The Greatest

Muhammad Ali was known as "The Greatest." In boxing circles, that was true some 30 years ago when he was racking up championships and knock outs. It undoubtedly stands true today that Ali was the greatest the fight game has ever known.

However, the debate rages on as to who the greatest, most well-known athlete of all time may be. I credit this discussion to semi debate I had with my girlfriend over the weekend. When the news of Tigers Woods' automobile accident broke last Friday, I called him the most well known athlete in today's world and perhaps ever. My knowledgeable girlfriend, brought up the name Michael Jordan.

And so it goes on - the debate over who is the greatest athlete we have ever seen. Is it Woods? Is it Jordan? Is it someone else all together?

Jordan transcended his sport of basketball. He was a pioneer when it came to athletes making millions in commercials. His face was all over advertising - from underwear, to sports drinks. He won championships on multiple continents, winning Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996.

Perhaps most importantly, Jordan globalized basketball, helping to make the game popular and successful in other countries.

While Woods can not be credited with making golf a global sport - it was popular in other countries long before Woods came around - Tiger can be credited for perhaps saving the PGA.
Without Woods, the PGA really has nothing to draw fan interest. Television ratings are typically poor for events that do not involve Woods or do not see him in contention at the end.

Like Jordan, Woods' mug can be seen all over the advertising industry. He has won tournaments and majors all over the world - more so than MJ. Woods has good shot of breaking his sport's most hallowed record of 18 major victories, currently held by the great Jack Nicholas. By that token, Jordan never broke major career NBA records. Although that could be due to his taking the better part of two years off to pursue a failed baseball career.

So the debate rages - Woods or Jordan? There seems to be no one else who has transcended their sport quite like these two and became an absolute global icon. Tennis' greatest, Roger Federer, does not have the national appeal of Jordan and Woods. Football is not globalized enough to pick anyone from that sport. Most of baseball's legends, especially recent, have been tainted by scandal.

This discussion really does come down to Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. It is a photo finish, but this blogger would have to say, in the ended, Woods will go down as the greatest, most well-known athlete ever.

The final item putting Woods over the top is, when all is said and done, no other golfer will even come close to Tiger's category. He will retire as hands-down the greatest golfer ever. In Jordan's case, while it is hard to argue he is greatest basketball player ever, you can have a discussion. Names like Oscar Robertson and perhaps, some day, Kobe Bryant and LeBron Jame could be considered better overall players than Michael.

Tiger is unquestionably the greatest his sport and maybe any sport has ever seen.