Tiger Woods completed his record-breaking U.S. Open
victory at Pebble Beach, CA, yesterday, and in N.Y., Mike
Lupica wrote Woods is the "great star of all sports right
now, whether golf is your game or not. He is the television
attraction for NBC they all want the Lakers to be" (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 6/18). In Vancouver, Ed Willes wrote, "The
[Michael] Jordan comparison ... now seems to be the only
relevant yardstick to apply to Woods. He bestrides his
profession in the same manner as [Jordan]. His media
presence, in the States and worldwide, approaches Jordan's.
So does his income." Nike Chair & CEO Phil Knight:
"Everybody was looking for the next Michael and they were
always looking on the basketball court. He was walking down
the fairway" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 6/18). NBC Sports Chair
Dick Ebersol said, "Having benefited for almost a decade
from the dominance of ... Jordan, I suspect we're fine for
some time to come. We've had two athletes in my time --
Muhammad Ali and Jordan -- that draw fans from outside their
sport. Every indicator we have says Tiger is the next one"
(AP, 6/19). In Chicago, Jay Mariotti writes that this past
weekend at Pebble Beach turned "into a perpetual Woods
infomercial, complete with dawn tee-offs, 40-foot putts at
twilight, late-night TV viewing in Chicago and New York and
so much ad time and commercialism that NBC flashed a 10-
second closeup of the swoosh on his new Nike golf ball."
Mariotti: "Are we witnessing a career that already is making
more impact than Jordan? Are we watching the early stages
of a fireball destined to transcend every legend in every
sport?" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/19).
GOOD FOR THE GAME? In K.C., Jason Whitlock wondered if
Woods' "dominance" is a "good thing for golf?" Ernie Els:
"I would say so. ... He's probably the most recognizable
sportsman on the planet right now. And it's always good for
us; it's good for me. It brings in sponsors. It brings in
a lot of media, a lot of people. Golf has really taken off
with him coming through." CNN/SI's Jim Huber said a
"dominant figure" in an individual sport "draws people to
the sport. Dynasties are a good thing. People want to
believe they're witnessing greatness" (K.C. STAR, 6/18).
FSN's Mark McCumber, on whether the lack of a consistent
rival for Woods is negative for golf: "I don't think it is
right now. The [TV] ratings are through the roof. That's
like saying is Wayne Gretzky bad for hockey, is Michael
Jordan bad for basketball, are the Beatles bad for music. I
don't think so" ("NSR," FSN, 6/18).
DOES TENNIS NEED A TIGER WOODS? John McEnroe appeared
on CBS' "The Early Show" and was asked by Bryant Gumbel, "In
a tennis sense, do you envy what golf has found with Tiger
Woods?" McEnroe: "Yes. ... Tiger Woods has done something
that we really need. When I saw the Williams sisters, for
example, I was hoping that something similar could happen in
tennis" ("The Early Show," CBS, 6/19).