Well it’s been a while, too long in fact, since my last blog. With holidays, decent weather (I say decent, I really mean there’s some breaks in-between showers) and a few other things that kept getting in the way. Anyways, I felt it fitting to begin again with a small tribute to a legend – Sir Bobby Robson.
It was only when I watched the fantastic BBC tribute programme to the former footballer and manager that I realised how much good work outside of football that he actually did.
Doing so much charity work while also balancing his career and battles with cancer –beating the disease four times before it eventually got the better of him last Friday – is truly amazing.
During this time it was likely that by associating his name to his and other cancer charities he indirectly saved many lives, a success that outshines any trophy he ever won.
One other thing that I never knew about Robson, was the torment he went through with the English media during his tenure as the national coach.
Caught in the middle of a tabloid war at the time, The Sun and The Daily Mirror used him as a pawn in their readership battle.
In a way it wasn’t personal, as whoever was the manager at the time would have received the same shocking treatment but it was harsh and a lot of it over the top.
However, it was the way in which he dealt with it that proved again what a terrific person he was.
Maintaining a good relationship with other members of the press and attending lunches put on for him by the media after the 1990 World Cup, showed he could still show respect, maybe not to the reporters and editors who hung him out to dry, but to the others who didn’t. Too often today people involved in sport tar all journalists with the same brush.
How fitting that the last game of football he was to ever attend was an England win over Germany with the winning goal being a penalty, even if it was only a charity match I’m sure he enjoyed a win over the Germans.
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Monday, August 03, 2009
Sunday, December 14, 2008
A wheely good Sports Personality winner
So Chris Hoy picked up the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year crown which came as a shock as Lewis Hamilton was expected to claim the award but for me there was no doubt that the triple Olympic gold medal winner should add this title to his trophy cabinet.
Having debated this on a number of occasions, with a many different people who come from different sporting backgrounds, the majority of the time I was arguing the case for Chris Hoy.
The argument that usually was put to me was that Hamilton is the youngest ever Formula One World Champion and therefore deserves it but in my opinion three Olympic gold medals and two World Championship gold medals is an untouchable achievement.
In fact it is a feat that I doubt it will be equalled by a British athlete for a long time. While I recognise Hamilton’s fabulous success, this year it just wasn’t good enough.
And if we are talking about personality, as the award suggests but it doesn’t seem to count anymore, Hoy seems from the outside anyway to be a more approachable character and has not yet succumbed to the celebrity lifestyle that many sporting superstars are now immersed in.
On the other awards, I was a bit puzzled that the GB Olympic cycling team won the team of the year. Not because they were not good enough, but because the whole GB Olympic team (which you would think included the cycling team) were in contention for the award, so it wouldn’t it make sense that putting it all together would be a better and more successful team? Just a thought.
A lifetime achievement award for Sir Bobby Charlton was well-deserved and timely since it is 50 years since he bravely returned to action following the tragic Munich Air Disaster.
The unsung hero award went to boxing coach, Ben Geyser and having seen what it takes to run an amateur boxing club, I can see why he deserves his award.
I imagine that Mr. Geyser has saved countless numbers of young people in his area from being bullied or getting involved in anti-social behaviour and this is why this would be my favourite award of the night. It shows appreciation to the real sporting personalities and the amazing work they do in their communities without them there would be no sport.
Going back to the personality aspect of the award, I think it is a shame that this has less of a factor that may be was once key to winning. This is more than likely down to the fact that the big sports ‘personalities’ now distance themselves from their fans and even the media, thus not allowing us to really see what they are like outside of their playing field.
This year was the first year that I have ever voted, in fact the first time I have voted for any television award ceremony. Even though my vote would have had little to do with the final outcome, I feel that if too many people don’t bother then the true public opinion is not portrayed.
Overall, this was another fantastic review of the sporting year and this time it was great to see sports other than football, rugby and cricket being celebrated.
Having debated this on a number of occasions, with a many different people who come from different sporting backgrounds, the majority of the time I was arguing the case for Chris Hoy.
The argument that usually was put to me was that Hamilton is the youngest ever Formula One World Champion and therefore deserves it but in my opinion three Olympic gold medals and two World Championship gold medals is an untouchable achievement.
In fact it is a feat that I doubt it will be equalled by a British athlete for a long time. While I recognise Hamilton’s fabulous success, this year it just wasn’t good enough.
And if we are talking about personality, as the award suggests but it doesn’t seem to count anymore, Hoy seems from the outside anyway to be a more approachable character and has not yet succumbed to the celebrity lifestyle that many sporting superstars are now immersed in.
On the other awards, I was a bit puzzled that the GB Olympic cycling team won the team of the year. Not because they were not good enough, but because the whole GB Olympic team (which you would think included the cycling team) were in contention for the award, so it wouldn’t it make sense that putting it all together would be a better and more successful team? Just a thought.
A lifetime achievement award for Sir Bobby Charlton was well-deserved and timely since it is 50 years since he bravely returned to action following the tragic Munich Air Disaster.
The unsung hero award went to boxing coach, Ben Geyser and having seen what it takes to run an amateur boxing club, I can see why he deserves his award.
I imagine that Mr. Geyser has saved countless numbers of young people in his area from being bullied or getting involved in anti-social behaviour and this is why this would be my favourite award of the night. It shows appreciation to the real sporting personalities and the amazing work they do in their communities without them there would be no sport.
Going back to the personality aspect of the award, I think it is a shame that this has less of a factor that may be was once key to winning. This is more than likely down to the fact that the big sports ‘personalities’ now distance themselves from their fans and even the media, thus not allowing us to really see what they are like outside of their playing field.
This year was the first year that I have ever voted, in fact the first time I have voted for any television award ceremony. Even though my vote would have had little to do with the final outcome, I feel that if too many people don’t bother then the true public opinion is not portrayed.
Overall, this was another fantastic review of the sporting year and this time it was great to see sports other than football, rugby and cricket being celebrated.
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