Allow us, for a moment, to point out the subtle difference between hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and golf superstar Tiger Woods, pictured here with an even bigger icon, Diamond David Lee Roth. Gretzky was asked in a press conference back in March about Woods, and said that he never thought he'd see an athlete dominate like Michael Jordan did -- until Tiger hit his stride.
"He's the greatest athlete I've ever seen," he said. And when pressed by a cynical reporter that golfers may not exactly fit the mold of an athlete like, say, even the most physically maligned hockey player does, Gretzky rushed to the defense of an entire sport whose participants range from senior citizens on a Saturday morning in South Florida to children trying to get a ball into a clown's mouth. "You ever tried to golf? You better be a good athlete if you try to golf."
How does Tiger choose to repay that respect, during the NHL's moment in the spotlight?
"I don't think anyone really watches hockey anymore."
The full quote came from a news conference at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan yesterday, where Tiger appeared via satellite. He was asked his thoughts about Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals. He chuckled, and then answered:
"I don't really care," he said with an impish smile. "It's all about the Dodgers. I don't think anyone really watches hockey anymore."
What's rather amusing is that this wasn't a hard-hitting question from a Detroit sports reporter; it was a softball lobbed by Julius Mason, the PGA of America's senior director of communications.
Tiger Woods Disses Hockey
Tiger Woods Disses Hockey
-
- Banned User
- Posts: 17,483
- And1: 9
- Joined: Jun 18, 2003
- Location: Wossamotta U
Tiger Woods Disses Hockey
Full Article
- WEFFPIM
- RealGM
- Posts: 38,521
- And1: 473
- Joined: Nov 14, 2005
- Location: WEFFPIM. I'm the real WEFFPIM.
-
- timd1218
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 2,380
- And1: 0
- Joined: Mar 24, 2005
- Location: I will eat your soul.
- Contact:
- WEFFPIM
- RealGM
- Posts: 38,521
- And1: 473
- Joined: Nov 14, 2005
- Location: WEFFPIM. I'm the real WEFFPIM.
-
I agree harding. People still think it's funny and clever to say "Oh, hockey's still around?" as a quick and witty joke. And it's really, really not. What's hockey? AH HA HA HA BOY YOU'RE FUNNY LAUGHTER LAUGHTER LAUGHTER STAB
ReddWing wrote:Being a fan of this team is tantamount to being in hell...There is no Christ that is coming to save us. Even if there was, we'd trade him for a 28 year old wing.
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 51,601
- And1: 133
- Joined: Dec 03, 2006
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Contact:
-
- UTMCretin
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 5,087
- And1: 1
- Joined: Dec 05, 2006
- Location: Look happy, it's the end of the world
-
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 53,596
- And1: 8,074
- Joined: Jan 13, 2005
- Location: TD Garden
-
Why does hockey get so much hate? Seriously, I just don't get it. I mean, you will see a star at every sporting event, including nascar or indy, soccer, or even rugby. But you will never see anyone sit at a hockey game. It is like an un-written rule amongst athletes, "Hockey Sucks."
Oh and **** tiger, I spit out my G2 when I read this crap.
Oh and **** tiger, I spit out my G2 when I read this crap.
-
- Assistant Coach
- Posts: 3,832
- And1: 187
- Joined: Dec 10, 2006
Why is the NHL and its fan so defensive about this? If Tiger said the same thing about the NBA, do you think people would care?He'll no they would just say he's misinformed and move on but now you have people like Mike Milbury sounding off and tons of online hockey fans across the nation upset because of what Woods said. So why are fans so upset about this?
The answer is that the league is insecure because there is some truth to what he said. The fact is that the NHL is no longer a main stream sport, it doesn't compare in terms of media coverage in the US.
The answer is that the league is insecure because there is some truth to what he said. The fact is that the NHL is no longer a main stream sport, it doesn't compare in terms of media coverage in the US.
-
- Assistant Coach
- Posts: 3,832
- And1: 187
- Joined: Dec 10, 2006
ajaX82 wrote:If he cant see how great the sport is, than screw em
He didnt come out and say it was a bad sport, he said " I didnt know people still watched hockey" and by the viewership compared to other sports NBA, NFL, MLB hes right.
And yet again, the only reason it pisses anyone off is because it's true. If it wasn't, you'd call him uninformed and move on instead of harping on it.
- timd1218
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 2,380
- And1: 0
- Joined: Mar 24, 2005
- Location: I will eat your soul.
- Contact:
Griff83 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
He didnt come out and say it was a bad sport, he said " I didnt know people still watched hockey" and by the viewership compared to other sports NBA, NFL, MLB hes right.
And yet again, the only reason it pisses anyone off is because it's true. If it wasn't, you'd call him uninformed and move on instead of harping on it.
It pisses me off because of what Gretzky said about Tiger. He complimented the hell out of Woods. I can bet any money Woods heard what Gretzky said about him and Woods has the nerves to say that about the NHL. It may be true, but it was the wrong thing to say for somebody who plays Golf. I'm sure Golf's ratings aren't much higher, if they are, then Hockey.
If Sidney Crosby said the same thing about Golf, I'm sure Golf fans would be just as mad, if not worse.

