Tiger Woods: Best athlete ever.

[Tokyo Tony]

I don't know if you guys have been following Tiger lately, but FYI, he has won his last 7 consecutive PGA tour events, and 10 of his last 11 events worldwide.  We're talking about golf, where you enter a tournament against 100+ of the best golfers in the world, play 4 rounds, whoever finishes with the fewest shots wins.

Tiger is absolutely unbelievable.  When I watch him play, it sends chills down my spine, and I know that I'm witnessing history before my eyes.  Last weekend at the Bay Hill Invitational he was going into the 18th hole tied for the lead (after overcoming a 7 shot deficit from after Saturday's round), hits his approach shot to about 20 feet.  Big left-to-right curler, and obviously he just trickles it right in the heart.  What an amazing athlete - I sometimes doubt that he's human.

I believe Tiger is the best athlete of all time, in any sport, and I believe by the end of his career that this belief will be pretty much unanimous.

Here are some articles about him...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2555909

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/sportscolumns/entries/2008/02/28/hank_aaron_tige_1.html

This article is a retort to the above articles' point of view, and IMO is just terrible.

http://www.theseminal.com/2008/03/11/tiger-woods-greatest-golfer-not-greatest-athlete/

You guys agree?  Disagree?  Agree to disagree?  ;D

[CJ]

I will say, he has dominated his sport as well as anyone. Jordan, Ruth, Ali, and Gretsky are others who have for the era they played.

To say he is the greatest athlete ever? I guess I would have to get the proper definition of athlete before I went that far.

Your right though, history is being made. He is truely the best golfer ever in my book.

[roadwarrior]

I have resevations about "athleticism" as it applies to golf. However, if the question were "Best Ever" in sports, I would tend to agree. There are other contenders, but Tiger is one of the "Elite".

As good as Woods has played throughout his career, he still must surpass a few other records to be crowned King. I certainly believe this will happen and feel privileged to watch his epic march.

8-)

[Guest muddy]

Hey is right up there as a sports dominator, like Ali, Jordan,Gibson etc... I have never played golf so I do not know how athletic you have to be

[ring fry]

I have had reservations in the past about Tiger and the 'greatest ever' statements.  Athleticism really can't be questioned.  I played mini tours and a couple of PGA events in the 70's, and even though you can play with the John Daily body it is still physically and mentally exhausting to play competitive golf.  

Back to Tiger; Sarezan, Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus all were incredable, BUT their records are falling like dominos.  Maybe not now, but in the near future, barring injuries, he will be the greatest of all time.  Only two others can I think of that dominated like he does were Wilt Chanberlain and Jim Thorpe.

The talent and the numbers of people playing competitive golf are amazing and for one person to dominate like he has is beyond comprehension.  IMHO he is, or will be considered the greatest of all time.

[roadwarrior]

I have never played golf so I do not know how athletic you have to be

Well, you and I could play golf... :

[Guest muddy]

I have never played golf so I do not know how athletic you have to be

Well, you and I could play golf... :

I would rather cook some ribs with you ;D

[deadeye32.]

To me there is a big difference between being an athelete and being athletic.  You do not have to be athletic to be a great athlete.  I consider Tiger in golf, KVD in fishing, and A-rod in baseball all great "athletes", but take them out of their element, and are they very athletic?  I think an athletic person is someone who can do just about everything that involves movement or is good at many different sports.  Someone like Bo Jackson, or Lebron James.

Hope this makes sense,

Deadeye32  

[Guest muddy]

Thats like saying I love her but I am not in love with her GGEEZZZZZZZZ

No one hates the Yankees more than me but A Rod is one of the most athletic persons on the planet. How on earth could a person who in not athletic be an athlete????

[roadwarrior]

What sets Tiger Woods apart is his domination of the sport.

8-)

[Tokyo Tony]

I think athleticism, or being an athlete (in my mind, the same thing, but "athlete" implies being very athletic), is a combination of a few things: hand-eye coordination, physical ability (strength, endurance, agility, etc.), and to a degree, intelligence.

When I posted this topic I didn't realize that there could be a distinction between being the best all-time athlete and the most dominant in a certain sport, but I do see that distinction now, although it seems to me that if you have the best all-time athlete, that person will probably also be the most dominant in his sport, and vice-versa.

Either way, I'd still argue that Tiger is the best athlete of all time. If you dispute his physical ability, just look at his build the next time you see him. No one on tour works out as much or as well as Tiger, and his shoulders seem to have doubled since he first came on tour. He's jacked!

