Sir Bradley Wiggins
Whilst not wanting to belittle the achievements of our Olympics athletes and the superb sporting year we in the UK have had it appears to me that you only need to produce one good year at the right time to receive the ultimate accolade.
Once upon a time it would require a lifetimes dedication to your chosen field.
Classic example would be Kelly Holmes.
Once upon a time it would require a lifetimes dedication to your chosen field.
Classic example would be Kelly Holmes.
Post edited by rich_chandler on
I wanna tell you a story 'bout a woman I know...
Comments
I think they hand these things out too often...the bar has dropped somewhat.
I'll give you a year.. you create what he did...he only did a "few" things... you try doing them..lol.. even in the peak of fitness , you may have "issues" not not reach the same standard. ( I know I would) .. it's YEARS of training.. not just a years worth of events.. it just so happened they turned up at the same time.. list me the long list of brits who have won the tour de france ? .. exactly..
as for Kelly Holmes.. yer , she just turned up at the events and won coz she's that good..
Yeah, it takes some people decades of shagging teenagers, and this bloke gets one for winning a couple of bike races, pfft! :p
But as JamesW says (sort of), it's better the olympic athletes, Paul McCartney, etc, get them than Mandelson, Prescott, etc. At least McCartney, Wiggins etc did something praiseworthy, even if it wasn't fighting on the front line or saving children from a burning building. The others just feathered their own nests, regardless of the best interests of the people they were supposed to represent, and they often didn't mind breaking the odd law or ten.
For example Roger Banister, despite his peak of fitness, wins and records being in the mid 50's, he didn't get the nighthood until 1975. When he did it was for his services to sport because not only had be achieved on the track, but once retired from competition his work for the sport council significantly increased funding for sports centres and sports facilities both locally and at a national governmental level. As a qualified Dr, he also played a significant role in initiating steroid testing in sport.
Then again I suppose, in 1955/6 it would have been difficult to give a man a knighthood for running as the war was still fresh in peoples lives and minds and therefore extraordinary acts of bravery and selflessness were seen as more worthy.
Well the international community get a bit tetchy if you ride across the middle east beheading non Christians these days.
Besides, anyone who uses their title or puts letters after their name deserves to be punched in face.
Maroc BA (Hons)
Holmes was nowhere near a world beater before her Olympic titles. She'd reach finals but she was never in a medal reckoning before 2004. The other athletes (mutola especially) screwed up the first race that really gifted Holmes the victory. The second race she cruised though. I'm not knocking Holmes, but she really wasn't a great before 2004.
Yes he should. As should Stephen Hendry...
Fixed that for you! :D
*Bronze Swimming Certificate...
Actually Vampyre, Dame Kelly never was in ANY finals prior to 2004 because she was always out or struggling with injury at the critical times prior to all the major competitions. In 2004 she didn't have those problems. It doesn't matter how good you are if you've got injuries you are never going to perform at your best
Well, she was actually in a few : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Holmes and did win some medals, but she never really did anything beforehand that would lead you to believe she would eventually become a double Olympic gold medalist.
Well said - and Wiggins was sporting chops worthy of the upper house. :D
My gripe is that if it has come to rewarding athletes for a couple of good wins, or songwriters for writing a few catchy tunes, then the bar has dropped so low that it waters down the honour.
Time methinks that this archaic honours system be retired?
(now I'm off to have me a lie down after agreeing with ewgf - must be the sherry!)
Yeah Michael Winner turned down his OBE as he thought he deserved a knighthood.
yes with a k.
Do you notice when people are being racist towards us (or themselves (?!)) then the cowards say "England". If they are being OK or nice then they say "Britain". Man, the Jews really have got an iron grip on the minds of the weak these days.