Doctored. Motogp's Obsession With Valentino Rossi

Good find and an interesting read. Thanks for posting the link.

 

It singles him out to be the only one that has had such a level of global admiration? It is a minority sport and he is not actually that well know to the world, certainly not as much as the admiration that was given to Mohamed Ali in his prime and years afterwards. Usain Bolt also ranks higher globally than Rossi in a sport with a much smaller life span for the contestant, there will be many more I'm sure. He uses a basket ball player as an example - what is basket ball? A confusing pointless article perhaps with some nonsense in there, I'm not sure, I got bored after the basket ball so can't comment further

 

You cannot possibly compare bike racing with boxing. Ali was on every tv, every day almost,before a bout for weeks in every place with a tv or radio. Same with all that era. Far less today. And athletics may have a small reach for its peolple of sport,but the Olympics has the biggest reach (after the world cup) of all sports, ever.

Actually, basketball, baseball or american footbal or rugby is a good estimation as to if a fugure is bigger than the sport.

Michael Jordan, Jona Lomu, Doctor probably all good examples of transcending image to non their-sport fans

 

Btw I reckon rossi is more knwon than Bolt. Walk around spain and italy, bet far fewer would recognise bolt even with the pose

 

I was commenting on the article, nothing else :smile:

 

Didnt read it yet...who needs detail when opinion is all that counts

 

A good Intresting read..i thought i was the only one.

 

God thats a lot to read. I fell off my chair half way down.....

 

There are some greats that are more than the sport they compete in and will be remembered long after their peers have faded from memory................Rossi, Michael Jordan, Ayrton Senna, Muhhammad Ali, Agostini, Pele, Usain Bolt, Daley Thompson, Carl Lewis, Mike Tyson, Maradonna, Michael Phelps. and more.................. All with massive talent in what they did.

 

Agree but who outside the uk would know Daley? Rossi like Senna has appeal across a far wider reach.

 

But was not the writer saying Rossi was out on his own as a special entity and questioning why (unless I miss read his long winded point) did you read it yet

 

Nope. Life is too short for all that! Flow go yo

 

I agree, it was a general statement to make a point. Some people like Tyson and Pele are famous worldwide. You could say who outside of the USA would know Michael Jordan or Michael Phelps? most will have heard of them but recognize them? They could walk down most UK High Streets without being recognized. (Apart from being 7ft tall)

 

These articles seem to be about the cult of celebrity.

The way the media works and interacts with public opinion results in some individuals becoming celebrities whose fame transcends their abilities or their worth. Kardashians? Katie Price? Diana? Everything they do or say becomes front page news. Even if they don't do anything, that becomes news in itself. Their image sells.

I must say I dislike the cult of celebrity nearly as much as the writer of these articles. But there is no denying that it is exists, and is a powerful force. In Valentino Rossi's case, obviously his real talent and outstanding achievements reinforce his stratospheric celebrity status. VR has more claim to it than Katie Price - not that that has anything to do with it.

 

I think this article is more about psychology of fans supporting someone out of blind faith for whatever reason, in this case fans rounding on the riders that are a threat to the Doctors success.

I think this is more relevant to the more casual fans you see trackside in a sea of yellow, not the fans either involved with racing directly or at the very least know what's involved to ride a bike consistently fast around a racetrack.
You generally wont find the latter booing Stoner or Lorenzo for beating Rossi, but probably be in awe of the display of massive riding talent they've just witnessed.

In the same way I don't have a problem with Marquez and I think watching him on the very edge of disaster is something to behold, and for me personally It doesn't matter who's championship he's interfered with, the fact that he has directly affected the outcome of the championship because of his own personal agenda and that is unforgivable, and in my book that makes him an irritating little prick who should have been held to account after Sepang.