FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Have to agree with left about Tiger. The arguments about Ali's anti-war sentiments are mostly old history that few people recall (unless you're an old fart like me), but by the same token, many folks now have no recall at all of Ali when he was a fighter. Therefore their "respect" is more likely just going along with the bandwagon of what they heard or pity for an old man with Parkinson's.

the answer is neither.....i would probably say roger federer. woods is not yet recognized as the greatest player of all time in his sport(that honor still belongs to jack nicklaus....atleast for the time being). federer is actually more dominating in his sport, and at the age of 28, he is already recognized as the greatest player of all time, having broken almost every mens singles record with the end nowehere in sight really.

ali was not anti american he was standing up for his beliefs and since then he has become americas most respected athlete

It takes great courage to stand up like he did in his beliefs
he was correct when he said why should he fight for america when america wont even fight for me in right here in america

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 01:58 PM ET  11.02 by CharlesWoodsonisthegreatest

ali was not anti american he was standing up for his beliefs and since then he has become americas most respected athlete It takes great courage to stand up like he did in his beliefs he was correct when he said why should he fight for america when america wont even fight for me in right here in america

exactly WHY is he the worlds most respected athlete? first of all, he no longer IS an athlete. if you are gonna say most respected of all time worldwide, maybe then you have to include soccer players like pele....in the US maybe you have to bring guys like lou gehrig into the equation. id say that before his infidelity to his wife, lance armstrong would DEFINITELY have both choices easily beat.

The first two I thought of were Pele and Ali. The title says nothing about current or all-time.

Disagree. Rex Ryan is the most popular.

Ali was NOT respected by every American. He may be pittied by everyone today. But many tuned in just to say they were witness to him getting his ass kicked. He was loud, brash, cocky, a draft dodger and a bad rapper. His "Rope-A-Dope" was not by grand design, but rather discovered trying to keep from getting *whacked* by George Foreman and getting his lights turned out down there in the jungle. The public pretty-much hated him after seeing actors like Charlton Heston, Elvis in WW2 - Heisman winners Doc Blanchard & Glen Davis, FB Rocky Blier, go to Vietnam, put their careers on hold to do their patriotic duty. But not Casius Clay. It took a long time before he gained prominence.

Wait, how does Tiger Woods being the worlds most respected athlete have anything to do with how soccer sucks? I agree with kook, if you are looking at most respected athlete in the world today, it's Federer. In the U.S. Woods might beat out RFed, but no way on the global stage. Plus tennis is much more popular than golf from a world perspective.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 12:57 PM ET  11.02 by smart alec

Have to agree with left about Tiger. The arguments about Ali's anti-war sentiments are mostly old history that few people recall (unless you're an old fart like me), but by the same token, many folks now have no recall at all of Ali when he was a fighter. Therefore their "respect" is more likely just going along with the bandwagon of what they heard or pity for an old man with Parkinson's.

Yeah let's see he was DRAFTED as he was heavyweight champ in what many people question to this day if it was because he was a Black Muslim. His faith would not allow him to serve for what many Muslims thought was an unjust war. Wait... he fought the government and won.

Remember people at that time did not believe Cassius Clay was Muslim and he was no Ali. Many people called that to his face and commentators for those old fights called him Clay many times even though he was Ali.

Just because he spoke up against the war did not make him antiAmerican.

But to go back to the question posted: Tiger Woods is the most respected athlete on the planet

To that yes he is. Most kids do not know who Ali is. They can tell you who Tiger is. Tigar Woods image is that of a squecky clean guy with no controversy. That is something Tiger and his people spend lots of money to keep up.

So yes it is Tiger, he is everywhere. He is well spoken and knows how to sell himself. How many people can turn a Gold Video game into big bucks?

Both choices are worldly respected.

Questioning our government is exactly what being American is all about.

Just sayin'

BConn knows absolutely nothing about sports. He has shown that over and over again. He knows what is popular and respected in his own head, but has absolutely no knowledge of the outside world.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 03:25 PM ET  11.02 by Mr. Jolly

Both choices are worldly respected.Questioning our government is exactly what being American is all about.Just sayin'

Questioning our government is fine......using it as a means to be a draft-dodger and avoid service is not.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 03:25 PM ET  11.02 by Mr. Jolly

Both choices are worldly respected.Questioning our government is exactly what being American is all about.Just sayin'

Apparently you did not get the memo. No one is allowed to say anything critical of our present President, the exalted, benevolent, great Annointed One (and the winner of the next Heisman).

People throw out the word Un-American way too often and 9 times out of 10 they say it about something that is totally American. They call something or someone un-American because they stand up for their beliefs or go against the popular view when that sort of thing is what this country was founded on.

To call someone un-American is really being un-American.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 01:39 PM ET  11.02 by kook58

the answer is neither.....i would probably say roger federer. woods is not yet recognized as the greatest player of all time in his sport(that honor still belongs to jack nicklaus....atleast for the time being). federer is actually more dominating in his sport, and at the age of 28, he is already recognized as the greatest player of all time, having broken almost every mens singles record with the end nowehere in sight really.

Federer? Please. The sport (which I love) is dying because of him & the current crop of players. Most non-tennis people wouldn't recognize his picture. More people could tell you who Bjorn Borg is rather than Rodger.
Tiger vs Ali is a great match, but boxing has become a nitch sport & gets minimal press. Tiger has raised golf to the next level. His only real competition is Michael Jordan.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 05:48 PM ET  11.02 by BuckyBadgerIsBack

To call someone un-American is really being un-American.

So, by telling someone they are really un-American for calling someone un-American, does that make you un-American?
Circular logic!

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 03:08 PM ET  11.02 by Brave New World

Yeah let's see he was DRAFTED as he was heavyweight champ in what many people question to this day if it was because he was a Black Muslim. His faith would not allow him to serve for what many Muslims thought was an unjust war. Wait... he fought the government and won. Remember people at that time did not believe Cassius Clay was Muslim and he was no Ali. Many people called that to his face and commentators for those old fights called him Clay many times even though he was Ali. Just because he spoke up against the war did not make him antiAmerican. But to go back to the question posted: Tiger Woods is the most respected athlete on the planet To that yes he is. Most kids do not know who Ali is. They can tell you who Tiger is. Tigar Woods image is that of a squecky clean guy with no controversy. That is something Tiger and his people spend lots of money to keep up.So yes it is Tiger, he is everywhere. He is well spoken and knows how to sell himself. How many people can turn a Gold Video game into big bucks?

Tiger maybe more recognizable, MAYBE but Ali is more respected

Golf is not a real sport. Soccer is vote right.

QUOTE(#18):

Originally posted 06:56 PM ET  11.02 by The True Joker

Golf is not a real sport. Soccer is vote right.

Soccer is a great sport for all the kids that aren't talented enough to make the high-school football, baseball, basketball, or hockey teams.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 01:39 PM ET  11.02 by kook58

the answer is neither.....i would probably say roger federer. woods is not yet recognized as the greatest player of all time in his sport(that honor still belongs to jack nicklaus....atleast for the time being). federer is actually more dominating in his sport, and at the age of 28, he is already recognized as the greatest player of all time, having broken almost every mens singles record with the end nowehere in sight really.

It only a matter of time before Tiger passes Jack, because Tiger is the greatest to play his sport, everyone loves Tiger. Federer is false, more people in America respect Tiger than Federer, unless you are 50 plus years in age you root for Tiger every time because every single person loves him