Gordon Monson of the Salt Lake Tribune writes that Tiger Woods is the best athlete in history – even better than MJ.
It may not be a decathlon, but I didn’t say Tiger was the most athletic athlete of all time. I said he would be the greatest.
Why?
Because of the way he dominates his realm.
Not even Jordan did that the way Tiger does. Watching what he pulled off at the U.S. Open this past week is just the latest reminder. Limping around the course, grimacing with the tremendous force put upon his left knee off the tee, after surgery on that knee just two months ago, hitting ridiculous putts he had to hit in order to win, it was remarkable to watch.
Tiger is a lot like Jordan in that he has the best physical tools and the most mental toughness, a combination that makes him beyond formidable. We all saw the eye-popping eagle putts, the putts on 18 that on Sunday forced an 18-hole playoff and on Monday pushed that playoff to an extra hole.
Woods didn’t have his top game going at Torrey Pines; he was spraying the ball all over. But, in a way, that framed his greatness even more, highlighting the clutch shots he had to execute in order to win. He did and he did, the bum knee notwithstanding.
I get what Monson is saying, but it’s so hard to compare athletes in different sports and different generations. There are just too many questions that can be raised and the debate goes around in circles. Tiger’s performance at this year’s U.S. Open was absolutely amazing. Let’s leave it at that for now.
