In the same class as MJ - Aaron Keyer

In the same class as MJ - Aaron Keyer

As we talk about Michael Jordan as the greatest athlete of all time I tend to lean towards agreeing. What he did for the game of basketball and simply the sports world was and still is incredible. However, as we talk about him as the greatest athlete ever, the best marketing figure in sports history, and the most innovative when it comes to his sport, I can't help but think about one other athlete who has done the same if not more for his sport as well. There is only one athlete in our generation that has been as compelling, as innovative as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods. Before Tiger Woods won his first masters in 1997 golf was considered a fat, rich, white man's sport. Now, looking at the players on the PGA tour they all travel with personal trainers and fitness coaches. Tiger Woods completely changed the game of golf forever. According to Brandon Tucker, a columnist for GolfWorld.com, “solely due to having Tiger Woods do what he has done in golf, prize purses have increases 229% in his era.” The Player’s Championship purse has risen from 3.5 million dollars in 1996 to 8 million dollars this year. Tiger Woods has created a more fit look on the PGA tour, and created a new way to play the game of golf much like Michael Jordan did in the NBA.

Not only did he transcend the game on the course, he did the same things Michael did off the course. He is the first ever golfer to really become a poster boy for company’s. Nike, Gatorade, Rolex, Omega, Buick all used Tiger Woods to promote their product and like Michael Jordan, Tiger became so popular, Nike created an individual product for him. Just like the Jordan clothing line and shoes, Nike set up a separate line of golf apparel, hats and shoes with a TW logo for Tiger Woods.

Many will say that because of his off the field problems in 2010 Tiger will never be what Michael Jordan is, however many don’t remember Jordan had his own off the court problems with gambling and divorces. At one point in his career Michael Jordan six straight NBA Championships in seasons that he was in the league. Tiger Woods won four straight major championships, and also won seven out of eleven that he competed in. Although different in nature of their trade, Tiger Woods is the only athlete that can be and should ever be mentioned on the same level as Michael Jordan.