Normann
“Norminator”
31
5’11" 167 lbs
2004 Ironman Champ (w/ its $100,000 1st prize)
Not sure of career winnings or sponsorship $$$$
3-5 more years of top performances?
or
Craig
“The Walrus”
51
5’10" 255lbs
Long time PGA Tour member and now Champions tour member.
Won $125,000 this weekend at the Sony Open.
Won a combined $13 million over the years
Will probably avg $2-3 in winnings over the next 5-10 yrs on the Champions tour.
No clue about sponsorship $$$ but probably as much as his career earnings.
He has a much better chance of being around to tell his great grand kids how he was a “world class” athlete. “The Walrus” probable has problems walking 18 hole in a single day, not to mention numerous weight induced health problems. Plus, I like seeing my toes, they are sexy beasts…yeah baby yeah!
Besides, I think golf is more a professial passtime then sport. Not to say it doesn’t take lots of skill, fine tuned over many many years of hard work, dedication, and sarifice…but, so does woodworking. When you training consists of “hit 300 balls with the irons today”, not sure you can be classified as an athlete…just personal opinion.
Obviously there is a lot more money playing golf than doing triathlons. But of course, there are a lot more golfers in this world than triathletes.
Read an interesting survey a few years ago where members of the public were given a list of sports that are not currently Olympic sports. People were asked which sports on the list they felt belonged in the Olympics.
Golf came in first with an approval rating of 40%. Bodybuilding was last with an approval rating of only 3%.
Craig is an Ironman of golfers. This guy has been on the professional tour for 30 years. Think about that longevity. His golf game is stellar. He’s one of the most colorful, popular players on tour. He is a great family guy. And, he’s still kicking butt. Number one on the 2004 Champions Tour, winning 5 times.
Hey - he’s also slimming down a bit. Last stat I saw he was down to 240!
Golf and Triathlon are by far my two favorite sports - sports with soul, that is - but 30 years on the professional tour, winning majors, etc., eclipses winning Kona. Now were the comparison, Paul Newbie, I may come to a different conclusion (well, not as to who I would want to be, but whose accomplisments impresses me the most).
But in truth, it is a little silly to compare athletes in different sports, or indeed, athletes of different eras.
