all the cars and shaving cream and sports drinks in the world, but he’s done it by mastering a skill. If a bowler was as dominant in his sport as Woods in his, would we be having this discussion? Aren’t bowling and golf essentially the same general concept…pretty much standing in one place and trying to be accurate with your strokes?