Tiger and Greatness

Let me state the obvious. Tiger is amazing. I didn’t get a chance to watch the PGA Championship, but I am still amazed at Tiger’s ability to lap the rest of the field. Tiger doesn’t just win. He crushes the opposition. Several of the other golfers said things like, “You really have to be on top of your game to keep up with Tiger.” Wrong. You have to be on top of your game AND Tiger has to choke. By the way, Tiger doesn’t choke.

Some think it is bad for golf for Tiger to dominate so thoroughly. For me, it makes it more interesting. I love watching history in the making. I have only read about Bobby Jones, but I have seen Tiger play in person and on TV. Unless Tiger suffers an injury, he will break every record in the book.

Speaking of sports, recently, I have started keeping up with professional tennis. Pundits tell us that professional tennis is all but dead in the U.S. However, recently, I have found it very interesting. That is probably because: a) in the past couple of years, I started playing tennis more, b) I saw part of the TV telecast of the amazing match between James Blake and Andre Agassi at the US Open last year, and c) our family finally traded in its rabbit ears for DirecTV, which gave me an opportunity to watch some tennis.

What is so remarkable about these tennis players is not only the power they have on every shot, but the skill, finesse, speed, and sheer endurance of these athletes. Long matches can be a test of endurance as much as they are a test of skill.

From my feeble attempts at both of those sports, I have a great appreciation for those who do it so well. There is something glorious about watching a master at work. It is a thing of beauty to watch Tiger hit an approach shot or Federer hit a forehand, just as it was to see Jordan hit a jump shot and Gretzky break down a defense. It is the sort of thrill you get when you hear Beethoven’s Fifth or Seventh Symphonies, or Vince Gill play the guitar (seriously!). You are watching or listening to a genius at work. There is something thrilling about that.