Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Off Topic => Sports Arena => Topic started by: hipkiss92 on August 01, 2012, 11:21:27 PM

Title: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: hipkiss92 on August 01, 2012, 11:21:27 PM
Having been to the time trial today I feel he deserves his own thread.

Start off by saying I think both a Knighthood and SPOTY are coming his way,
where do people think he ranks on lists of greatest British sportsmen?

No. 1 for me, the year he's had is unprecedented, and already had one of the greatest Olympic records behind him before 2012.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Chipsticks on August 01, 2012, 11:24:57 PM
His interview that played on SSN about on hour ago was heart-wrenching, where he talked about how he misses his family and how he wished he could go watch the cycling as a 'normal' person. I know it's a bit of a cliche from sportsmen in interviews, but I thought he genuinely meant it and showed real humility.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: curiousorange on August 02, 2012, 12:09:06 AM
It's a bit of a fence-sit, but I wouldn't like to compare his achievement to another discipline since I think any sportsperson at the top of their profession is a work of art in itself. I would say that anything he gets following this summer he deserves, and also that from all I've seen and all I've read shows a remarkably focussed and down-to-earth bloke. The mark of a top fella is someone I think would be happy to buy a beer for, and I would pass a pint Wiggins' way without a second's reflection.

Congratulations to Wiggins and Froome on today's ride. A very special achievement indeed.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: eamonn on August 02, 2012, 12:09:07 AM
The sideburns are a bit ropey though.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: curiousorange on August 02, 2012, 12:09:52 AM
The sideburns are a bit ropey though.

Anybody with siders like that needs their hand shaking.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: bertlambshank on August 02, 2012, 01:46:52 AM
Why hasn't he got 15 mirrors on each side of his handlebars like the face?
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Vancouver on August 02, 2012, 05:41:28 AM
Good for him and all that but definitely doesn't deserve a knighthood. No, you can't give one out for that. You may be thinking of an OBE or MBE.

And isn't Steve Redgrave our best sportsman by a mile?
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Somniloquism on August 02, 2012, 07:26:33 AM
Wiggins has won more Olympic medals then Sir Steve. And is one gold off matching his total of golds. It's a shame he has decided not to do the indoor track stuff this year.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: TopDeck113 on August 02, 2012, 07:28:06 AM
When we all have a little more time to reflect, we will realize that what Wiggins has accomplished in the last month is up there amongst the greatest sporting achievements that anyone from these islands has ever attained.

As a longstanding cycling fan, I can't think of an award, recognition or financial reward he doesn't warrant.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: UK Redsox on August 02, 2012, 07:32:31 AM
Greatest British sportsperson of all time. No doubt about it for me.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Somniloquism on August 02, 2012, 07:38:37 AM
The only niggle I have is that pro road cycling is traditionally dogged with drug abuse rumours. Lance Armstrong is the next one to be charged and I remember when at the time he was insprational.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: TopDeck113 on August 02, 2012, 07:46:30 AM
The only niggle I have is that pro road cycling is traditionally dogged with drug abuse rumours. Lance Armstrong is the next one to be charged and I remember when at the time he was insprational.
Wiggins is clean. End of. Full stop. Period.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: philthebar on August 02, 2012, 07:57:44 AM
Great sportsman but I still maintain that the Tour de France is essentially a team event, whereas yesterday's time trial individual. 

That's not to take anything away from the achievements.

Came across really well in the interviews too.

Knighthood - in the current climate yes, bus essentially not for people involved in sport or entertainment.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Dante Lavelli on August 02, 2012, 08:01:22 AM
The only niggle I have is that pro road cycling is traditionally dogged with drug abuse rumours. Lance Armstrong is the next one to be charged and I remember when at the time he was insprational.
Wiggins is clean. End of. Full stop. Period.

The article he wrote for the guardian about drugs is probably him at his very best.  I doubt anyone could write such heart felt words and then be cheating in the background.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Dante Lavelli on August 02, 2012, 08:06:20 AM
There is an ITV4 documentary about Wiggo on Youtube and one of the interesting bits that comes out of it is that he, in the past, has lacked focus.  Basically if he had trained as hard as he is now for his entire career he’d have world records for his track stuff coming out of his ears.

For example after the Beijing Olympics he went on a SIX MONTH drinking binge.  In in the true British way of supporting characters it actually makes him easier to like.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Dave Cooper please on August 02, 2012, 08:33:48 AM
You can't compare sports so I'm not going to, but what Wiggo has achieved in just a month is absolutely phenomenal.
Just to win the Tour de France would be enough to place him right amongst the greatest British Sportsmen ever, but then to go on a week later and attempt to help a team-mate win an Olympic medal and then only days later absolutely blow a top-class field apart in a discipline he has only really stepped up to in the last year or so....you run out of superlatives to explain just how amazing that is.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: PaulWinch again on August 02, 2012, 08:48:15 AM
He should definitely be knighted.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Somniloquism on August 02, 2012, 09:02:51 AM
Great sportsman but I still maintain that the Tour de France is essentially a team event, whereas yesterday's time trial individual. 


The TDF is a team event in the fact the team will help the lead rider, but that person also has to be able to maintain a high level over mutiple terrain types otherwise all the teams efforts won't help them at all. But in the individual Time trials during the Tour, as with yesterday, he has shown that he can do it when it matters.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Risso on August 02, 2012, 09:04:29 AM
You can't compare sports so I'm not going to, but what Wiggo has achieved in just a month is absolutely phenomenal.
Just to win the Tour de France would be enough to place him right amongst the greatest British Sportsmen ever, but then to go on a week later and attempt to help a team-mate win an Olympic medal and then only days later absolutely blow a top-class field apart in a discipline he has only really stepped up to in the last year or so....you run out of superlatives to explain just how amazing that is.


