Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

[ehh]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORES'S MOUTH!!!!!!


Here's a quote directly from Tiger Woods during an interview with Bill Simmons posted on ESPN.com today.


Pretty funny:

"You can't really intimidate anyone in golf because there is no physical contact." - Tiger Woods

Straight from Tiger's mouth!

7. Grabbing an idea from my mailbag, I threw the idea at him that MJ should be the next Ryder Cup captain, with Charles Oakley as his sidekick. He seemed intrigued but skeptical, claiming that the captains do "more than you think." Whatever. I mentioned how a cigar-smoking Oakley would intimidate the Europeans, who were too comfortable against us in the past two Ryder Cups. Maybe he would shake them up. Tiger mulled that one over, finally pointing out that you couldn't really intimidate anyone in golf because there was no physical contact. I begrudgingly accepted that one, but not before adding, "I think Oakley could get to Sergio." That cracked Tiger up. I'm convinced that you could make a joke about Oakley kicking someone's *** to any athlete and he'd laugh.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...simmons/061012

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

in‧tim‧i‧date  /ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-tim-i-deyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used with object), -dat‧ed, -dat‧ing.
1. to make timid; fill with fear.
2. to overawe or cow, as through the force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, etc.
3. to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear: to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls.


Bam. Rather than argue with you over whether or not there needs to be physical contact for intimidation to occur I'll just let dictionary.com do it for me.

[ehh]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

in‧tim‧i‧date  /ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-tim-i-deyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used with object), -dat‧ed, -dat‧ing.
1. to make timid; fill with fear.
2. to overawe or cow, as through the force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, etc.
3. to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear: to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls.


Bam. Rather than argue with you over whether or not there needs to be physical contact for intimidation to occur I'll just let dictionary.com do it for me.

Oh, I absolutely agree that a golfer can be intimidating, I never argued the opposite in this thread. I made other points. It's just funny that Woods himself said it.

[Bobolini]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

I have to go Babe Ruth. In 1920 Babe Ruth hit 54 Homeruns. This was his second full year as a fulltime hitter. Well 54 may not sound like much but that was more than any other AL team's total.
1920
Babe Ruth 54
St Louis Browns 50
Philiadelphia 44
Chicago 37
Wash 36
Clev 35
Detroit 30
Boston 22
I think that's pretty amazing!
1921 Ruth hit 59 homeruns
and only Philly and St Louis as a team hit more, 82 and 67 respectively. Say what you want but that was domination.

[Dallasin2K3]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

in‧tim‧i‧date  /ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-tim-i-deyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used with object), -dat‧ed, -dat‧ing.
1. to make timid; fill with fear.
2. to overawe or cow, as through the force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, etc.
3. to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear: to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls.


Bam. Rather than argue with you over whether or not there needs to be physical contact for intimidation to occur I'll just let dictionary.com do it for me.

It all depends on what denotation you use. Tiger, evidently, was operating on something like #1. A lot of folks in this thread work with #2. It can work either way, IMO.

[Keyser Soze]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

I have to say, without a doubt, it was MJ during their runs of titles. I am shocked that Vegas was even able to keep the Bulls on the board as a viable betting option because there was never any doubt in MJ's mind who was going to win those championships. If there was ever a guy who could get the job done by his will alone, I would say it was MJ.

If the game went to the wire, the last trip down the floor, you not only knew who was going to take the shot but you also knew the outcome. Somehow, it was still very exciting even though you knew MJ would not be denied.

[MassNole]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

I have to say, without a doubt, it was MJ during their runs of titles. I am shocked that Vegas was even able to keep the Bulls on the board as a viable betting option because there was never any doubt in MJ's mind who was going to win those championships. If there was ever a guy who could get the job done by his will alone, I would say it was MJ.

If the game went to the wire, the last trip down the floor, you not only knew who was going to take the shot but you also knew the outcome. Somehow, it was still very exciting even though you knew MJ would not be denied.

Perhaps Vegas didn't think the NBA was rigging games back then, which sadly they were. There has never been a team in sports history who got more preferential treatment from the zebras than the Bulls of the mid-late 90's.

[Keyser Soze]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

Perhaps Vegas didn't think the NBA was rigging games back then, which sadly they were. There has never been a team in sports history who got more preferential treatment from the zebras than the Bulls of the mid-late 90's.

