Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Who is the more dominant performer?
espn.com ^ | 1/28/07 | unknown

Posted on 01/29/2007 4:02:18 AM PST by beyond the sea

Around the ESPN.com watercooler, it's a debate that sees more consternation than "Tastes great" versus "Less filling": Who is the more dominant performer, Tiger Woods or Roger Federer?

Each stated his case with another stunning victory on Sunday, as Woods claimed the Buick Invitational for his seventh consecutive PGA Tour victory and Federer notched the Australian Open for his third straight Grand Slam title.

If anything, the two players only added fuel to the fire with their most recent wins. Golf editor Jason Sobel and frequent tennis contributor Matt Wilansky debate which player is the most dominant athlete in this edition of Alternate Shot.

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: excellence; federer; tiger; woods
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-157 next last
To: beyond the sea

Both are the tops in their game...and both may prove to be the best ever in their sport. Neither can make that claim....yet. I would say Tiger is more dominant because it is much more difficult to win a golf tournament on a weekly basis than tennis. Whoever is 'the best' at tennis in a particular period wins a lot of grand slams. A dominant player can win 2-3 a year for a period of years consecutively like he is. Golf it happens once every 30 years or so.

I think Federer when it is all said and done will likely prove to be the best ever. Same with Tiger. Both are young and have a lot of playing time left in their primes. Can't take anything away from either.


121 posted on 01/29/2007 9:01:02 AM PST by ilgipper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hildy

The problem with boxing is that it's only good if it lasts a while. Back in 1988 a good friend of my parents paid $5000 to go to one of Mike Tyson's title fight against Michael Spinks. Tyson knocked out Spinks a minute and a half into the first round.


122 posted on 01/29/2007 9:01:25 AM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: beyond the sea

The key here is that no one in Tennis can touch Federer except Nadal on clay. Imagine a world where Federer was not around. Then Roddick, Nadal, Nalbandian, et al, all of whom are great players would rule the roost.


123 posted on 01/29/2007 9:10:32 AM PST by tarnak
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Yes, but for $5000 your parents get to say they saw Mike Tyson fight! For the record, I would never pay big bucks to see boxing. This is an event with four or five fights with up and comers. We have front row seats and we only paid $90!


124 posted on 01/29/2007 9:20:28 AM PST by Hildy (RUDY IN 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 122 | View Replies]

To: beyond the sea
'And these two guys are becoming real good friends. That's great.'

I don't buy it. The pair of them are probably just doing it for publicity.

125 posted on 01/29/2007 9:38:58 AM PST by jjbrouwer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: Hildy
I'm going to my first live boxing event in two weeks and I'm SO excited!

Wow.... that comes as a surprise that you would want to see a boxing match. Cool.

I hope one of the fighters does not end up like one of the participants I was unfortunate to see in 1962.

****

http://stjohnbeachguide.com/Griffith%20and%20Paret.htm

(snip) –

In the spring of 1962, boxers from two Caribbean islands met in the ring at New York City's Madison Square Garden where they battled for the World Welterweight Championship.

The bout between Emile Griffith from the Virgin Islands and Benny "Kid" Paret from Cuba has been described as a grudge match and its tragic conclusion shocked the boxing world.

****

In the 12th round Griffith backed Paret into a corner. Griffith connected with an assortment of uppercuts and hooks. Paret was in trouble. Paret started to go down, but his arm hooked onto the ropes and it held his body up. Griffith continued the ferocious assault. By the time the referee stopped the fight Paret was unconscious. He had to be carried out of the ring. The 25-year-old fighter went into a coma and died 10 days later.

Pachecho offers a possible explanation of the referee's fatal inaction, "…the referee, Ruby Goldstein, was recovering from a recent heart attack, and he was weak and ineffectual. On any night but this one Ruby Goldstein was the referee of choice… he had always controlled the fight, but not on this night.

"Griffith caught Paret in the corner, hurt him, and then lashed into him in a fury. Goldstein stood by glassy-eyed. He seemed incapable of stepping in. Paret's arm hooked on the top rope, and it held him up to more battering. The beating was savage, and compounded by the Fullmer beating three months earlier, it proved fatal."