I know what you're thinking. We're in the middle of a city, what's a hawk doing there?
-
- Assistant Coach
- Posts: 3,832
- And1: 187
- Joined: Dec 10, 2006
timd1218 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
It pisses me off because of what Gretzky said about Tiger. He complimented the hell out of Woods. I can bet any money Woods heard what Gretzky said about him and Woods has the nerves to say that about the NHL. It may be true, but it was the wrong thing to say for somebody who plays Golf. I'm sure Golf's ratings aren't much higher, if they are, then Hockey.
If Sidney Crosby said the same thing about Golf, I'm sure Golf fans would be just as mad, if not worse.
I doubt it, they would most likely move on and not make a big deal of it like the hockey community is. Its ridiculous that guys like Mike Milbury and throwing fits over what Woods said. its only bothering people because its the truth (hardly any in the US watches the sport anymore). Should he have been more PR friendly and thought more before he spoke? Sure but this really isnt something to get all crazy about like many of the hockey cumminty is and all it shows is how insecure the league and its fan are about its popularity.
-
- Assistant Coach
- Posts: 3,832
- And1: 187
- Joined: Dec 10, 2006
timd1218 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
It pisses me off because of what Gretzky said about Tiger. He complimented the hell out of Woods. I can bet any money Woods heard what Gretzky said about him and Woods has the nerves to say that about the NHL. It may be true, but it was the wrong thing to say for somebody who plays Golf. I'm sure Golf's ratings aren't much higher, if they are, then Hockey.If Sidney Crosby said the same thing about Golf, I'm sure Golf fans would be just as mad, if not worse.
2008 masters tournament
11 million viewers over the 2 day broadcast (Satruday and Sunday)
Average of 5.5 million viewers per day
2008 Stanley Cup Finals
2.3 million average viewers per game
- timd1218
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 2,380
- And1: 0
- Joined: Mar 24, 2005
- Location: I will eat your soul.
- Contact:
Griff83 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
2008 masters tournament
11 million viewers over the 2 day broadcast (Satruday and Sunday)
Average of 5.5 million viewers per day
2008 Stanley Cup Finals
2.3 million average viewers per game
I guess that kills my argument.
I still think it was a dumb comment made by Tiger Woods after what Gretzky said about Woods. After Games 5 & 6, I think NHL will be making a comeback, so the comment will be worthless anyway.

I know what you're thinking. We're in the middle of a city, what's a hawk doing there?
- Posey H8er
- RealGM
- Posts: 20,095
- And1: 64
- Joined: Jan 07, 2007
Griff83 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
2008 masters tournament
11 million viewers over the 2 day broadcast (Satruday and Sunday)
Average of 5.5 million viewers per day
2008 Stanley Cup Finals
2.3 million average viewers per game
Is the 2.3 million averaged with Versus?, because that would hurt ratings because it's a cable network. On NBC, Game 5 had 5.8 millions viewers and Game 6 had 7 million viewers.
- timd1218
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 2,380
- And1: 0
- Joined: Mar 24, 2005
- Location: I will eat your soul.
- Contact:
Posey H8er wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Is the 2.3 million averaged with Versus?, because that would hurt ratings because it's a cable network. On NBC, Game 5 had 5.8 millions viewers and Game 6 had 7 million viewers.
That's an average with Versus.
The NHL had more viewers than the Masters when both were on cable TV. Tiger shouldn't talk about something he knows nothing of.

I know what you're thinking. We're in the middle of a city, what's a hawk doing there?
-
- Assistant Coach
- Posts: 3,832
- And1: 187
- Joined: Dec 10, 2006
timd1218 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
That's an average with Versus.
The NHL had more viewers than the Masters when both were on cable TV. Tiger shouldn't talk about something he knows nothing of.
Link?
before you can say this, you have to show how many viewers watched the masters on Sunday of the tournament.
- timd1218
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 2,380
- And1: 0
- Joined: Mar 24, 2005
- Location: I will eat your soul.
- Contact:
Return to The General NHL Board