That said, whether it was rigged or not, when MJ got the ball in the clutch there was going to be points scored from his shot or from the free throw line. That had to SUCK to know it was coming and not be able to do **** about it.

[Brandon13]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

Tiger continues to dominate, winning his 7th consecutive PGA Tour event. He now holds the 2nd and 3rd longest winning streaks of all time. The record is eleven consecutive wins.

[MizzouBravesFan]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

To answer the question, right now it has to be Roger Federer. I say that because while Tiger is dominant, I don't think he intimidates the other golfers as much as he used to...he's just better than them, period. There's a lot of young guys gunning for him that honestly think they can hang with him and beat him, sure he still gets in the heads of guys like Mickelson, Els, Singh, etc. but overall I wouldn't say he really intimidates the entire field overall...he just has a clutch factor that is out of this world and is that much better.

Now with Federer, all of the male tennis players know that to beat him they have to be absolutely perfect and he has to have an off day. I mean, look at how guys like Roddick look great against other players but once they come up against Fed, it's over...he's in their head and the match is over before it starts. That's truly intimidation and imposing and frightening. I honestly think that there isn't one tennis player that thinks they can really hang with him if he's on. Sure they'll say they can but deep down, they know that if he's playing at or even near his peak, NO ONE is beating him.

IMO that kind of stuff is much more amplified in sports where it's 1 v. 1 in tennis as opposed to golf where it's everyone v. the field, so I think that also swings it in Fed's favor.

[pk500]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

Good point about Federer. Dude didn't lose a set during the entire Australian Open.

Take care,
PK

[Blaxican8504]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

For example, if there was a serial killer loose in your neighborhood, would you have to see him eye to eye to feel intimidated and scared? Tiger is the serial killer of sports: You don't have to play in his twosome to be scared of him on the course.

That is one excellent quote. I never thought I would do this, but I am going to use that as a sig.

[mjb2124]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

To answer the question, right now it has to be Roger Federer. I say that because while Tiger is dominant, I don't think he intimidates the other golfers as much as he used to...he's just better than them, period. There's a lot of young guys gunning for him that honestly think they can hang with him and beat him, sure he still gets in the heads of guys like Mickelson, Els, Singh, etc. but overall I wouldn't say he really intimidates the entire field overall...he just has a clutch factor that is out of this world and is that much better.

Now with Federer, all of the male tennis players know that to beat him they have to be absolutely perfect and he has to have an off day. I mean, look at how guys like Roddick look great against other players but once they come up against Fed, it's over...he's in their head and the match is over before it starts. That's truly intimidation and imposing and frightening. I honestly think that there isn't one tennis player that thinks they can really hang with him if he's on. Sure they'll say they can but deep down, they know that if he's playing at or even near his peak, NO ONE is beating him.

IMO that kind of stuff is much more amplified in sports where it's 1 v. 1 in tennis as opposed to golf where it's everyone v. the field, so I think that also swings it in Fed's favor.

While I don't really follow tennis, isn't what you're describing with Federer the same as Tiger? Federer is just better than everyone he plays and has to have a bad day and have someone have a perfect day to beat him. I think that's the same as it is with Tiger. Only way he's beat is if he's having an off-day and someone else is on that day.

[MassNole]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

While I don't really follow tennis, isn't what you're describing with Federer the same as Tiger? Federer is just better than everyone he plays and has to have a bad day and have someone have a perfect day to beat him. I think that's the same as it is with Tiger. Only way he's beat is if he's having an off-day and someone else is on that day.

I don't know that I'd agree with the assessment of beating Tiger. When he is on, I don't how many can beat him, but he doesn't have to be off to lose while others are on. Some courses just don't suit his game, whereas they perfectly suit others.

As for the most intimidating athlete ever, I am gonna go with Mike Tyson in his prime.

[mjb2124]

Re: Is Tiger The Most Intimidating, Imposing and Frightening Figure Ever in Sports?

I don't know that I'd agree with the assessment of beating Tiger. When he is on, I don't how many can beat him, but he doesn't have to be off to lose while others are on. Some courses just don't suit his game, whereas they perfectly suit others.

Good point about the course.

Let's compare that to the Federer comments. Couldn't that be the same with Roger? Again, my knowledge of tennis is limited, but I'm guessing he's better on certain types of courts than others?