Yesterday, Tiger Woods withdrew from the Players' Championship, a very prestigious event, because of persistent pain originating in his neck and extending down through his fingertips. Anybody who has seen Tiger go through a golf ball will understand how the violence of the move might cause problems, especially with that remarkably steady head position while shoulders, arms, and legs are unwinding with obvious force. I wasn't there, at Sawgrass, but TV is convincing enough these days, what with super slow motion and such.

In a related story, Gustavo Dudamel had to withdraw from a concert he was conducting that featured the Dvorak Cello Concerto, because of a neck injury sustained during the force required to get the orchestra to communicate all that wonderful piece has to offer. Anybody who has seen Dudamel conduct will understand the violence suffered by the head and neck region, as his baton releases through the dense Los Angeles air, with shoulders winding and unwinding against the torque of his lower body resisting the various swipes, the better for him to be able to remain confined to the conductor's podium. I was there, front and center, to experience personally the violence of his head-waving. No slow motion was necessary.

The question is, who is the greater athlete? I suspect Tiger couldn't conduct worth a damn. I know Dudamel can't.