Well said Dave, absolutely spot on.  Cyclists to be SPOTY two years running.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: nigel on August 02, 2012, 09:21:40 AM
Regarding SPOTY, don't forget the golden girls.
Only being rowing just over 4 years, and 4 years later Olympic gold.

Yes, Bradley will/should win, with Heather and Helen winning the team of the year.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Chris Jameson on August 02, 2012, 09:43:16 AM
Bradley Wiggins is the ace face.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Somniloquism on August 02, 2012, 10:31:09 AM
Regarding SPOTY, don't forget the golden girls.
Only being rowing just over 4 years, and 4 years later Olympic gold.

Yes, Bradley will/should win, with Heather and Helen winning the team of the year.

I do fell sorry for them. The news last night was 5 mins of Wiggo winning the gold with almost an aside of "By the way, the girls won one as well."
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Eckybloke on August 02, 2012, 10:36:36 AM
Bradley is chuffing brilliant.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: maidstonevillain on August 02, 2012, 10:47:14 AM
Good for him and all that but definitely doesn't deserve a knighthood. No, you can't give one out for that. You may be thinking of an OBE or MBE.

And isn't Steve Redgrave our best sportsman by a mile?

No.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Pete3206 on August 02, 2012, 11:10:52 AM
Bradley Wiggins comments on the cynics:
Quote
He said: “They are just fucking wankers. I cannot be doing with people like that.

"It justifies their bone idleness because they can’t ever imagine applying themselves to do anything in their lives.

“It’s easy for them to sit under a pseudonym on Twitter and write that shit, rather than get off their arses in their own lives and apply themselves, work hard and achieve something.”


You'll do for me mate.  :D
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: nigel on August 02, 2012, 11:52:56 AM
Bradley Wiggins comments on the cynics:
Quote
He said: “They are just fucking wankers. I cannot be doing with people like that.

"It justifies their bone idleness because they can’t ever imagine applying themselves to do anything in their lives.

“It’s easy for them to sit under a pseudonym on Twitter and write that shit, rather than get off their arses in their own lives and apply themselves, work hard and achieve something.”


You'll do for me mate.  :D

Spot on Bradley.
Knight him on that quote alone  :D
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: johnboy on August 02, 2012, 12:38:41 PM
Great sportsman but I still maintain that the Tour de France is essentially a team event, whereas yesterday's time trial individual. 


The TDF is a team event in the fact the team will help the lead rider, but that person also has to be able to maintain a high level over mutiple terrain types otherwise all the teams efforts won't help them at all. But in the individual Time trials during the Tour, as with yesterday, he has shown that he can do it when it matters.
For the Tour alone, Bradley deserves everything that is coming his way, not only that, he loves Lambretta's, only thing wrong is that he is a "'The Mighty Reds YNWA'" fan.
As far as knighthood goes, I thin first shout should go to David Brailsford, the person responsible for the promotion of British Cycling.
Almost forgot UTV
"
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on August 02, 2012, 04:47:27 PM
A very British sporting hero.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: The Left Side on August 02, 2012, 05:04:05 PM
Sports Personality of the Year - easy
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Nev on August 02, 2012, 06:31:44 PM
He's done OK but he's no Beckham.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: SoccerHQ on August 02, 2012, 10:37:50 PM
Great champion and seems a top bloke aswell so his success over the last 10 days is well deserved.

Is he now officially our best olympian or is that Sir Chris Hoy again? Just don't tell me it's still fcuking Redgrave?!
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: UK Redsox on August 02, 2012, 10:43:30 PM
SCH cans win all the Olympic medals he wants, he's just not in the same league as Wiggo.

Winning the TDF is the ultimate sporting achievement. Tacking on the time trial gold just shows what an all time great Wiggo is
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: JD on August 03, 2012, 07:51:40 AM
Great sportsman but I still maintain that the Tour de France is essentially a team event, whereas yesterday's time trial individual. 


The TDF is a team event in the fact the team will help the lead rider, but that person also has to be able to maintain a high level over mutiple terrain types otherwise all the teams efforts won't help them at all. But in the individual Time trials during the Tour, as with yesterday, he has shown that he can do it when it matters.
For the Tour alone, Bradley deserves everything that is coming his way, not only that, he loves Lambretta's, only thing wrong is that he is a "'The Mighty Reds YNWA'" fan.
As far as knighthood goes, I thin first shout should go to David Brailsford, the person responsible for the promotion of British Cycling.
Almost forgot UTV
"

Totally agree with David Brailsford getting a knighthood. The strength of British cycling is awesome.   
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: philthebar on August 03, 2012, 08:52:54 AM
Great sportsman but I still maintain that the Tour de France is essentially a team event, whereas yesterday's time trial individual. 


The TDF is a team event in the fact the team will help the lead rider, but that person also has to be able to maintain a high level over mutiple terrain types otherwise all the teams efforts won't help them at all. But in the individual Time trials during the Tour, as with yesterday, he has shown that he can do it when it matters.

I don't disagree with any of that, but isn't that what a team is about, mutual dependency.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: nigel on August 03, 2012, 09:29:05 AM
SCH cans win all the Olympic medals he wants, he's just not in the same league as Wiggo.

Winning the TDF is the ultimate sporting achievement. Tacking on the time trial gold just shows what an all time great Wiggo is

That's like comparing Usain Bolt, 100m world record, to Kenenisa Bekele, 10,000m world record.
Same sport, but completely different.

Certainly not disagreeing on Bradley Wiggins, but you can't dismiss Chris Hoye's achievments so easily.
Title: Re: Bradley Wiggins
Post by: Brend'Watkins on August 03, 2012, 11:17:32 AM
He's done OK but he's no Beckham.

Oh yes he is and his cooler.
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