Tiger Vs. MJ: Sports' Most Anticipated Comeback

Tiger’s comeback takes a back seat only to a little-known basketball player from Brooklyn, N.Y., named Michael Jordan. After winning his third championship in a row with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan took an 18-month hiatus to pursue a lifelong dream of playing baseball. Jordan quickly realized his true calling was not catching fly balls, but flying over defenders on his way to the hoop, arm outstretched, tongue extended. 

Woods, on the other hand, is returning after a significant ACL injury, not a self-imposed career vacation. 

Nonetheless, each athlete left his sport at the top of his game, at the pinnacle of performance in his sport. Ironically, Jordan and Woods are good friends today, and undoubtedly share notes on how to handle the pressure of competition and the mass media attention each receives on a daily basis. 

As Tiger eyes his first match-play foe for the week, he will assuredly feel the butterflies even His Airness felt upon his return to the hardwood. In a teleconference this past week, Woods expressed concern about whether his game was sharp, but continued by saying multiple times that he was more excited about the return to competition against the best in the world. 

Jordan made the same assertions when he returned to basketball in 1995. He had exercised his baseball demons and in essence “struck out” at the professional level.  Had Jordan experienced more success in baseball during his stint with the Chicago White Sox farm system, we may be comparing Tiger Woods to Brett Favre, Lance Armstrong, or Roger Clemens. 

Fortunately, MJ did return to the game he loved most, and the rest is history.  So as the media circus descends upon Tucson, Ariz., this Wednesday, many will be anxious to see how the newest chapter in great sports comebacks unfolds. In the meantime, we’ll hem and haw, speculate and infer, compare and contrast until all that is left is the first crack of Tiger’s driver demolishing another ball down a helpless fairway. 

The question still remains, however; Which comeback is the greatest?  Does Michael best Eldrick?  How does No. 23 match up against the world’s No. 1?  Only a good old-fashioned head-to-head analysis of random facts and statistics can decide.

Names: Eldrick “Tiger” Woods vs. Michael Jeffrey Jordan

Comeback Age:  Tiger—33; MJ—32

Comeback Date: Tiger—Feb. 25, 2009; MJ—March 19, 1995

Reason for Absence:  Tiger—reconstructive knee surgery; MJ—retirement

Activities during absence:  Tiger—golf course design, rehab, baby-making; MJ—pursued baseball career

Major Sponsors: Tiger—Nike, Gatorade, Buick, AT&T, Tag Heuer, Gillette; MJ—Nike, Gatorade, Hanes, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, General Mills (Wheaties)

Comeback Salary: Tiger—approximately $100 million (winnings and endorsements); MJ— approx. $78 million (salary and endorsements)

Championships won before comeback:  Tiger—14 major championships; MJ—3 NBA titles

Championship opportunities missed during absence:  Tiger—2; MJ—2

Player of the Year awards before comeback:  Tiger—9; MJ—3

Collegiate Education:  Tiger—Stanford; MJ—UNC

Age turned pro:  Tiger—21; MJ—21

Age first major championship won:  Tiger—22; MJ—28

Only history will tell which comeback was greater and which athlete experienced more success after his return.  However, Jordan’s lengthy departure from basketball contributed to the media mayhem that ensued upon his return.  Many speculated that Jordan would someday play basketball professionally again, but his abrupt retirement in 1993 left the sports world with no answers, only conjecture. 

When MJ re-emerged in the NBA in 1995, his comeback game earned the highest Nielsen rating for an NBA regular season game since 1975. 

Woods’ return was inevitable, with only his timetable for recovery in question.  As a new father, Woods appears to be recharged and refocused for his return.  Like Jordan, Woods left in peak physical shape (despite the knee issues) and on top of the sports world.  Tiger returns this week to do his best Air Jordan impression and soar to new heights on the golf course.  How high Tiger flies will be up to him, and the entire sports world is ready to watch.