Tigers victory in the U.S. Open is to be admired. He played in great pain and won. But the comparisons to Willis Reed, Emmit Smith, Michael Jordan, Jack Youngblood and others do not hold water in my opinion.
You see, those players, who played in their sports respective playoffs or championship with a torn ligament, a separated shoulder, a 102 degree fever, or a broken leg, were playing for teams. They had others depending on them, in a situation where there was no tomorrow. It is so incredibly difficult to make a final in team sports, those who played in pain knew that there was no tomorrow. It was play and win, or pack it in.
Tiger plays an individual sport. There are lots of tomorrows for him, both in 2008 and beyond. He has already qualified for every major through 2012. So, Tiger ignored doctor's advice, and played on a knee that was not ready. He knew full well it could cost him the rest of the season, and appearances in two more majors. And he had every right to do so. An individual decision in an individual sport.
But he also knew it could keep him from paying in the Ryder Cup.
America has not won the Ryder Cup since 1999. Three straight losses. Maybe having Tiger on our side ay have improved our odds, just a bit?
This comes after Tiger sat in Roger Federer's guest box at the U.S. Tennis Open final in 2005- America's national championship- and openly rooted against an American playing in the final (Andy Roddick.)
Tiger is an American, which means he can make his own decisions about his livelihood and his health. But I wouldn't put him in the same class as John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Davis Love, or Jim Furyk, who have never put their own priorities ahead of playing for their country.
posted by The leftist southpaw @ 10:19 PM
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