****

It was not pleasant.

126 posted on 01/29/2007 9:45:13 AM PST by beyond the sea ( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: beyond the sea
I guess I just get tired of seeing players that look like they've been in a paint ball battle playing with a ball that's doubled in weight. That's why they call the great players on clay......... "dirtballers". LOL

heh..didn't know that one...and besides that, it's in france so what better reason is needed to detest it?

They should nuke the french open and move it to Iran.

What new name could we give it??? hmmmm???

127 posted on 01/29/2007 9:48:05 AM PST by evad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]

To: tarnak
I hear you........ but I must say, I think Federer will win the French this year.

I guess we will see.

128 posted on 01/29/2007 9:48:30 AM PST by beyond the sea ( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 123 | View Replies]

To: Hildy; wagglebee
This is an event with four or five fights with up and comers. We have front row seats and we only paid $90!

Wear a rain hat and a coat.

The splashed sweat (or blood) is a bummer in the front rows.

;-)

****

Sort of like being right up front at a Gallagher event with the smashed watermelon.

129 posted on 01/29/2007 9:52:30 AM PST by beyond the sea ( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 124 | View Replies]

To: jjbrouwer
And these two guys are becoming real good friends. That's great.' ................. I don't buy it. The pair of them are probably just doing it for publicity.

LOL.

You are wrong (for once).

Tiger and Roger don't need any publicity.

They are tight...... they understand each other.

130 posted on 01/29/2007 9:54:44 AM PST by beyond the sea ( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 125 | View Replies]

To: evad
They should nuke the french open and move it to Iran. What new name could we give it??? hmmmm???

I don't know ........ The Green Glass Open?

131 posted on 01/29/2007 9:56:18 AM PST by beyond the sea ( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 127 | View Replies]

To: Rummyfan
Tiger.... Tiger has to beat one-hundred fifty other golfers (typically) to win a tournament.

And don't forget another very important point, the tournaments that Tiger DIDN'T win but lost by only 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 strokes over a 4 day period............

Amateur career U.S. Junior Amateur champion: 1991-1993

U.S. Amateur: 1994-1996 (only player to win three consecutive titles)

NCAA Championship: 1996

Professional career

PGA Tour wins: 52 (tied for 5th all time with Byron Nelson)

Tour Earnings: $63,422,324 (First all time)

Lowest single-season scoring average (adjusted): 67.79 (2000, Tour record)

Lowest single-season scoring average (actual): 68.17 (2000, Tour record)

Lowest 72-hole score: 259 (21 under), 2000 WGC NEC Invitational (Tour record 254, held by Tommy Armour III)

Most strokes under par: 25, 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic and 2002 WGC American Express Championship (Tour record 31, held by Ernie Els)

Most victories in one season: nine (2000)

Major Championships: 12 (second all-time).

Only player to win four consecutive professional majors (2000-2001);

second player (after Ben Hogan) to win three in a season (2000);

fifth to earn career grand slam.

International wins: 11

Ryder Cup appearances: 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004

Records

Most Tour wins between ages 20-29: 34 (Jack Nicklaus second with 30)

Most Tour wins after 25 starts: 6 (Ken Venturi second with 5)

Most Tour wins after 75 starts: 17 (Nicklaus is second with 12) Most Tour wins after 100 starts: 28 (Nicklaus is second with 17)

Youngest to reach world No. 1 ranking: 21 years, 24 weeks (previously held by Bernhard Langer [29 years, 31 weeks] in 1986)

Most strokes under par in a major: 19 in the 2000 British Open. Woods also has two of the three 18-under major scores and holds or shares the under-par record in all four events.

Lowest score after 36 holes: 125, 2000 WGC NEC Invitational (tied with Mark Calcavecchia and Tom Lehman)

Lowest adjusted season scoring average: 67.79 in 2000.

Woods also has the second, third and fourth lowest averages.

Most consecutive rounds at par or better: 52, 2001-2001

Most consecutive events at par or better (stroke play only): 35, 1999-2001

Most consecutive cuts made: 133, 1998-2004 (Byron Nelson second with 113)

Most prize money, career: $60,898,324

Tour records and statistics courtesy of PGATour.com

August 11, 2006

Content for this site is provided by GolfPublisher Syndications

132 posted on 01/29/2007 9:57:46 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Dear Santa: Next year, READ THE STUPID LIST! Oh, and thanks for the socks....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: All
Barbaro was euthanized this morning.

