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

[4BiddenKnight]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/colum...ene&id=2555909

I, myself, think that it's true. That's my opinion.

[pietasterp]

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

I'd say for my money, the most intimidating/frightening figure ever in sports that I've personally witnessed was Mike Tyson, circa 1986-8. I don't think anyone else even comes close. For those of us that were there for his meteoric ascent onto the boxing scene, I don't believe any of us think there will ever be an equal phenomenon. I was intimidated just WATCHING the guy on TV...I can't imagine how frickin' scary it must've been to step into the ring with him...

[pk500]

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

I'd say for my money, the most intimidating/frightening figure ever in sports that I've personally witnessed was Mike Tyson, circa 1986-8. I don't think anyone else even comes close. For those of us that were there for his meteoric ascent onto the boxing scene, I don't believe any of us think there will ever be an equal phenomenon. I was intimidated just WATCHING the guy on TV...I can't imagine how frickin' scary it must've been to step into the ring with him...

I agree with Pieta if you're talking intimidating, imposing and frightening. I was finishing college and just starting in the working world in 1986-88, and a Tyson fight was an EVENT. The entire world stopped to watch this guy fight because there was a good chance that he would decapitate his opponent.

Tyson didn't just beat his foes -- he demolished them. His knockout of Michael Spinks in 1988 with a BODY SHOT was one of the most intimidating, awe-inspiring performances I've ever seen by any athlete.

When Tyson was still with Cus D'Amato and Teddy Atlas, he was beyond scary. You often feared for his opponent's life. Seriously.

Take care,
PK

[mgoblue]

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

I can't deny Tyson's dominance during that time period...I think Tiger's the most dominant long term individual athlete, but during that 2ish or whatever year period, Tyson coulda killed people.

[pietasterp]

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

I agree with Pieta if you're talking intimidating, imposing and frightening. I was finishing college and just starting in the working world in 1986-88, and a Tyson fight was an EVENT. The entire world stopped to watch this guy fight because there was a good chance that he would decapitate his opponent.

Tyson didn't just beat his foes -- he demolished them. His knockout of Michael Spinks in 1988 with a BODY SHOT was one of the most intimidating, awe-inspiring performances I've ever seen by any athlete.

When Tyson was still with Cus D'Amato and Teddy Atlas, he was beyond scary. You often feared for his opponent's life. Seriously.

Take care,
PK

Yeah, I remember those days fondly - you are so right about Tyson fights being true EVENTS. I mean, you made your plans around the fights. Anyone that saw it remembers that Spinks fight; it was one of the first times I realized that Tyson wasn't just winning fights impressively, he ENDED CAREERS after you fought him. Under Teddy Atlas' training and while still in Cus' camp, he'd never have lost a fight. It just all went downhill when Cus died, Teddy disowned him, and Don King got his hooks into him...

[4BiddenKnight]

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

I wonder what would've happened if Mike Tyson still had Cus by his side during the mid to late 90s. How would Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield fare against Tyson then.

[ballaholics]

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

Tiger maybe the most dominant sportsman (notice i don't use the word athlete) in sports today. But the terms you use: "intimidating, imposing, frightening" allude to more physically demanding sports where confrontation is essential such as boxing or football, or even baseball.

Barry Bonds has to be one of those guys. The most feared player in sports history in my opinion. You could not pitch to him a few years ago.

[pk500]

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

Barry Bonds has to be one of those guys. The most feared player in sports history in my opinion. You could not pitch to him a few years ago.

Yeah, but he wouldn't kill you if he drove a ball into McCovey Cove. Tyson easily could have killed a man in the ring, so that makes him infinitely more intimidating than Bonds.

Plus Bonds failed 6.5 out of every 10 at-bats and still was considered intimidating. Tyson never lost until Buster Douglas and destroyed guys doing it.

Take care,
PK

[cbgatorade0202]

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

Tiger maybe the most dominant sportsman (notice i don't use the word athlete) in sports today. But the terms you use: "intimidating, imposing, frightening" allude to more physically demanding sports where confrontation is essential such as boxing or football, or even baseball.

Barry Bonds has to be one of those guys. The most feared player in sports history in my opinion. You could not pitch to him a few years ago.

