Whose recent reign of dominance impresses you most: Tiger Woods or Roger Federer?
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Wallysays
Since tennis has ceased to exist in the public’s eye … even to a greater degree than the NHL … this question is meaningless. So my answer is a return question: Who is Roger Federer? If he’s a tennis player, he doesn’t really exist, so I guess “Tiger Woods” is my actual answer to the question: Tiger Woods or _________?
Similarly, if your favorite NHL team, let’s just say it’s now the Sabres, has a fantastic season and wins the Stanley Cup, but nobody sees it … then did it really happen? It pains me to say this because I love hockey, but the NHL has been pushed into some neverland within a quasi-existence.
Tennis? Great game to play, but otherwise a big yawn … could care less if they banned the pro game. We’re a long ways removed from Borg, Connors and McEnroe.
Here’s question … do any of our readers care about NASCAR? God, I hope not …
Of course if someone wanted to discuss NASCAR on this site please let me know, and I will post it. You can simply email me or inlcude the topic in another discussion, and I will make the transfer. We have the choice whether to enter into a discussion or not. Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open…WALLY!!!! Don’t mind Wally and his bully tactics.
I must admit that I stole this topic from a NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO SHOW in which the host and numerous callers discussed the accomplishments of Woods in comparison with Federer. As I listened I thought WOW, I would love to hear what everybody on this site has to say. So please if you clicked here, I hope you were not discouraged by the dismissive tone of the first comment.
Diminishing a sport because of its inability to capture the public eye scares me. If we are going to use the public eye as the way to measure our sports then many of the early Super Bowls are meaningless. They didn’t always sell out, and I remember seeing ticket prices in the range of $12-$15. The early bowls did not receive prime time coverage and there was no emphasis on the TV commercials.
Why does the public dictate what is right about sports? The public doesn’t know what a three-step drop is. The public probably thinks fungo is an amusement park. Do you think the public knows what an up and under move is? Probably not because every time I see a kid do one in a high school game, people start screaming for a travel. One of these days I am going to ask the refs to stop the game. I am going to grab the mic and explain travelling. It won’t matter because the public just wants to sound like they know what they are talking about.
If you want public Wally have you heard of Wimbledon or the US Open? Last time I checked the USA network gives those events prime time coverage. Just because you and your assumed majority does not pay attention does not mean that others do the same. A big part of the reason why tennis has drifted is because the athletes who play tennis do just that; they play the game. You will not turn on a tennis match and see all of the ‘look-at-me-antics’. The public wants the ‘lama’ stuff. Is that what you call sports? I don’t.
Have you actually watched Roger Federer? If you haven’t, you are missing something special.
Abnormality
Johnsays
Federer. He’s already considered the best ever on rankopedia.
Welcome aboard it is great to have some new blood!
Wallysays
Okay. Then I’m gonna answer your question in terms that you can hopefully understand. The answer is Tiger, and the reason I give you that response indeed goes back to the popularity of their respective sports. Popularity is relevant!!! Golf’s popularity has been soaring all over the world and because of that, so is participation … and all the new entrants are gunning for Woods. There are thousands and thousands … well millions … of kids/teenagers/young adults now playing golf and aiming to knock Tiger off. Meanwhile, the popularity of tennis has been shrinking, and with that so has participation, and with that so has the quality of those challenging Federer. So for every young stud tennis player “capable” of beating Federer, there’s 10 stud golfers capable of beating Tiger. That’s what makes Tiger’s dominance so AMAZING and more impressive than Foraker’s. Got it?!?!?
I love this question!! And I think that both sports and relevant..Tennis isn’t big here in the USA, but does that diminish the popularity of the sport throughout the world? Absolutely not.
That being said.. I love this question. To me it rivals the question, “Who did more for their sport – Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky? ”
Anyway, I digress. Too me, both streaks are impressive and we are seeing the best there has been and the best we may ever see.. The Roy Hobbs of their sports. What stands out for me is the obstacles that can work against Tiger Woods. Roger faces his opponents one at a time.Tiger takes on a couple of hundred golfers each tournament and each round.. Not too mention Mother Nature. Tennis stops for rain.. Golf doesn’t unless there is thunder and lightning.
Can’t use different courses, becase Federer plays and win on clay, hardcourt and grass. Actually now that I think about it.. That is point for Federer..
Still in the end.. It’s Tiger against the world for 4 rounds every weekend..Roger gets his opponents one at a time. To me that is just impressive that there is so much going against Tiger each tournament..
Great question Casey!!
Wallysays
Paul —
Thanks for the set of Buffalo Sabres playing cards you sent back with Mol! Those will be reserved for only the best Euchre and Poker games at our place. Maybe when you come here next time …
Wally
Mikesays
Does anyone with a real athletic future in America play tennis? On the other hand, golf has certainly become more of a popular sport among atheletes in this country. So, my answer is Woods. Federer has been more “dominant”, I don’t think there is an argument there. But, against who? Woods has fought off osme pretty good golfers: Mickelson, Els, Singh, Furyk…and keeps getting better, at a more difficult sport, in my opinion.
JDsays
I am not even sure golf is a sport. Any activity where a person with Tim Herron’s body can win a professional tournament cannot really be considered a sport. Anything you can do while smoking a cigarette(John Daly) or drinking a bunch of beers(see any number of hackers on your local links) struggles to be considered a sport. You definitely cannot play tennis while puffing on a Macanudo or chugging a Coors. Having said that I do enjoy watching both of them. Absolutely the best at what they do. Federer’s run though in my book is the more impressive one. I do hate the fact that these guys get to pick and choose which tournaments they play in. Woods current streak has taken place over a span of something like 7 months.
