Talent v Likeability

[Tal]

Is Tim Henman allowed? He didnt have much talent but i have never disliked any sportsman more than 'tiger' Tim. I have such dislike for the cockfaced nob!

He was fourth in the world so I think he'd be allowed. Wouldn't see him as controversial personally but fair enough.

[vegaslover]

Kobe Bryant
Earl Strickland
Tiger Woods
Stefan Effenberg
Wayne Rooney
Ashley Cole
Joe Hart
Javier Mascherano (love him)
Luis Suarez (love him too)
Andre Agassi after reading his book
Shaun Murphy
John Higgins
Riddick Bowe
Rivaldo
Anatoly Karpov anyone?

None come close to Earl the Girl imo on that list

[Tal]

Kobe Bryant
Earl Strickland
Tiger Woods
Stefan Effenberg
Wayne Rooney
Ashley Cole
Joe Hart
Javier Mascherano (love him)
Luis Suarez (love him too)
Andre Agassi after reading his book
Shaun Murphy
John Higgins
Riddick Bowe
Rivaldo
Anatoly Karpov anyone?

None come close to Earl the Girl imo on that list

Have to say I love the Pearl.

King of the world!

[Ant040689]

Going to spell his name wrong now, but Michael Schumacher.

[MintTrav]

Is Tim Henman allowed? He didnt have much talent but i have never disliked any sportsman more than 'tiger' Tim. I have such dislike for the cockfaced nob!

He was fourth in the world so I think he'd be allowed. Wouldn't see him as controversial personally but fair enough.

Disqualified from Wimbledon for assaulting a ballgirl. The hooligan.

[DaveShoelace]

I've read loads of book on the 'natural talent vs hard work' debate, and all of them pretty much prove that most of the people we view as having a natural talent were actually just incredibly hard working and put in loads more hours of practice than their rivals.

With that in mind I think how a lot of elite performers can be pricks makes sense, they are much more like workaholic CEOs who are so driven that good behaviour goes out the window, than naturally blessed people who should be thankful for what they have.

[DaveShoelace]

Have we had Gary Linekar in the talented but likeable list yet?

[nirvana]

Have we had Gary Linekar in the talented but likeable list yet?

I wouldn't think so

[Cf]

I'm not entirely sure why but whenever I see Cristiano Ronaldo's face on the television I have the desire to punch him in the face. And I'm not even a violent person!

[Tal]

I've read loads of book on the 'natural talent vs hard work' debate, and all of them pretty much prove that most of the people we view as having a natural talent were actually just incredibly hard working and put in loads more hours of practice than their rivals.

With that in mind I think how a lot of elite performers can be pricks makes sense, they are much more like workaholic CEOs who are so driven that good behaviour goes out the window, than naturally blessed people who should be thankful for what they have.

That's a good point. Di Canio, Zola, Beckham and probably any other player with particular skills were always known to be first on the training pitch and last off.

George Best worked so hard on his left foot he became left footed!

Garry Kasparov has said he doesn't regard himself as being a natural chess player but that he has a gift for concentration, which enabled him both to study harder than everyone else and to perform better over the board.

[kinboshi]

It's a lot easier to put the hours in when you're naturally talented though. I'm sure Beckham wouldn't have put those hours in if he'd only had an average right-foot.

In rugby league, Sam Tomkins. The Lionel Messi of the super league and yet disliked by many outside Wigan. Was booed by Leeds fans when playing for England.

[david3103]

I'm not entirely sure why but whenever I see Cristiano Ronaldo's face on the television I have the desire to punch him in the face. And I'm not even a violent person!

envy?

[jakally]

It's a lot easier to put the hours in when you're naturally talented though. I'm sure Beckham wouldn't have put those hours in if he'd only had an average right-foot.

There are lots of very talented sports people, who don't try hard enough to become successful.
I can't prove anything, but it wouldn't be a big surprise if there were a decent number of kids of Beckham's age group, who could kick a ball as well as him at say, aged 12/13, but didn't work as hard as him.

[kinboshi]

It's a lot easier to put the hours in when you're naturally talented though. I'm sure Beckham wouldn't have put those hours in if he'd only had an average right-foot.

There are lots of very talented sports people, who don't try hard enough to become successful.
I can't prove anything, but it wouldn't be a big surprise if there were a decent number of kids of Beckham's age group, who could kick a ball as well as him at say, aged 12/13, but didn't work as hard as him.

Oh, I agree.  There are also lots of others who put in loads of hours of practice and effort and still fail to make it.  There are also others that put loads of effort in and manage to be 'decent', but will never be able to get close to those who have the talent and apply themselves.

[horseplayer]

interesting

there are players in the football league and even in the bluesq (at a push) that have or at least had more natural ability than some players in premier league mid-lower placed squads.

they either carry massive baggage, have not worked hard enough at there game or on the very rare occasion have just not been in the right situation (management e.t.c)