Sir Phil The Power Taylor?

[Colossal Squid]

FIRST person to climb Everest. You wouldn't knight anyone for doing it today. Just like you shouldn't knight anyone for being one of the BILLIONS of people who can ride a bike, albeit a little faster than most.

A little faster than most?

He holds SEVERAL world records.

That means nobody in the history of recorded sport has been better.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

This post sums it up for me. You shouldn't become a SIR on the back of doing something with a GRANT. Jesus, you get grants to support your kids, be a student, or help with your rent. Not to do something worth a knighthood. For me, if a hobby is of such miniscule importance that it requires a grant to do it instead of a professional contract then you don't deserve the glory of an Olympic Games or the fame it brings. It's rewarding and promoting FAILURES in my book.

Out of interest, TCB, how do you feel about people like Alex Bogdanovic? Who has been provided with large amounts of funding to continue his, frankly, awful tennis career?

 

[Colossal Squid]

This post sums it up for me. You shouldn't become a SIR on the back of doing something with a GRANT. Jesus, you get grants to support your kids, be a student, or help with your rent. Not to do something worth a knighthood. For me, if a hobby is of such miniscule importance that it requires a grant to do it instead of a professional contract then you don't deserve the glory of an Olympic Games or the fame it brings. It's rewarding and promoting FAILURES in my book.

I don't know why I find myself defending a BRITISH OLYMPIC HERO at this hour but here we are.

Chris Hoy has proven himself to be better than anyone else has EVER been in his chosen field, which is no mean feat. It isn't as if he's just the best of a limited bunch, he's the best out of EVERYONE who has EVER ridden a bike in the history of the universe.

On what PLANET do you consider that is not deserving of recognition?

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Wow, that's quite startling hypocrisy when just a few moments ago I read these words from you on another thread:

"Fair comment, but at least we can understand where we're both coming from. It'd be duller than Dullsville if we all thought & felt the same."

Unbelievable!

The difference is that like the vast majority of people who contribute to this great forum, that particular poster isn't full of their own self-congratulatory pig-ignorance like you are. Still, I'm sure you'll just continue to bludgeon away without any pause for reasonable thought, so I'll cheerfully pop you on my 'ignore list' so I can enjoy a bit of ignorance of my own. Unlike your particular speciality though, it'll be of the blissful variety.

Adiós dick 'ead.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Am I the only one that enjoys reading TCB's ramblings and arguing with him, hoping that he'll see (my) sense?

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Am I the only one that enjoys reading TCB's ramblings and arguing with him, hoping that he'll see (my) sense?

You probably are BoF, so fill yer boots.

 

[Colossal Squid]

It's not him that's the issue though, it's his "field". Cycling. It's not a sport. It's a hobby. He's good at it, I agree, you'd have to be an idiot not to. But that doesn't make him worthy of a knighthood, other accolades and most of all a great big competition every four years to promote such events. I recognise his achievements in this area but at the end of the day the area is a joke. I rate it marginally above walking, breathing and growing your hair.

You could apply this to all track and field athletes though.

Do you consider that Usain Bolt (as BoF has already mentioned) is just good at his "hobby"?

I'm not picking on you per se and I'd like to make it known this isn't me looking for enemies, I'm simply playing devil's advocate (of sorts) and sticking up for athletes that I, personally, think are people to be very proud of.

I've become acutely aware recently, having criticised Hove Born & Bred on a couple of threads, that people can take what you say to heart and come sniping for you on other threads in the future. However it's really not my aim to start a war with people I don't know on an internet forum.

I'm just sticking up for what I believe in and if that's different to your ideas, good, nobody's saying we have to agree.

Sorry to come over all pussy but I just don't want people thinking I'm on a mission to cause an argument. I just like a debate

xx

 

[Colossal Squid]

As for Usain, I recognise him as a supremely fit athlete who excels in his field, but again, his field is merely running 100 metres. It's a task that, in my opinion, doesn't really require enormous amounts of skill or training. It's just repetition of the same ten seconds over and over again. And most importantly, it's not COMPETITIVE. For me, sport is two people or teams going directly up against each other. All these Olympic events where you simply post your best score and hope it's enough just don't command my respect.

