If you told me 18 months ago that Tiger Woods would be one of the best golfers in the world again and Derrick Rose was going to drop 50 in a game, I’d have probably told you to lay off whatever drug I thought you were taking. Yet, here we are in November 2018 with Tiger Woods preparing to face off against Phil Mickelson, and Derrick Rose has been arguably the main man for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Unbelievable returns
Tiger Woods was written off after four terrible seasons. He played in just one event between 2016 and 2017, while not winning an event since 2013. Woods dropped from the top of the PGA rankings in March 2014, to 1,199th in December 2017. We didn’t even know if he’d play again at one point. Now, he sits at 13th in the rankings and is favored to win a major next year, according to bookmakers.
Derrick Rose has missed nearly as many games as he’s played since tearing his ACL in 2012. Rose took the veteran’s minimum to stay in the league last year. He was signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, traded to the Utah Jazz, waived by the Jazz, and then signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Had he not played well in the playoffs for Minnesota, he might not be in the league right now. He was averaging only 5.8 PPG in his nine regular season games with the Timberwolves. Now, he’s averaging nearly 19 PPG despite coming off the bench most games.
A worn-out body
Woods had been struggling for years with injuries. In 2011, he began to cite leg injuries. Those leg injuries plagued him from 2011 to 2013. He also struggled with arm and elbow injuries in 2013 and 2014. The biggest problem for Woods, however, was his back. Between 2014 and 2017, Woods only made the cut in 11 events. He didn’t even finish some of those events because of his back injuries. In April 2017, he announced that he was having another back surgery, his fourth since 2014.
Tiger had been struggling with his recovery from his latest back injury when he was arrested in the summer of 2017 on a DUI charge. For many, this was seen as the end for Tiger Woods. He hadn’t been competitive in four years. He had had a long list of surgeries on his back. Then, he returned to competition at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
New knees, anyone?
Derrick Rose tore his ACL at the end of his fourth season in the NBA. He had just won the MVP award. Rose was the youngest player to ever win MVP. After missing the entirety of the following season, he returned to his former self in 2013. Rose said, at the time, that he felt he was in better shape after the injury than before it. Only a month later, Derrick Rose tore the meniscus in his other knee, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season. He tore the same meniscus again halfway into the 2014-15 season but only missed two months of action.
After a mediocre season in 2015-16, Rose was traded to the New York Knicks. In his time there, he had sporadic flashes of his former self. Rose then left the team camp without warning. Towards the end of that season, Rose tore the meniscus in his left knee (the same knee in which he tore his ACL) and was ruled out for the rest of the campaign. Derrick Rose had to accept the veteran’s minimum contract from the Cavaliers in 2017. After recurring ankle injuries, Rose left the camp to assess his future. He eventually returned for a brief period before his trade to the Jazz. After a dismal start to his time in Minnesota, he returned to form in the playoffs, earning himself a new contract.
Accomplished veterans
Derrick Rose and Tiger Woods are two modern greats of the game, for very different reasons. Tiger Woods has the second-most majors won in the history of golf, with 14 victories in total. He was the youngest player to win the Masters (before Jordan Spieth) and has numerous records for winning a single event more times than anyone else.
Not to mention the amount of money he’s earned absolutely dwarfs that of any other golfer. In prize money alone, Woods has earned $25 million more than the next richest player, Phil Mickelson, according to Business Insider. Woods is also tied-fifth for the most Ryder Cup appearances for an American.
Derrick Rose, despite being undoubtedly skilled and talented, has a much more tainted story of success. Rose has won Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player but hasn’t been able to show his full potential for long periods of time. His MVP season was amazing, but longevity is important too. That being said, Rose has the utmost respect of everyone in the game because of his unreal talent and that stands for something.
What does the future hold for Derrick Rose and Tiger Woods?
Luckily for Tiger Woods, he has next to nothing to prove. He has an almost unblemished record as a golfer. His career is one that may go unmatched for generations. Anything that he achieves after this is a bonus, although the idea of beating Arnold Palmer’s record for major wins is something he’ll have his eyes on without a doubt. Woods’ legacy will be one of admiration. Everyone idolizes him now and will continue to do so for a very long time.
Derrick Rose hasn’t quite had the same luck. Because of how much – or how little – basketball Rose has played, he still has a lot to prove. Rose had a fear factor, but compared to the likes of Jordan, Kobe, and LeBron, he’s a million miles away from being held in the same regard as them. Even his MVP award is considered undeserved by many, and there’s a real possibility that he may be the first-ever MVP not to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. For now, he can just enjoy basketball and try to keep striving forward. That’s the only way he can play to the best of his ability.
Will Derrick Rose and Tiger Woods have tainted legacies? How do you feel about Tiger Woods heading into the 2019 season? Can Derrick Rose still make it to the Hall of Fame? Sound off in the comment section below. Also, check me out on Instagram and Twitter @OB_PerSources.