What a few months of sport we have lined up. The F1 is hotting up with McLaren back on top again, the first Olympics with full spectators since COVID is kicking off soon, Americas cup Sailing is coming up in October, and Nike just released their "Am I a bad person advert?", questioning whether being a mentality monster wanting to win at all costs means you are somehow not good.
It is my belief that to reach the top in anything, whether it be sport, the arts, politics, music, you have to be willing to live right on the edge of the rules and what is and isn't accepted. That is the only way to reach the top. I struggle to think of anyone who reached the very pinnacle of their profession who hasn't been branded controversial, selfish, arrogant, single minded. If you are called these things, very often you should wear it as a badge of honour that those who are not willing to push as hard as you use to try bring you down to their level.
As my wife and I watched the F1 and it became clear the Mclarens' were going to win, we debated whether Norris should let his team mate through. F1 is a weird mix of individual and team. The team get more prize money for winning the team event, the driver gets more money and glory for being drivers champion. If you look back at all the previous champions, they are all win at all costs, and I really wanted Norris to not let Piastri through. He was so close to doing it, but that natural killer instinct that top champions have isn't in him. A shame, as Norris is such a top driver, but he doesn't have that grit and abrasiveness required, for now at least, to be a champion. This was his Southgate penalty over the bar moment. If Norris loses this world championship by 5 points, he'll regret not being a "bad person" for a long time. Those F1 fans who remember "multi 21" will remember how cold Vettel was to take the win against orders from the team, and ultimately won the world title. Controversial, but Vettel won 4 world titles, Webber 0.
The most brutal example of this in F1 is Senna and Prost in 1990, both fighting in the last race of the season for the title. If Prost doesn't finish the race, Senna is world champion. In that scenario, only true greats and champions risk it all to make sure they win the title. Senna put Prost in a position where if he turned in he is off the track and the title race is over. Prost turned in, they both crashed, Senna was world champion. You can argue all you want about "being a good person" but Senna pushed the boundaries and made Prost make the decision of whether or not to crash, and Senna became champion.
With Tyson Fury, we have a character so complex I don't think even he understands himself. Someone who speaks his mind, is very unorthodox, you love him or you hate him. What you can't do is ignore him. To watch him box the trilogy against Wilder is to watch a man who had only a year early weighed 26 stone and been down and out, trying to take his own life, defeat the worlds hardest puncher who himself was undefeated. Many thought it couldn't be done and when they saw it were in total awe.
I could go on and on listing out champions who many believe aren't good people, are arrogant and uncompromising; Maradona, Muhammed Ali, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo. Clarissa Shields.
My point is that none of us should apologise for trying to be the best in whatever it is we are trying to do in life, and with that certain character traits come to the surface to allow us to do that. We mustn't try tear down our champions because of their relentless desire to win at all costs. It is a natural human instinct to want to win, and we must get away from this notion that if someone is winning they must do it perfectly, with no controversy and being calm and perfectly spoken. Champions are champions because they are on the edge, always pushing to be different, pushing the rules. Given all that is going on in the world to demonize anyone who is slightly ambitious or competitive or wants the best for themselves and their family, Nike timed their advert perfectly as a reminder of what it takes to be a champion and that it doesn't make you a bad person.
Looking forward to the Olympics, there are many sports I rarely watch outside of the Olympics but get very excited about including BMX freestyle and weightlifting. One of my favorite Olympic moments was from a German weightlifter Matthias Steiner who a year before the games lost his wife in a fatal car crash and yet managed to win gold. Quite unbelievable and totally inspiring. What courage and single mindedness.
However my pick as someone who will cement themselves as one of the greatest athletes ever is Simone Biles in the gymnastics. Having watched her Netflix documentary (I highly recommend), it is astounding she has had the success she has. Tune in at 1715 on Tuesday 30th July for the team final, and 1715 on Thursday 12st August for the individual all-round final. You will be nothing short of amazed at what Biles is able to do, she really is a once in a lifetime athlete. See below for her at the trials 3 weeks ago.
Looking forward to the F1, we are off to Spa this weekend, the longest track of the year at 7KM and famous for its flat out up hill Eau Rouge turn. With Mclaren on a high they must go in favorites. However, it seems we have rain on Saturday for qualifying so I expect a bit of a shuffled up grid. If Norris is to get his second career win he has to improve his starts. I can't remember the last time he had a good one, so I hope he has understood where the issues are and really practiced these this past week. Max is going to be fired up but if he is off the pace mid race and has a chance to lunge, I fancy him to take another car and himself out. Tune in at 1400 Sunday for the race.
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