st as Montreal was settling into the fir

st as Montreal was settling into the fir

09.12.2019 14:33

Who qualifies as a sporting great? Who can really be called a legend? Some gain more support than others but, in the modern era, tennis?Andy Murray?and Formula?Ones Lewis Hamilton are at the top of the list in the British sporting pantheon.Comparing them with other enduring heroes is tough. Its easy to make cases for people such as Booby Moore, Englands World Cup-winning captain or five-time Olympic-gold-medal-winner Steve Redgrave.There are many others who deserve a mention, too, including Jackie Stewart, the unquestioned king of the F1 road in his day, Chris Hoy, who swept Olympic, Commonwealth and World Championship rivals away and 3-time Open winner Nick Faldo.But after a brilliant British sporting weekend that saw the nations tennis players claim five titles at Wimbledon, Hamilton win his home Grand Prix and Chris Froome retain the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, the focus is on two for whom the crown of the greatest appears to fits most snugly:Andy MurrayWhen he started out on tennis mens tour the nation couldnt decide whether he was more Scottish or British. In newspaper offices, journalists swung between the two descriptions depending on how well he was doing.?Today, things have changed. Murray is a multiple Grand Slam winner, Olympic champion and the guy who led his country to Davis Cup glory after an achingly-long wait.Hes the world No.2 in his sports greatest era and has shattered numerous long-standing records that had hung heavily from the nations shoulders. But there is more: he is also a tennis statesman, proud dad and fans favourite.The way Murray stops to sign programmes and tennis balls when he moves around Wimbledons courts, or has the time for a string of selfies with supporters in the corridors within the Centre Court building after wining the biggest title in his sport, speaks volumes.Even the morning after celebrating his latest Grand Slam title, when ESPN asked him about the legacy hed like to leave at the end of his career, he seemed a little embarrassed, too modest to have thought about his place in the British sporting pantheon.I dont know what my legacy will be, he said. When I finish, it would be nice if British tennis was in a better place than when I came in.Murray is no flash, money-mad sporting figure. In many ways, he is an anti-hero who has achieved fame and fortune despite a character which no marketing man would describe as perfect. Even Murrays camp describe him as a bit nerdy.The 29-year-old has earned a claim to British sporting greatness through talent and hard work, building his physique and honing his skills. Most of the other image-making elements which increase the popularity -- or notoriety -- of others have been eschewed.But when tennis has struggled with doping and betting scandals, he has been the voice of reason; the guy who gives an honest, thought-through opinion.Murray has shown his emotions and people have found they can relate to him as a result. Better than that, pundits, fans and the man in the street who only watches tennis once a year when it is served with strawberries and cream, can admire him.If he finally dethrones his great rival, Novak Djokovic, a stronger candidate would be hard to imagine.Leo SpallLewis HamiltonCome off the A10, drive through the unassuming housing estate and cross over the canal. If you find yourself at the sewage works, youve gone too far. This is where the story started -- a small go-kart track called Rye House in southern Hertfordshire.From the age of seven, Hamilton would complete laps of the circuit while his father, Anthony, stood behind the tyre barrier watching on.Aside from monitoring the progress of his son, Anthony would keep an eye on the more experienced karters, making a note of where the best ones hit the brakes for the trickiest corners.Once hed correlated the fastest times with the latest braking points, hed stand at the side of the track as a marker for his son to beat. Lap after lap, Hamilton Jnr would brake later and later, push harder and harder, until finally no-one could beat him.Fast forward 25 years and Hamiltons desire to be the latest driver on the brakes and the fastest driver on the circuit havent changed. But pretty much everything else has.The second-hand go-kart has been traded up to a world-beating Mercedes F1 car (he now has a team of engineers to analyse each braking point) and his humble roots in Hertfordshire have long been left behind for an exclusive residence in Monaco. He is now an international superstar known the world over -- and often for reasons that have nothing to do with his sport.But dont fall into the trap of misunderstanding Hamilton. At the core there remains a talented, determined and serious sportsman. At 31 years of age he is currently in his prime and on his way to a goal no other British driver has ever achieved: a fourth F1 world championship.He truly is on the verge of greatness.Laurence Edmondson Fake Sneakers China . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Air Max 270 Clearance . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. http://www.outletsneakersclearance.com/fake-air-max-97.html . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Wholesale Air Max 90 Cheap . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Air Max 270 Outlet Cheap . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Stoffel Vandoorne thinks hes already proven to McLaren he has similar speed to Fernando Alonso and Jesnon Button as he continues pushing for a 2017 race seat.McLaren reserve Vandoorne won a record-breaking GP2 crown last year but remains uncertain of his F1 future, with a drive at the team hinging on whether it decides to drop Jenson Button for 2017. The Belgian deputised for the injured Fernando Alonso at the Bahrain Grand Prix this year and scored points on his debut with a strong drive to ninth position.The Belgian drove for McLaren at Silverstone during Wednesdays test, and also took part in the Barcelona test in May, and believes he has shown McLaren what he is capable of with his time in the car.Asked if he felt like McLarens engineers valued his feedback, he replied: Yes I see no reason why not. Ive driven an F1 grand prix, quite a few days in an F1 car now and proven I have a similar speed to [Alonso and Button].Vandoorne is unlikely to know his future until McLaren has decided on Button, who has been linked with a return to Williams in recent weeks. In the past two seasons McLaren has waited late to confirm -- it only decided on its 2015 line-up in December of the previous year, leaving Kevin Maggnussen without a drive after being dropped in favour of Button.ddddddddddddWhen asked if he has to wait for McLaren to make a choice, he replied: The main goal is to be in F1 next year, that hasnt changed, I am contracted to McLaren and I want to be with this team next year. Ive spent a lot of time with the team and engineers and feel weve been through a perfect preparation.There is not much more I can really do to get the drive now. I would love to race for this team but Ive always said if for some reason it doesnt become possible I am positive that there are other options available.Vandoorne is currently competing in Super Formula in Japan alongside his reserve driver commitments and believes he has a lot of interested observers in the paddock.I think everybody is interested in what I am doing. This year I see as a preparation year for next year and my main focus is still to get an F1 drive next year. I will focus on my role as the reserve driver but having a racing programme alongside that is a good benefit to stay race fit and sharp in any case I need to jump in the car. ' ' '


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