I also really believe that he would have absolutely dominated any sport he chose. I have nothing to back that statement up, but it's just my belief

If you hadn't realized it before, I definitely have a man-crush on Tiger

P.S. If you doubt that golf demands athleticism, give someone who's not athletic a golf club and watch him try to hit a golf ball.  Then give someone who is athletic a golf club and tell him to do the same thing.  You'll see the difference    Granted, if someone who's not athletic works for years, he can become decent at golf.  But to get to the highest levels, you HAVE to be an athlete.

[tyrius.]

I have never played golf so I do not know how athletic you have to be

Well, you and I could play golf... :

I can play golf too, but I'd wager that if I ever got to play alongside Tiger that he could hit from the Pro tees and I could drop my ball on the edge of the green and he'd still beat me.   ;D

[roadwarrior]

No doubt, Tiger Woods is a stud. On the other extreme you have

"The Walrus" (Craig Stadler) and John Daley for examples of golf's

less than "ripped".  Even old men can play golf and some play very

well!

8-)

[Grey Wolf]

Best athlete of all time ? I think not.

Jim Thrope

Jim Brown

Bo Jackson

Dave Winfield

Babe Ruth

He may end up as the greatest golfer of all time but he's still got a ways to go even before he can put a claim on that even. He's the most dominant player in any sport right now.

[Fish Man]

I will say, he has dominated his sport as well as anyone. Jordan, Ruth, Ali, and Gretsky are others who have for the era they played.

Dont forget to add Mario Lemieux to the list, i honestly think he was better than Gretsky but he had to many injuries  

But as far as being the best ever it would be hard to build a case against it thats for sure. One thing to consider is that in most other sports it s a tram so players can make up for one anothers weaknesses and seem better. however in Tigers case he is not on a team and everything he does is him, no one else

[Guest muddy]

You left off Maria Di Caticcore, a very athletic young lady from South Brooklyn, if I might say so myself

[Grey Wolf]

You left off Maria Di Caticcore, a very athletic young lady from South Brooklyn, if I might say so myself

Who Dat be Muddy ?

[senile1]

Let's not forget seven time Tour De France champion, Lance Armstrong.  As an aerobic athlete, I would place him at the pinnacle.  

There are different types of athleticism and comparisons really can't be made between someone who is strong as an ox and someone like Lance who could peddle for miles and miles up mountain after mountain.  

The same can be said for Tiger Woods.  Unless he gets injured or meets an untimely demise he will break every golf record known to man, but it doesn't follow that he would have been the greatest bicyclist or the greatest weightlifter, or the greatest runner, etc. if he had chosen those paths.  Those activities require different skills.  Determination and intensity of purpose alone, won't do it, though Tiger has these in abundance.  

[Fish Man]

no Babe Ruth but what about Cal Ripken jr?

[tyrius.]

No doubt, Tiger Woods is a stud. On the other extreme you have

"The Walrus" (Craig Stadler) and John Daley for examples of golf's

less than "ripped". Even old men can play golf and some play very

well!

8-)

There are "fatties" in many sports.  

My point wasn't to say that Tiger was an amazing athlete, just that the statement that we can also play golf doesn't really mean much.  I can play basketball, baseball, and football too, but I'm not all that good at them either.  

[deadeye32.]

I would love to see tiger hit a ball coming at him at 90mph instead of sitting still on a tee.  I also would love to see his jump shot.  I played with some good baseball players back when I played college ball who I considered athletes.  But put them on the basketball court or golf course and you would be crazy to call them athletic.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

It's all so relative.

I would say Tiger is climbing up the charts of "The Most Dominating Athlete of All Time"

That title would consider all athletes in their own element

[CJ]

Well I'm sorry the thread has partially been hijacked. But the topic does say "Best athlete ever".

After watching documentaries on alot of athletes throughout my life, my vote would be Ali. His coordination and physical strength were superior.

A couple I haven't seen mention:

Pele

Carl Lewis

[georgiabassfisherman]

I wouldnt go as far as saying he is the best athlet ever mine would be Bill Russell(11 championship rings) but he is the most dominant right now and he is also the highest paid athlete.

[flechero]

I think Tiger will be the best golfer of all time but he still has some records to break to get there.  Until then, he's not the best ever, even if he's a shoe in to make it there later.

Tiger's most impressive attribute, IMO, is his MENTAL game, not the physical game.