Wally says
Since tennis has ceased to exist in the public’s eye … even to a greater degree than the NHL … this question is meaningless. So my answer is a return question: Who is Roger Federer? If he’s a tennis player, he doesn’t really exist, so I guess “Tiger Woods” is my actual answer to the question: Tiger Woods or _________?
Similarly, if your favorite NHL team, let’s just say it’s now the Sabres, has a fantastic season and wins the Stanley Cup, but nobody sees it … then did it really happen? It pains me to say this because I love hockey, but the NHL has been pushed into some neverland within a quasi-existence.
Tennis? Great game to play, but otherwise a big yawn … could care less if they banned the pro game. We’re a long ways removed from Borg, Connors and McEnroe.
Here’s question … do any of our readers care about NASCAR? God, I hope not …
Out.
Casey says
Of course if someone wanted to discuss NASCAR on this site please let me know, and I will post it. You can simply email me or inlcude the topic in another discussion, and I will make the transfer. We have the choice whether to enter into a discussion or not. Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open…WALLY!!!! Don’t mind Wally and his bully tactics.
I must admit that I stole this topic from a NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO SHOW in which the host and numerous callers discussed the accomplishments of Woods in comparison with Federer. As I listened I thought WOW, I would love to hear what everybody on this site has to say. So please if you clicked here, I hope you were not discouraged by the dismissive tone of the first comment.
Diminishing a sport because of its inability to capture the public eye scares me. If we are going to use the public eye as the way to measure our sports then many of the early Super Bowls are meaningless. They didn’t always sell out, and I remember seeing ticket prices in the range of $12-$15. The early bowls did not receive prime time coverage and there was no emphasis on the TV commercials.
Why does the public dictate what is right about sports? The public doesn’t know what a three-step drop is. The public probably thinks fungo is an amusement park. Do you think the public knows what an up and under move is? Probably not because every time I see a kid do one in a high school game, people start screaming for a travel. One of these days I am going to ask the refs to stop the game. I am going to grab the mic and explain travelling. It won’t matter because the public just wants to sound like they know what they are talking about.
If you want public Wally have you heard of Wimbledon or the US Open? Last time I checked the USA network gives those events prime time coverage. Just because you and your assumed majority does not pay attention does not mean that others do the same. A big part of the reason why tennis has drifted is because the athletes who play tennis do just that; they play the game. You will not turn on a tennis match and see all of the ‘look-at-me-antics’. The public wants the ‘lama’ stuff. Is that what you call sports? I don’t.
Have you actually watched Roger Federer? If you haven’t, you are missing something special.
Abnormality
John says
Federer. He’s already considered the best ever on rankopedia.
Casey says
Hey John!
Welcome aboard it is great to have some new blood!
Wally says
Okay. Then I’m gonna answer your question in terms that you can hopefully understand. The answer is Tiger, and the reason I give you that response indeed goes back to the popularity of their respective sports. Popularity is relevant!!! Golf’s popularity has been soaring all over the world and because of that, so is participation … and all the new entrants are gunning for Woods. There are thousands and thousands … well millions … of kids/teenagers/young adults now playing golf and aiming to knock Tiger off. Meanwhile, the popularity of tennis has been shrinking, and with that so has participation, and with that so has the quality of those challenging Federer. So for every young stud tennis player “capable” of beating Federer, there’s 10 stud golfers capable of beating Tiger. That’s what makes Tiger’s dominance so AMAZING and more impressive than Foraker’s. Got it?!?!?
Wally
Aaron says
I love this question!! And I think that both sports and relevant..Tennis isn’t big here in the USA, but does that diminish the popularity of the sport throughout the world? Absolutely not.
That being said.. I love this question. To me it rivals the question, “Who did more for their sport – Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky? ”
Anyway, I digress. Too me, both streaks are impressive and we are seeing the best there has been and the best we may ever see.. The Roy Hobbs of their sports. What stands out for me is the obstacles that can work against Tiger Woods. Roger faces his opponents one at a time.Tiger takes on a couple of hundred golfers each tournament and each round.. Not too mention Mother Nature. Tennis stops for rain.. Golf doesn’t unless there is thunder and lightning.
Can’t use different courses, becase Federer plays and win on clay, hardcourt and grass. Actually now that I think about it.. That is point for Federer..
Still in the end.. It’s Tiger against the world for 4 rounds every weekend..Roger gets his opponents one at a time. To me that is just impressive that there is so much going against Tiger each tournament..
Great question Casey!!
Wally says
Paul —
Thanks for the set of Buffalo Sabres playing cards you sent back with Mol! Those will be reserved for only the best Euchre and Poker games at our place. Maybe when you come here next time …
Wally
Mike says
Does anyone with a real athletic future in America play tennis? On the other hand, golf has certainly become more of a popular sport among atheletes in this country. So, my answer is Woods. Federer has been more “dominant”, I don’t think there is an argument there. But, against who? Woods has fought off osme pretty good golfers: Mickelson, Els, Singh, Furyk…and keeps getting better, at a more difficult sport, in my opinion.
JD says
I am not even sure golf is a sport. Any activity where a person with Tim Herron’s body can win a professional tournament cannot really be considered a sport. Anything you can do while smoking a cigarette(John Daly) or drinking a bunch of beers(see any number of hackers on your local links) struggles to be considered a sport. You definitely cannot play tennis while puffing on a Macanudo or chugging a Coors. Having said that I do enjoy watching both of them. Absolutely the best at what they do. Federer’s run though in my book is the more impressive one. I do hate the fact that these guys get to pick and choose which tournaments they play in. Woods current streak has taken place over a span of something like 7 months.