Tiger Versus Roger...on the Basketball Court

"In this corner...at 32 years old...from Cypress, California...6'1" and weighing in at 185 lbs...

With 14 major titles and $100 million+ in career earnings...

The greatest golfer in history!

TIGER WOODS!

In this corner...at 26 years old...from Oberwil, Switzerland...at 6'1" and weighing in at 176 lbs...

With 12 major titles and $41 million in career earnings...

The greatest tennis player in history!

ROGER FEDERER!

I was watching an old Roger Federer interview online, from the Charlie Rose show on PBS, in which he mentioned his athletic beginnings. He was talking about how he played soccer and tennis early on, how he had to make a decision between the two at about 15 and was laughing about making the right decision. 

He also mentioned how he loved any sport with a ball when he was a kid;  racquetball, squash, and basketball.  Fed mentioned how he really enjoyed the game. He said he really admired Michael Jordan and was amazed at what Jordan accomplished as an athlete. 

This reminded me of some little comment I remembered Tiger Woods made about playing one-on-one with Jordan before, and I have seen Tiger watching NBA games in the past.

Then it hit me, like one of Tiger Woods golf balls to the cranium...that's it!  A way to finally end the debate.  Who is the greater winner! Who is the greater athlete! Nike produces it as this giant event to determine the greatest winner and athlete of all time.

Tiger vs. Federer, one-on-one on the basketball court. 

Here's how I envision it. Nike announces it a month in advance, and in that time the players train with some great NBA players that match their individual strengths on the hardwood (make that hard-top). This should be an outdoor event.

You could make a whole big drama out of selecting the pros to suit each players strengths with their entire training process.

And of course all this is filmed by Nike like a reality TV show. Like "Dancing with the stars," only watchable!

The players Tiger and Fed train against -- their sparring partners -- even display the basketball strengths of the other. 

They could have a small tournament scheduled over a few days. Say best of 3 sets over a week, with two games to 10 points, with a tie-breaker of H-O-R-S-E for each set if necesary.

I see Fed as a slasher. The way he glides around the tennis court like he's on ice skates, and his mother was a track star, which is where Fed got his fleet feet. Imagine that athleticism and grace translating to this court.

Meanwhile, Woods looks significantly beefier than Fed and reportedly can bench 300+ lbs. I could see Tiger playing more of a low-post game and backing Fed down. Who would be the better shooter is anyone's guess, but I could see them both excelling at this aspect of the game. 

Three questions remain:

1. What would they play for, charity? Something else? Any ideas?

2. Who would ref it? Who would be unbiased enough?

3. When would it be scheduled?  If they wait too long, their athleticism will diminish even more that it might have already at this point. But still, when do you have a chance like this; to pit two legendary athletes so close in age against each other.  Even if it's not b-ball, they need to figure something out.  If for nothing else, to add new fuel to the debate!

Someone call Nike!