http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:54:53 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/19/162418.php#comment-728015 "I DO think that many people (athletes included) tend to blow off whatever task they have at hand and cry pain, whether it is physical or mental. Sometimes you have to suck it up and charge forward." I agree. But I'm gonna stop typing now because I don't want to bruise my fingertips. 728015@blogcritics.org Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:54:53 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/19/162418.php#comment-727902 A: I don't think of Tiger as being a "hero" for playing when he probably should have been sidelined. You're right in that he put a tournament before his health. It's not always a wise thing to do. I DO think that many people (athletes included) tend to blow off whatever task they have at hand and cry pain, whether it is physical or mental. Sometimes you have to suck it up and charge forward. I also realize golf has the reputation as being far from athletic. (Which makes it a perfect sport for me.) Tiger was the first golfer that I can think of who started using a regular work out including weight lifting in addition to hitting balls on the driving range. 727902@blogcritics.org Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:33:08 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/19/162418.php#comment-727893 Grammar corrections: I had "two" surgeries It's "in their back pocket" " "AND leave it at that" Isn't Sussman supposed to edit comments too? Sheesh. Take care of me, Suss. Sorry. 727893@blogcritics.org Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:51:09 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/19/162418.php#comment-727892 I'm not sure I subscribe to this "no pain, no gain" philosophy. I had to ACL surgeries. I know what it's like to play before/after with this injury. I ruined my knees further damaging all sorts of ligaments along the way including the meniscus. It's a tough call but Woods put a tournament and a game before his health. Hey, it's his decision and it "paid off" through a victory. It remains to be seen what the consequences of this will be. Now people are making him out to be some sort of hero. I sure don't. He isn't the first or the last - hockey players (contrary to his comments about the game) put him in his back pocket when it comes to playing through pain. More bizarre, we talk as if golfers are athletes. No they're not. You can play golf on a torn ACL. It won't be easy but it's doable. The stress fractures, I would think, was what he was grimacing about. Just because Tiger approaches the game with an "athlete's mentality" doesn't mean golf is an athletic game. It's a game for technicians. I realize I'm going against the sports zeitgeist with golf being as popular as it. Another debate that is odd is some are now calling him the most dominant "athlete" ever. I prefer to call him the greatest golfer ever leave it at that. 727892@blogcritics.org Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:46:47 EDT