Lewis Hamilton snubbed by Great British public
Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill first won the Beeb’s Sports Personality of the Year award in years when they didn’t even win the F1 world title (Mansell in 1986, Hill in 1994). They went on to win the award for a second time, in years when they both won their first and only F1 titles (Mansell in 1992, Hill in 1996).
Lewis Hamilton won the title this year, in only his second season, but he still couldn’t convince the British public that he has a personality. Hamilton’s second-place to cyclist Chris Hoy – a deserving winner, by the way – is a sign that he is respected but not loved.
Hamilton came second last year too, to a Welsh boxer with no great profile – both Mansell and Hill would have walked it in 2007, had they enjoyed the same debut season as Hamilton, but Lewis gets no love.
Compare Hamilton’s struggle to win over the public with the Sports Personality achievements of Mansell and Hill. Hamilton is a better driver than both, but as the likes of Nick Faldo discovered, it’s not the winning, it’s how you take part that matters to Middle England.
Posted: 15th, December 2008 | In: Sports Comments (3) | TrackBack | Permalink
