Posted on 01/29/2007 4:02:18 AM PST by beyond the sea
Tennis is full of "dominant" players who go on runs like Federer. That does not happen in golf. There are a few (Jones, Palmer, Nicklaus, Hogan, etc) and their runs weren't common. Just my causual observation of the tennis scen over the past few decades shows me that it is quite common to have a single dominant player for a while. Golf is just not that way.
It doesn't prove anything of the sort.
One cannot expect a tennis player to run around the court once he hits around 35.
If Federer ends up with the most grand slams ever, the case for him will be much stronger.
But, yes, Tiger will still be playing probably into his fifties, and be the all-time everything in golf. I favor Tiger now, but Roger too is dominant at his sport.
Who is the More Dominant Performer? - (Federer or Woods)
Thanks in advance.
:-)
I personally don't think so.
However, Tiger is an amazing golfer and, barring serious injury, will eclipse Nicklaus as the best ever.
Similarly, I also think that Federer will retire as the best tennis player of all time.
I totally agree.
Minnesota fats!
Fed is much more dominant than the Tiger.
However...Tiger is in a tougher sport.
Tiger.... Tiger has to beat one-hundred fifty other golfers (typically) to win a tournament. His winning percentage is unprecedented for the modern era. I don't think he'll match Nelson's streak of 11, but what he has done so far is amazing. Federer has to win seven matches.
I totally agree.
...and ditto to that.
The title does say "more dominant" so if you made me choose, I'd have to say Federer, but only by the slimmest margin. The point that he hasn't won the French make me quiver in my statement as I make it but to be honest, I don't even consider that clay crap to be a proper surface.
They both are incredible athletes.
"The way the courses for the US Open are set up would be similar to putting oil on a tennis court and raising the net a couple of feet."
Good analogy. I would add, that while oil is on the court, the area beyond the baseline and sidelines would be not only be grass, but 6 inch bermuda grass...
Tough, but I have to go with Roger. I grew up with a tennic court in my back yard, so I have to go with the tennis guy. Plus, the agility.... amazing!
Best Sunday afternoon Augusta EVER!
Best Sunday afternoon AT Augusta ever.
Tough one, but I have to go with Federer. It's really hard to win tournaments when you are playing a series of head-to-head matches. 1 bad day, or 1 opponent who's game is made to beat you, and you're out. Tiger often survives a bad round to win a tournament.
I'm not criticizing Tiger. Golf requires a mental toughness that is comparable to Chess -- plus you got to hit the shot.
LOL.......... I hear you.
How about Bill 'Spaceman' Lee?
****
"You should enter a ballpark the way you enter a church." - Bill 'Spaceman' Lee
It really is a tough one, picking one over the other. Arguments can be made on both sides as we've seen here.
What's more interesting is thinking about the "best of all time" in their sport discussion...both seem headed down that road but both have work left to do to eclipse their predecessors. During the telecast of the Aussie Open final the announcers were saying that Federer shys away from the "greatest ever" moniker at this point and lists all the achievements he needs to complete to be deserving of that kind of talk.
Another thing to ponder with these comparisons is the competition of the two. Is there really anybody else in tennis or golf right now who is even close to these guys? Not really. Seems like in past eras there was always rivalries that athletes like Jack Nicklaus, Bjorn Borg, etc...had to contend with.
If Tiger and Federer are on their game you can hand them the trophy in any event.
****
"The other day they asked me about mandatory drug testing. I said I believed in drug testing a long time ago. All through the sixties I tested everything."
"Hell, if KY jelly went off the market, the whole California Angels pitching staff would be out of baseball."
"I'm mad at Hank (Aaron) for deciding to play one more season. I threw him his last home run and thought I'd be remembered forever. Now, I'll have to throw him another."
"I would change policy, bring back natural grass and nickel beer. Baseball is the belly-button of our society. Straighten out baseball, and you straighten out the rest of the world."
****
And these two guys are becoming real good friends. That's great.
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.