Not an Athlete? Hmm...Play golf? Sure its not like the other sports with as much running but Its something you have to be in very good shape to be at the top of your game, Sure John Daly won a few tournies and some Fat boys win here and there but look at baseball, Half the top hitters aren't very athletic at all..Big Papi ring a bell?

Tiger is the most dominant Athlete there is and will be for a lot longer.

[pk500]

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

Tiger is the most dominant athlete right now but not of all time.

That title arguably should go to U.S. 400-meter hurdler Edwin Moses. He was unbeaten in 122 consecutive races from 1977 to 1987. That's right: The man never lost a race in a 10-year span.

During that dominance, he set the world record twice, won three World Cup titles, two World Championships and a second Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles.

Something tells me that Tiger won't go unbeaten in every tournament he enters over the next 10 years. Tiger is tops now, but he'll never approach Moses' dominance.

Take care,
PK

[MassNole]

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

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/colum...ene&id=2555909

I, myself, think that it's true. That's my opinion.

He plays golf which barely qualifies as a sport, so the answer would be a resounding no. Hell, earlier this year he didn't make the cut as a Major. This is just ESPN tripe.

[ComfortablyLomb]

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

Tiger is the most dominant athlete right now but not of all time.

That title arguably should go to U.S. 400-meter hurdler Edwin Moses. He was unbeaten in 122 consecutive races from 1977 to 1987. That's right: The man never lost a race in a 10-year span.

During that dominance, he set the world record twice, won three World Cup titles, two World Championships and a second Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles.

Something tells me that Tiger won't go unbeaten in every tournament he enters over the next 10 years. Tiger is tops now, but he'll never approach Moses' dominance.

Take care,
PK

Hurdles?!? Oh c'mon now. If we're talking about namby pamby accomplishments why not throw the Bryan brothers of doubles tennis out there. Or some of the Scrabble guys who just dominate. Track and field = who cares.[/ignorant rant]

[ComfortablyLomb]

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

He plays golf which barely qualifies as a sport, so the answer would be a resounding no. Hell, earlier this year he didn't make the cut as a Major. This is just ESPN tripe.

If golf barely qualifies then are pitchers athletes? They're pretty much doing the same thing. David Wells = Craig Stadler. So what the heck are they?[/contrarian rant]

[pk500]

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

Hurdles?!? Oh c'mon now. If we're talking about namby pamby accomplishments why not throw the Bryan brothers of doubles tennis out there. Or some of the Scrabble guys who just dominate. Track and field = who cares.[/ignorant rant]

Yep, the brackets at the end of your post say it all: [ignorant rant]

So, Moses isn't an athlete but Big Papi, who stands in a batter's box four times per game as a DH, is? The same guy, who, if he fails seven times out of 10, is still a superstar. Yet Moses, who never lost for 10 consecutive years, isn't an athlete?

Yeah, OK. Buy a vowel and a clue for $500.

Here, try this: Set up a bunch of 36-inch-high barriers around your local high school track. Now run one lap around that track, jumping those hurdles. Oh, and complete one lap in 47 seconds.

There is absolutely no way in hell you'll ever do that in your lifetime. But if you're a fairly large, strong man, you could catch a pitch from a BP pitcher and nail it over the short-porch fence of a major league park.

Same thing with golf. If you have played the game a bit and have a good driver, chances are you probably can rip one close to 300 yards or slightly longer -- or make a 40-foot putt -- like Tiger. You can't do it as accurately or often or under pressure like him, but you could do it.

But there's no way in hell that you could run the 400-meter hurdles in 47 seconds, let alone do it well enough to beat everyone in the world for 10 consecutive years.

That is the definition of a supreme, dominant athlete.

Take care,
PK

[ComfortablyLomb]

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

Dude, compared to the big sports like baseball, football, soccer, hockey, basketball, golf, tennis, NASCAR, all the college versions, and whatever else gets bigtime television coverage - track and field is small peanuts. So the guy is good at his little leaping activity, big whoop.

I doubt many people can do this:



I doubt many people care that she can either. Being able to do something is one thing, it matter is another thouogh...