Craig's Corner: The Match

I’m a huge golf fan, and more specifically, Tiger Woods fan. Sunday was a treat for me to watch Tiger Woods and Payton Manning play a match against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady. Talk about some of the greatest to ever play each sport. These guys are the real deal. But at the same time, as great as they are in their own sport, it was fun to see Payton Manning and Tom Brady struggle at times. It shows that even the greatest athletes are human. That prelude brings us into today’s piece. Since this is still a hockey publication, let’s give “The Match” a hockey spin. Who would you like to see paired up with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in a hockey version of this match? There are some obvious answers that would be fun to watch: Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr. Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews. All of these matchups would be fun to watch as a best-on-best competition. But at this point, I’m not looking at a best-on-best competition. Let’s take this thing in a whole other direction. How about we put Alexandre Daigle - the 1993 first overall bust for the Ottawa Senators - with Woods, and Patrick Stefan - the 1999 first overall bust for the Atlanta Thrashers - with Mickelson. Both players have something to prove, and since their hockey careers didn’t pan out as they had hoped maybe we can conclude the “biggest bust” conversation on the links. Or what about modern day rivalries? We could call on Brad Marchand and PK Subban to match up against each other. Or… Well… Brad Marchand versus anyone in the NHL would probably work, wouldn’t it? How about we let some teammate friction play itself out on the golf course? Who wouldn't enjoy watching Evander Kane take on Dustin Byfuglien on the golf course? I think Jets fans would enjoy seeing that. The concept is neat and there are so many possibilities. Who would you like to see team up with Woods and Mickelson?