F1 Schumi defends Alonso

[Remy Zero]

Michael Schumacher has admitted for the first time that the ascendancy of reigning world champion Fernando Alonso contributed to his decision to retire.

At the height of his championship reign earlier this decade, the seven time world champion repeatedly declared that the right time to stop will be when a younger driver starts to regularly beat him.

38-year-old Schumacher told the Spanish language magazine Gentleman this week that he decided to call it a day at the end of 2006 principally because he detected his dedication to the sport beginning to slip.

He added: "And I always said that the day a younger driver went past me would tell me that the moment had arrived to leave.
"

Schumacher also revealed that he sympathises with his 2006 championship rival, as Alonso now endures a somewhat negative relationship with the media.

"I have been astonished by the commentaries of certain journalists," the German said.

"This person is the youngest double world champion of all time, but they write that he is arrogant and inaccessible ..."

 

[450SEL6.9]

After several months of the media and ex-world champs praising Hamilton and putting down Alonso (among others), it's about time that a 7x WDC came to Alonso's defence. I don't think Schumi said anything new that hasn't been said here before, but since he's Schumacher, maybe people will listen to his point.

Not only is Alonso the youngest double WDC, but he can be the youngest triple WDC by far. Senna, Schumacher and Prost didn't win three until they passed 30. Alonso won two WDC faster than anyone had won one title. Yet he is treated like some scab test driver who is there for the benefit of hit ground-breaking teammate.

Alonso's relations with the media remind me of one of my favorite athletes, Vijay Singh. He took the world No. 1 golf ranking away from Tiger Woods in '04, but no one particularly cared.

 

[Centurion]

Alonso's relations with the media remind me of one of my favorite athletes, Vijay Singh. He took the world No. 1 golf ranking away from Tiger Woods in '04, but no one particularly cared.

The explanation is very simple. Win championship and you'll be respected. Stay at the top by defending your title and you'll win the hearts of the people.

Comparing Vijay Singh to Tiger Woods is like comparing Alons to Shumi.

Tiger Woods > Vijay Singh

 

[450SEL6.9]

As I wrote in the original post, I was referring to 2004, when Tiger did nothing. I think comparing Singh and Woods and that time was very generous . . . to Woods. Vijay was kicking ass and taking names, but the media ignored him. Of course he made some comments about a woman playing on the PGA Tour that caused the media to flip out on him.

When Vijay was No. 1 in 2004 (which was the reference in the first post), Singh, Mickelson, Goosen > Woods and still the media barely respected him. Alonso has similar relations with the media, who dismiss his achievements. I think the media just has a few athletes that they never want to see at the top.