BUT in a 100m race Bolt is battling the best athletes other countries have to offer, head to head. I can appreciate there's obviously no team element but when records are broken it's when athletes are up against each other, not in simple time trials they can do by themselves.

I just think the idea of being the fastest man on Earth, ever, is something to cheer and recognise.

It may very well be repetitive and one dimensional but his persistent training isn't any less relevant simply because it isn't varied. For me his focus and dedication in having the discipline to repeat the same sprint over and over again is to be commended.

I <3 Usain Bolt

 

[Colossal Squid]

On a related note, what about the 4x100m relay?

That's a team event in which athletes are looking to post their best ever times, in succession, for the greater good

 

[Pantani]

You mentioned "endurance". In fact, that's the only positive you've given in defence of cyclists. But I'm struggling to buy into it because (if it weren't 11pm) I could open my front door, walk across the road, go into the gym and find dozens of people with just as much endurance.

Don't be a dick all your life. Are you saying every person who goes to a gym is as fit as a professional cyclist? Chris Hoy gets funded by the sports council or BOC or whatever to train to be a cyclist, therefore he is professional. Are you saying that someone who does a few spin classes a week has as much endurance as a Tour de France cyclist? Someone who rides for three weeks solid with only two days off, over mountains at an average of 40kmph is as fit as someone who likes to go to the gym for the pool and sauna?

Pro cyclists are probably the fittest sportsmen on the planet.

 

[Pantani]

To be honest, I don't know enough about tennis to say. I follow the grand slams and keep half an eye on other tournaments but I don't really have any knowledge of anyone outside the top 20 or 30 in the world.



It's not him that's the issue though, it's his "field". Cycling. It's not a sport. It's a hobby. He's good at it, I agree, you'd have to be an idiot not to. But that doesn't make him worthy of a knighthood, other accolades and most of all a great big competition every four years to promote such events. I recognise his achievements in this area but at the end of the day the area is a joke. I rate it marginally above walking, breathing and growing your hair.

Hobby, you say? Pro cycling tour, Tour de France, Giro d'Italia. various six day track meets, all professional. All of these competitors get paid. Is cycling now a valid sport because of this?

Or are you going to make something else up to justify your ridiculous argument?

 

[Pantani]

Well done on the mature approach to debate. It's one I think should be a RULE of this site. I'm more than up for throwing insults around at public figures, but the point of a messageboard is surely as much to listen to and accept other opinions as express your own, so I don't pick on others. It's a shame some people can't stick to this

As for Usain, I recognise him as a supremely fit athlete who excels in his field, but again, his field is merely running 100 metres. It's a task that, in my opinion, doesn't really require enormous amounts of skill or training. It's just repetition of the same ten seconds over and over again. And most importantly, it's not COMPETITIVE. For me, sport is two people or teams going directly up against each other. All these Olympic events where you simply post your best score and hope it's enough just don't command my respect.

This is where you lose all credibility.

In this thread any way.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

In 2001 Taylor was convicted of indecent assault, after an incident after a 1999 exhibition match in Scotland. Two women, aged 23 and 25, accompanied Taylor back to his van after the event and later accused him of sexual assault. Taylor denied the charges but he was found guilty of indecent assault and fined £2,000. As a result, his MBE nomination from the 2001 New Year's honours was cancelled and annulled in May 2002.

Don't think he'll be gracing the point of HM's sword any time soon.

 

[Mendoza]

So? On that basis you'll be knighting Alex Revell and Andrew Crofts. Surely TALENT should have something to do with it? And sorry, but riding a bike isn't a talent, it's a basic human ability anyone from the age of 2 can do.

pretty much every other adult human has the basic ability to drive a car. Lewis Hamlton just sits down and drives a little faster than the rest, and nearly as fast as Jensen Button

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

I dont know about a knighthood but surely Taylor MUST win sports personality of the year.Most years he doesn't even get a mention on it let alone win it!.
What must he be thinking when he watches Ryan Giggs go up for the trophy?.

Oh nearly forgot to mention,the bloke was awesome last night.

 

[User removed 4]

Shut up mate. I would like to see you try and do what Taylor does every single night. Darts is now a huge sport around the world, not like it was in the old days. The Tv coverage wasn't there as much as it is today, and for you call it a pub game well I would like to see you try and throw three darts at a dartboard infront of 10,000 people.

darts is not a sport , its a pub game.