God bless him.................

133 posted on 01/29/2007 10:03:49 AM PST by beyond the sea ( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: beyond the sea
They are both pretty dominant, but I have to go with someone else.

Ben Askren NCAA wrestling champion. He is 27-0 with 23 pins. In one astonishing stretch, he pinned 15 consecutive opponents in the first period. The guy ranked second at his weight went down twice in a 19-day span, in 2 minutes 34 seconds and 2:16, respectively. All-American Matt Herrington of Penn lasted just 39 seconds. Plus his winning streak stands at 72 right now.

Oh and he has way sweeter hair than either Tiger or Federer.


134 posted on 01/29/2007 10:08:29 AM PST by Mr. Blonde (Like I always say, there's no "I" in team. There's a "me" though, if you jumble it up.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Blonde
You have to be kidding.

Wait 'til the kid does it four years in a row like a few others have done.

LOL.

Then, he'll leave college, get fat, and sell cars.

135 posted on 01/29/2007 10:12:35 AM PST by beyond the sea ( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 134 | View Replies]

To: beyond the sea

Even the two who did it four years in a row weren't that dominant when it came to pinning. Very few are. Not to mention I don't believe either of them ever bumped up to wrestle the number two ranked guy a weight above and came away with a victory. Not saying they couldn't have, but they didn't do it.


136 posted on 01/29/2007 10:34:33 AM PST by Mr. Blonde (Like I always say, there's no "I" in team. There's a "me" though, if you jumble it up.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 135 | View Replies]

To: beyond the sea

Still don't buy it.


137 posted on 01/29/2007 10:40:37 AM PST by jjbrouwer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 130 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child

Also need to mention that Women's tennis plays best 2 outta 3 sets not the 3 outta 5.

Tiger is a great golfer, on his way to being the best ever. And as hard as it is to compare golf to tennis, I say Federer is the more dominant because of the nature of the game. Tennis is a more demanding game than golf. And I am not saying golf is easy. It's absolutely not. But, golf doesn't include those other 150 players making it more difficult for you to strike the ball. Golf is a game of you against the course. You don't have to win each round to advance.

The biggest issue is that golf is a more popular sport now in the US than Tennis is. If Federer was black, you can bet the consensus would be he'd be the more dominant player.


138 posted on 01/29/2007 10:48:50 AM PST by MAD-AS-HELL (How does one win over terrorists? KILL them with UNKINDNESS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: ShawTaylor
The last desperate resort of any poster is to call an American a Canadian.

There's no question that womens' tennis and mens' tennis are two different games. Count up the number of aces in any given match -- particularly on a fast surface like grass. A male player with nothing more to his name than a strong, booming serve can run deep into the tournament at Wimbledon simply by cranking out 40-50 aces when he's on serve (Goran Ivanisevic won Wimbledon a couple of years ago as an unseeded has-been by serving a record 213 aces).

A "first serve" from a male player like Andy Roddick can exceed 150 miles per hour. A female player with a "strong, booming serve," on the other hand, would be hard-pressed to reach 125 mph on her serve.

This stark difference between men and women explains why it's so difficult for male players to dominate all four Grand Slam tournaments.

139 posted on 01/29/2007 10:56:41 AM PST by Alberta's Child (Can money pay for all the days I lived awake but half asleep?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: beyond the sea
I disagree. There is just not as much competition in bicycle racing.

Cycling is won in the 'preparation' more than any other sport that I can think of. Illustrating that point was a comment made by a friend & competitor of Lance Armstrong's. One Christmas Day he picked up his telephone & called Lance's cellphone to wish him a 'Merry Christmas'. Lance answered the phone while on his bike somewhere in the Pyrennes in the middle of a training ride. On hanging up the friend was quoted as saying to his fellow partygoers, "Sh-t! I just lost this year's Tour de France!"

140 posted on 01/29/2007 12:27:08 PM PST by Tallguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 110 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-157 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson