Preds and Craig Smith come to terms after arbitration hearing, 5 years, $4.25mm AAV

I can see Umberger fitting in somewhere, because he's been a good two way player in the past. Vinny, man...I just can't see him fitting in if Hakstol really plays the system he did at UND
- Jsaquella

Agreed. If Umberger is healthy, he can be useful. It's not like he's a useless player, it's just that his attributes do not justify his contract.

Idk about that. Those photos are pretty drastic, but I've read Woods is a fanatic when it comes to weight training.
- PLindbergh31

The back injury he had was pretty bad. Also with as much torque that goes into his swing it's tough to come back from.

Also guys have gotten better. Thing is events still do better when Tiger is there then when he isn't.

He had a pretty significant injury though, right?
- GOA88

It might have had more to do with coke and prostitutes. That led me to check Theoren Fleury, but even he never dropped off a cliff.

Preds and Craig Smith come to terms after arbitration hearing, 5 years, $4.25mm AAV
- Jsaquella

Not too shabby

The back injury he had was pretty bad. Also with as much torque that goes into his swing it's tough to come back from.

Also guys have gotten better. Thing is events still do better when Tiger is there then when he isn't.
- J35Bacher

Tiger's contribution to gold can never be overtated. That guy made the regular man take an interest in golf. So, even without him, golf is much more popular than before he came.

And yes, one can argue that the playing field is much more even now than it was before, but golf is such an individual game that you can't say that's why his game has fallen off. And he's still the biggest name in golf.

End rant.

Nah, hes not even big enough to suspect it. Just looks like a regular guy that eats right and lifts.
- GOA88

You obviously have never been around guys who do steroids for other reasons than gain.

Take it from someone who has worked with high level athletes for the past 9 years...

Tiger's contribution to gold can never be overtated. That guy made the regular man take an interest in golf. So, even without him, golf is much more popular than before he came.

And yes, one can argue that the playing field is much more even now than it was before, but golf is such an individual game that you can't say that's why his game has fallen off. And he's still the biggest name in golf.

End rant.
- jmatchett383

I think he needs to go back to Butch Harmon.

Tiger is always trying to mess with his swing. His best was with Harmon.

The back injury he had was pretty bad. Also with as much torque that goes into his swing it's tough to come back from.

Also guys have gotten better. Thing is events still do better when Tiger is there then when he isn't.
- J35Bacher

He's too young to be written off completely. I believe he's going to have a career renaissance at some point and the people that have jumped off of Tiger as a guy they liked will go back and talk about how they never doubted him.

The back injury he had was pretty bad. Also with as much torque that goes into his swing it's tough to come back from.

Also guys have gotten better. Thing is events still do better when Tiger is there then when he isn't.
- J35Bacher

I hear you. There are so many golfers on the tour that even big golf fans have never heard of capable of winning any tournament. There were a handful of amateurs in contention during the final round of the Open Championship. Winning a major tournament on the PGA tour is incredibly difficult.

I was a guy that always rooted against Woods, not because I didn't like him, but because he was so good I wanted to see guys beat him. Amazingly I find myself being sympathetic towards him now. I want to see him be competitive and be on the leaderboard on weekends. Seeing him missing cuts, and shooting rounds in the 80's is unfathomable. I mean there are actually people in the galleries laughing at him. It's unbelievable what has happened to him.

Well that is different. Catastrophic injury. A guy of Howards size, that is a brutal injury to come back from. And Howard was never on the level of an athlete like Woods.

Woods has had some injuries, but he's still relatively young by golf standards. He's in very good physical shape. It has to be all in his head at this point.

I think the best thing I could compare Woods to, would be if Michael Jordan came back from his short stint playing baseball, and became a player that averaged 5 points a game.
- PLindbergh31

He's had major reconstruction of the left knee twice, and that knee takes a lot of torque on the swing. And he's had back surgery. Another area that is important on every drive. I don't think it's all in his head. Although I certainly can imagine that not being able to trust your body would cause some doubts to creep in.

Still, I wish he'd play more under regular tournament conditions rather than constantly try to gear up for majors. It might help him relax and just get back into a flow physically and mentally.

