Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan: Who's the bigger sports icon?

[DiggityDaggityDo]

[blankoblanco]

Tiger Woods did more for golf than Jordan did for bball relatively speaking, sure. But in a major part of the world's vocabulary, being the "Michael Jordan" of anything means to be the best at it and has meant that for decades. He's iconic in a way that transcends his sport, which is not nearly as true for Tiger, therefore MJ wins IMO

[inmyownzone]

Every time I start watching this video, I can't stop watching.

Messed around and watched the whole thing.

[Eddy Munny]

Diggity pointing out that Jordan had the sense to shave it rather than futilely grasping at the wispy growth atop the dome.

[DOM_Toretto]

Tiger didn’t have all stars around him, it was all him.

Tiger put golf on the map for millions of people like me.

[blankoblanco]

Tiger didn’t have all stars around him, it was all him.

Tiger put golf on the map for millions of people like me.

Tiger Woods put golf on the map, absolutely

Being the "Michael Jordan" of something is an expression of excellence not only in every sport (Tiger Woods himself once being the Michael Jordan of golf) but every profession, every field of study, anything remotely competitive or skill reliant

Which of those two do you think is more iconic?

[DOM_Toretto]

I guess for me, I’ve seen 2 basketball players in my lifetime as good as MJ - MJ & LeBron. But I’ve never seen a golfer as good as Tiger in my lifetime.

[2daBank]

Tiger Woods did more for golf than Jordan did for bball relatively speaking, sure. But in a major part of the world's vocabulary, being the "Michael Jordan" of anything means to be the best at it and has meant that for decades. He's iconic in a way that transcends his sport, which is not nearly as true for Tiger, therefore MJ wins IMO

MJ shoes still outsell any current players by a huge margin (as in somewhere in the area of 10 to 1!!!), and he ain’t played for what, 20 years or so?? Iconic!!

[DiggityDaggityDo]

MJ shoes still outsell any current players by a huge margin (as in somewhere in the area of 10 to 1!!!), and he ain’t played for what, 20 years or so?? Iconic!!

Banker gets it.

[The General]

Woods plays golf battling against wind. Jordan battled against real tough and mean adult grown men excelling like no one close. No debate to be had here.

[Optional]

If you are saying Tiger I'd guess you aren't old enough to remember how MJ changed the entire world of basketball, and sports stardom in general.

[MrSink]

71 - 29 MJ. and results are recent biased. MJ edge is greater than that

[jjgold]

Jordan not relevant anymore

Everyone knows Woods

No brainer

[shadymcgrady]

Jordan has his own brand that millions of people go out of their way to purchase and wear. Everyday casual wear not just for the gym or playing hoops

The only people wearing tiger gear are the fat guys on the golf course

[Hman]

If you are saying Tiger I'd guess you aren't old enough to remember how MJ changed the entire world of basketball, and sports stardom in general.

This

[shadymcgrady]

Let's be honest, you choose to play golf bc you're either to old, fat or uncoordinated to play to a real sport

[no1here]

They would be dead even except Tiger has failed badly twice, cheating & losing. Michael has no negatives and has expanded with multiple pluses. Michael has way more of his items out there then Tiger by far.

[DiggityDaggityDo]

I bet Mike is better at golf than Tiger is at basketball.

[KVB]

If you are saying Tiger I'd guess you aren't old enough to remember how MJ changed the entire world of basketball, and sports stardom in general.

I disagree, Magic and Bird already did that before Jordan came along. Perhaps it's another one of those "aren't old enough to remember situations."

Jordan just became the best after that and took it to a higher level of individual popularity.

Then Woods came along and eclipsed MJ in terms of popularity around the world, and I think value as well.

To eclipse Jordan in worldwide popularity, after what Jordan did, was a feat in and of itself.

Woods is bigger by a mile, it's just the way it unfolded.

Some day another athlete will come along, not named Lebronda, and eclipse all of them.

[TheMoneyShot]

People tend to forget how Tiger Woods fukked up his life in 08-09. Takes away the greatest of all time phrase.

I mean... I think 80 million dollars Tiger lost on Endorsements (per year)

That's why he can't be considered the greatest of all time.

Michael Jordan is a household name. I mean.... who in the hell has a shoe named after them.... and everyone wants them... 2 decades later? It's crazy.

[Optional]

I disagree, Magic and Bird already did that before Jordan came along. Perhaps it's another one of those "aren't old enough to remember situations."

Jordan just became the best after that and took it to a higher level of individual popularity.

Then Woods came along and eclipsed MJ in terms of popularity around the world, and I think value as well.

To eclipse Jordan in worldwide popularity, after what Jordan did, was a feat in and of itself.

Woods is bigger by a mile, it's just the way it unfolded.

Some day another athlete will come along, not named Lebronda, and eclipse all of them.

Magic and Bird did not resonate around the world.

I'd wager that in 1987 Jordon was the most popular athlete/celebrity in more than 50% of countries.

I think Tiger took golf to another level popularity wise, but that still feels like a fraction of what MJ did for basketball from here.

[KVB]

Magic and Bird did not resonate around the world.

I'd wager that in 1987 Jordon was the most popular athlete/celebrity in more than 50% of countries.

I think Tiger took golf to another level popularity wise, but that still feels like a fraction of what MJ did for basketball from here.

Magic and Bird more influential than you realize. Jordan didn't really do anything "for the game" of basketball, it had already been done, he was just a superstar and the best.

Yes Jordan was most popular in the world, but he never reached the level worldwide as Tiger Woods. Not goingto search for links, but this comparison was already done years ago. It's both worldwide popularity and I think monetary value (worldwide) as well.

Nobody even comes close to Woods, when considering worldwide popularity.

[DiggityDaggityDo]

Magic and Bird more influential than you realize. Jordan didn't really do anything "for the game" of basketball, it had already been done, he was just a superstar and the best.

Yes Jordan was most popular in the world, but he never reached the level worldwide as Tiger Woods. Not goingto search for links, but this comparison was already done years ago. It's both worldwide popularity and I think monetary value (worldwide) as well.

Nobody even comes close to Woods, when considering worldwide popularity.

[Jayvegas420]

Players changed and revolutionized the NBA, equipment changed the PGA

[KVB]

Not even close.

Once you add the US and Asia, it's not even close.

[jtoler]

people forget how big MJ was who else than the other MJ, the singer, that was bigger at the time

[Eddy Munny]

If Michael Jordan was so great then how come his rookie card is only worth about a hundo?

[Mr KLC]

(1987) 32 years ago today, 24-year-old Jordan dropped 61 points and became the second player ever with 3,000 pts in a single season.

MJ had 50 and 53 the two games prior. He had 50 six times and 60 twice that year, finishing with 37.1 PPG.

[eidolon]

1)Jordan
2)Ruth
3)Tiger

[ttwarrior1]

jordan 7 to 3

[blankoblanco]

1)Jordan
2)Ruth
3)Tiger

Ali though?

[KVB]

Bruce Jenner was a pretty big icon, at least in his day...

[DiggityDaggityDo]

[jtoler]

was expecting some hos to show up somewhere in the middle of that

[DiggityDaggityDo]

I wish man