Matt the Shrimp
aka Harry Potter
Good topic! My favourite sportsmen would be...
John McEnroe. Has the British public ever loved (and despite all his tantrums, we all loved him for it) a sportsman not from our shores quite like McEnroe? Every time he was on the telly at Wimbledon, the nation watched, and was hooked. Desire, ability, character - and nowadays, loads of humility and sense. Legend.
Sachin Tendulkar. To watch him playing his strokes is to watch cricket transcend sport into beauty, into art. When he was at his peak, he was truly a genius.
Sir Viv Richards. Another titan of the game; in place of Sachin's artistry, Viv had power, confidence, aggression, belief, fire and an iron will. An awe-inspiring cricketer.
Michael Johnson. The 200m final at Atlanta '96 was the "Beamonesque" moment of my sports-watching lifetime. I have never sat and watched an Olympic event quite so slack-jawed in disbelief at what was unfolding before my eyes. Staggering.
Sir Steve Redgrave. Courage, anger, determination, bloody-mindedness, mind over matter, belief and, above all else, desire. Will anyone win 5 consecutive golds again in our lifetime? Will they do it in an endurance sport like rowing?
(Sir) Chrissy Powell. I have to have one Southend player in my all time heroes, and there's only one who fits the bill. Still one of the finest players ever to wear the blue shirt, and to think we got to enjoy his ability at Roots Hall for almost 6 years. Above all, he's truly an ambassador for the game - someone of which our club, and our country, should be proud.
John McEnroe. Has the British public ever loved (and despite all his tantrums, we all loved him for it) a sportsman not from our shores quite like McEnroe? Every time he was on the telly at Wimbledon, the nation watched, and was hooked. Desire, ability, character - and nowadays, loads of humility and sense. Legend.
Sachin Tendulkar. To watch him playing his strokes is to watch cricket transcend sport into beauty, into art. When he was at his peak, he was truly a genius.
Sir Viv Richards. Another titan of the game; in place of Sachin's artistry, Viv had power, confidence, aggression, belief, fire and an iron will. An awe-inspiring cricketer.
Michael Johnson. The 200m final at Atlanta '96 was the "Beamonesque" moment of my sports-watching lifetime. I have never sat and watched an Olympic event quite so slack-jawed in disbelief at what was unfolding before my eyes. Staggering.
Sir Steve Redgrave. Courage, anger, determination, bloody-mindedness, mind over matter, belief and, above all else, desire. Will anyone win 5 consecutive golds again in our lifetime? Will they do it in an endurance sport like rowing?
(Sir) Chrissy Powell. I have to have one Southend player in my all time heroes, and there's only one who fits the bill. Still one of the finest players ever to wear the blue shirt, and to think we got to enjoy his ability at Roots Hall for almost 6 years. Above all, he's truly an ambassador for the game - someone of which our club, and our country, should be proud.
