The Golf Blog asks the big question today that I'm a little embarrassed not to have posited first: was Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer at Wimbledon better than Tiger Woods - Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open?
Although, in fairness, I probably didn't think about asking it because to me (in a totally personal manner) the enjoyment of watching decent golf outweighs the enjoyment of watching good --> pretty good tennis. But it's still a very viable question, particularly when you shape it in a historical manner.
How will history rank Nadal-Federer Wimbledon 2008 against Tiger Woods-Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open 2008? Which "major" victory will be considered as the greater victory in their respective sports? It's true Tiger was playing with a torn ACL, but it's hard to overlook the fact that Nadal v. Federer involved No.2 versus No.1 in the finals, plus the already storied rivalry Nadal and Federer have built up.
In that context, the answer is simple: Nadal's win was better. He toppled the world's number one ranked player and he finally overcame the non-clay Federer demons that have plagued him for his career. (All while wearing a nifty Euro-lady-whipper!)
Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back here regularly for more videos.
In this video we talk to tennis star Nadia Petrova who tells us why she is more popular in the United States than in her homeland, Russia. We also learn why it's not wise to get in the way of any serve unleashed by this tennis powerhouse. Around 1:15 into the video Nadia tells us why Russia produces so many talented tennis players.
But unlike Federer, who would never waver in his undying devotion to Woods, Nadal is, apparently, less committed to Garcia. When it comes to golf, anyway:
"Tiger is probably my idol," Nadal said. "I never have an idol but he is probably the sportsman who I admire more because I like a lot his mentality.
"I like a lot his eyes when he's going to have the important shot. He is always playing with unbelievable determination in important moments. The last part of the fourth day, only one guy with unbelievable concentration, unbelievable determination and big confidence in yourself. Only Tiger can do something like this.
"I know how tough it is playing having pain, and it is very difficult to have very good concentration when you are, in my case, running or touching the ball and you feel pain. That's unbelievable to win a US Open like this."
When reminded that Garcia was his best friend in the whole wide world, Nadal looked up, shrugged, and could only muster a half-hearted, "it is what it is", before sobbing uncontrollably as he ran from the room.*
The paparazzi is not happy with Greg Norman. You see, Norman and Chris Evert are getting married this weekend on Paradise Island and the two-time major champion has hired a security firm to keep the press away, including, according to the Herald Sun, "TV crews and photographers from Australia, Britain and the US."
Taking such measures to keep the prying eyes of the media out of what most people consider a private affair doesn't sit well with some guy named Garry Linnell of news.com.au. You see, according to Linnell, Norman owes the media for making him famous. You know, because golf had nothing to do with it.
As Norman arrived at the exclusive Paradise Island to prepare for his wedding this weekend to former Wimbledon champion Chris Evert, a group of Norman-aligned security goons and cops detained and harassed journalists, photographers and cameramen in scenes reminiscent of a third world dictatorship. ...
There, Greg Norman's dignity and class disappeared into the treacherous waters of The Bahamas in the same manner many of his golf shots once did when he was under pressure in a major.
Look, I'm not Norman apologist, but the guy's got every right to make sure his wedding is free of "get the photo at all costs" a-holes masquerading as reporters. Linnell disagrees, apparently, and offers this inane point as proof:
Way back in May, Michael David Smith wrote that golfer Greg Norman was in a tussle with his ex-wife over his estimated $500 million in the bank. Divorce laws being what they are in this country, that meant the former Mrs. Shark stood to gain half of the half billion (she ended up with just $100 million, which still ain't bad work if you can get it).
Anyway, Greg Norman has moved on, gotten back out onto the dating scene, and things have gone so well that he's getting married ... again. But this time, instead of tying the knot with some money-grubbing commoner, he's getting hitched to another washed-up, formerly important person in the world of sports: tennis star Chris Evert. But it gets better:
Evert, 53, and Norman, 52, both divorced their spouses recently. In September, Norman and his ex-wife, Laura, agreed to a reported $100 million settlement. Evert and her second husband, Andy Mill, divorced last December, according to Reuters.
Mill was outspoken about Norman's relationship with Evert. "Greg Norman at one time was my best friend and ... I would have taken a bullet for this guy," Mill told Australia's Herald Sun in August. "But I didn't realize he was the one who was going to pull the trigger."
Nike doesn't need me to give it any free advertising, but I must give credit where credit is due. This commercial featuring Tiger Woods extolling the virtues of Roger Federer is outstanding:
The key comes at the end, where Woods pokes a little fun at Federer.
The Woods-Federer friendship has been interesting to watch. They're the two best in the world at their sport, and they seem to really like each other -- even when Nike isn't paying them to appear together. I think his friendship with Woods might help Federer become more popular in America, which would be a good thing for tennis in this country.
Teenage golf phenom Michelle Wie has dropped out of another tournament, and the way she's been playing lately, it's looking like her career peaked around the age of 15.
Wie has been compared, by several sports writers, to the tennis player Jennifer Capriati. Both Wie and Capriati became great players at a shockingly early age, and then both Wie and Capriati looked by the time they got to their late teens like their skills had eroded and they no longer wanted to play. My colleague Ryan Wilson noted another similarity between Wie and Capriati, that they have both been managed by their fathers.
I see the similarity between Wie and Capriati, and in many respects I agree with the comparison. But there's one important thing we should remember about Capriati: She had a great second half of her career.
Tiger Woods is the best golfer in the world by a large margin and Roger Federer is the best tennis player in the world by a large margin. When you look at this photo taken at the CA Championship yesterday, you're looking at a picture that will be viewed in 80 years the way today we'd view a picture of Babe Ruth and Jim Thorpe.
But the great thing about sports is that the rules are the same for everyone, from the greatest player in the world to the worst. And it's a little disappointing to learn that Woods violated a PGA rule by inviting his buddy Federer inside the ropes when Federer showed up to watch him yesterday.
"They said they didn't want to do a favor because other players otherwise want the same treatment," Federer said. "I guess just one Roger Federer was coming to the golf course today, so it was nice they got me inside the ropes."
Shorter Federer: The PGA has rules about who can come inside the ropes, but I'm Roger Federer so I'm above those rules. As for Woods:
"I'm sure I'll get fined for it," he said with a laugh. "I don't mind paying because he was starting to get hassled pretty good. That's not why he came out here. He came out here to enjoy himself and watch me slap it around a little bit."
Shorter Woods: My famous friend is above the rules for other players' friends, and the PGA won't fine me enough to make a dent in my sizable bank account.
I like both of these guys. But next time they decide to hang out together, they ought to either do it in the privacy of their own homes, or accept the fact that if they do it at a PGA tour stop, they have to obey the PGA's rules.
Teenage golf phenom Michelle Wie has 
Tiger Woods is the best golfer in the world by a large margin and Roger Federer is the best tennis player in the world by a large margin. When you look at this photo taken at the 