I hear you. There are so many golfers on the tour that even big golf fans have never heard of capable of winning any tournament. There were a handful of amateurs in contention during the final round of the Open Championship. Winning a major tournament on the PGA tour is incredibly difficult.

I was a guy that always rooted against Woods, not because I didn't like him, but because he was so good I wanted to see guys beat him. Amazingly I find myself being sympathetic towards him now. I want to see him be competitive and be on the leaderboard on weekends. Seeing him missing cuts, and shooting rounds in the 80's is unfathomable. I mean there are actually people in the galleries laughing at him. It's unbelievable what has happened to him.
- PLindbergh31

I rooted for him because I love being able to say I've seen one of the best all-time. Until the broken leg in the US Open he had won 1/4 of the tournaments he'd entered as a pro. That's unfathomable.

Nah, hes not even big enough to suspect it. Just looks like a regular guy that eats right and lifts. He's 6'1" and only 185 lbs
- GOA88

No way that 2nd pic is 185lbs, unless he's literally got chicken legs.

Idk about that. Those photos are pretty drastic, but I've read Woods is a fanatic when it comes to weight training.
- PLindbergh31

And look at any athlete in his 20s vs his 30s. Most men get thicker throughout their bodies naturally. If they're working out in the process it's accentuated.

He's had major reconstruction of the left knee twice, and that knee takes a lot of torque on the swing. And he's had back surgery. Another area that is important on every drive. I don't think it's all in his head. Although I certainly can imagine that not being able to trust your body would cause some doubts to creep in.

Still, I wish he'd play more under regular tournament conditions rather than constantly try to gear up for majors. It might help him relax and just get back into a flow physically and mentally.
- bodiva88

Agreed. He's had some serious injuries. That certainly has effected his preparation. I think sometimes I forget he's been injured, because of the tremendous shape he's in. But as you said knees, and back are critical in golf. Especially when it comes to driving the ball.

I think he may have to start playing smaller tournaments to prepare for majors. No matter how many hours you spend on the driving range, or putting green nothing can simulate an actual tournament. Woods is strictly playing to win majors. The money obviously doesn't matter to him at this point. I think his mindset of strictly chasing Jack is hurting his game exponentially.

He's too young to be written off completely. I believe he's going to have a career renaissance at some point and the people that have jumped off of Tiger as a guy they liked will go back and talk about how they never doubted him.
- johndewar

I think he might too.

I think you'll see him put it together. I still don't think he is fully healed from everything.

I think he might too.

I think you'll see him put it together. I still don't think he is fully healed from everything.
- J35Bacher

Tiger could still break Nicklaus' majors record. He's young enough to do it.

But it also shows you, as dominant as Tiger was, that's how impressive Nicklaus' record for most majors really is.

Tiger could still break Nicklaus' majors record. He's young enough to do it.

But it also shows you, as dominant as Tiger was, that's how impressive Nicklaus' record for most majors really is.
- johndewar

He was.

But totally different eras

And look at any athlete in his 20s vs his 30s. Most men get thicker throughout their bodies naturally. If they're working out in the process it's accentuated.
- bodiva88

is this a good example??

He was.

But totally different eras
- J35Bacher

Oh, I agree, but still and all....Jack did what he did and the young guy with one of the most dominant runs in any sport still couldn't catch him.

is this a good example??


- PLindbergh31

That looks like me, post swing, when I play wiffle ball in the backyard with my kid.

Please stay away from my backyard with your cameras.

Thanks in advance.

"Let's say Voracek commands an $8 million cap hit starting in 2016-17"

We wave to him and wish him well. I'm not saying he's Ville Leino but he's certainly not Claude Giroux.

Preds and Craig Smith come to terms after arbitration hearing, 5 years, $4.25mm AAV
- Jsaquella

I have a feeling that looks like a steal in a few years.

That looks like me, post swing, when I play wiffle ball in the backyard with my kid.

Please stay away from my backyard with your cameras.

Thanks in advance.
- johndewar

You have a tight jheri curl like Big Bart?

"Let's say Voracek commands an $8 million cap hit starting in 2016-17"

We wave to him and wish him well. I'm not saying he's Ville Leino but he's certainly not Claude Giroux.
- ICUBB

He was better than Giroux last year.