Tiger Woods v. Mohammad Ali

[haplesshacker]

there is far too much hyperbole in sports journalism no matter what the source.

'brave' isn't taking on a risky shot into a well bunkered green, nor is it standing in a ring trading punches for wads of cash. Brave is a squaddie in downtown Iraq or Afghanistan.

Got to agree with you there.

There's to much hype surrounding sports persons. Okay so an injury, though not fatal physically, could be fatal financially for them, so I can understand any sports person pulling out of an event, just to protect future earnings.

But, that does not make them heroes, just cannie!

I've sat under targets at an Army firing range when 30 SA80's and 4 7.62 tripod mounted Gympys were firing at the targets above my head. Now if someone said to me that I 'd need to stick my head up and return fire.......well, I can't say if I would or wouldn't. Those guys are brave.

I was too young to really know what Ali was up against, but I am aware of the whole race issue in the US at the time. Perhaps golf didn't want Tiger in it's nice little white colony. Maybe there's a lot that happened behind the scenes that we don't know about.

Tiger doesn't come near to Ali.

BTW golf is a sport, like any other. It's just jurnos going for the attrition.

 

[Macster]

and how many other Golfers can you name that have snapped a Cruciate Ligament ?

Plenty swing very hard, and and carry more weight than he does, which itself would put more pressure on the left knee.

I didnt beleive at the time, and still dont now, that his knee injury was anything like as bad as made out.

Whilst I appreciate his skill as a golfer, I certainly dont enjoy watching him, find him petulant and rather characterless.

 

[Robobum]

I stand corrected if wrong but I thought that his ACL was already ruptured prior to the event?? The stress fractures had already been dignosed also.

 

[Macster]

footnote: I can be petulant and rather characterless too sometimes.... ;-)

 

[Dodger]

Next ChrisMc you'll be telling us the yanks engineered 9/11 so they could invade oil rich Iraq!

 

[Macster]

dodger: dont get me started on that one !

Have you ever watched 911 - Loose Change. ??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E3oIbO0AWE

perhaps you should if not.

 

[Marko77]

This forum topic has probably meant Simon Barnes' article has done what his bosses wanted it to do. Get people talking.

I can see where his article is coming from but it's always dodgy ground comparing sports people from different sports, hell, its hard enough comparing sports people in the SAME sport from different generations (Woods/Nicklaus debate).

Rather than dissing Tiger Simon Barnes should have just kept his gob shut!

 

[nicksampo]

The way I see it. Both are great sportsmen, but Ali is also a great man.

... If you get my drift

 

[Qwerty]

The way I see it. Both are great sportsmen, but Ali is also a great man.

... If you get my drift

Exactly.
Is the debate who is the greatest man, or sportsman.

I Wouldn't say Woods was bland in press conferences and interviews. just modest and dignified, which is exactly what the game is about for me.

I'd rather listen to a Tiger Woods interview. Than an attention seeking clown like Ian Poulter.

 

[vig]

dodger: dont get me started on that one !

Have you ever watched 911 - Loose Change. ??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E3oIbO0AWE

perhaps you should if not.

Jesus Chris, There are some scary statements on the vt. I watched every second of that.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think the piece typifies his mode of writing which is as much about hyperbole and creating a reaction as substance. I agree that his comments about the game of golf show an lack on vision insight associated with a non-golfer andhis comments on Woods perfromance when his pain etc are well documented shows a desire to spark a reaction.

However where I do agree is when you look at Ali's record outside of the sport not only in terms of helping to break down barriers and discrimination but but his sheer presence globally either as a celebrity of as a fighter. Here is a man who has not only raised millions for charity but carved a niche as an entertainer and raconteur. Sadly this is a side of Wood we are unlikely to ever see shackled as he is to the corporate paymasters.

Its ironic that such a poor peice of journalism should actually provoke such a lively and interesting debate.

 

[Macster]

Makes you think Vig doesnt it ?

 

[Dave3498]

I don't know why it is necessary for the man to make the comparisons in the first place. You cannot equate one sport to another or one level of skill to another. One thing is certain though, when it comes to boxing versus golf clearly it takes a lifetime and a lot of talent to create a Tiger Woods, but you could have a reasonable level of success if you took a big pub brawler, gave him 6 weeks training and stuck him in the ring with Ali. I'm not saying he would win, but his performance would be closer to Ali's than that of an ordinary Joe with a bit of instruction would be to Tiger Woods.

 

[vig]

I don't know why it is necessary for the man to make the comparisons in the first place. You cannot equate one sport to another or one level of skill to another. One thing is certain though, when it comes to boxing versus golf clearly it takes a lifetime and a lot of talent to create a Tiger Woods, but you could have a reasonable level of success if you took a big pub brawler, gave him 6 weeks training and stuck him in the ring with Ali. I'm not saying he would win, but his performance would be closer to Ali's than that of an ordinary Joe with a bit of instruction would be to Tiger Woods.

Have you ever tried boxing?
Thought not.
A pub brawler would have a punchers chance, that's all. 6 weeks traing and put him in with a decent amateur and he would be systematically taken apart.
I saw Errol Graham do a demonstration at our boxing club. The lads couldn't lay a glove on him.

 

[forefortheday]

I don't know why it is necessary for the man to make the comparisons in the first place. You cannot equate one sport to another or one level of skill to another. One thing is certain though, when it comes to boxing versus golf clearly it takes a lifetime and a lot of talent to create a Tiger Woods, but you could have a reasonable level of success if you took a big pub brawler, gave him 6 weeks training and stuck him in the ring with Ali. I'm not saying he would win, but his performance would be closer to Ali's than that of an ordinary Joe with a bit of instruction would be to Tiger Woods.

Ever seen Ali box? Ali in his prime would destroy anyone outside of the pro ranks within a round, maybe two at maximum.

Tiger could only win on the 9th Matchplay against me and my jaw would still be in the same place.

 

[USER1999]

If Tiger was to fight Ali tomorrow, my money wouold be on Tiger.

Seriously,you can't compare different sports, different eras, etc. Who knows what pressures each was under? Tiger must have battled racism too. The whole article is sensationalist rubbish.

I admire Ali, although a lot of his early politics stink (Oh, and Mandela is a terrorist, but every one worships him too now).

Armstrong is amazing, and I stronly believe that after his cancer, he has been clean. Prior to that, anything goes, but then that was the culture back then.

Funny no one points the finger at Miguel Indurain, yet he won through the worst ers.

 

[Herbie]

If Tiger was to fight Ali tomorrow, my money wouold be on Tiger.

Seriously,you can't compare different sports, different eras, etc. Who knows what pressures each was under? Tiger must have battled racism too. The whole article is sensationalist rubbish.

I admire Ali, although a lot of his early politics stink (Oh, and Mandela is a terrorist, but every one worships him too now).

Armstrong is amazing, and I stronly believe that after his cancer, he has been clean. Prior to that, anything goes, but then that was the culture back then.

Funny no one points the finger at Miguel Indurain, yet he won through the worst ers.

Murph, Ive never worshiped mandella, both he and his missus were what they were and deserved a lot of what happened to them, but dont deserve the drooling admiration they get today.

 

[USER1999]

Oh, and for ers read era. Damn keyboard. Or is is just the Stella talking.