December 22.
As an admirer of the writings of James Traynor on football and Brian
Meek on anything, I find it disappointing to read of their objection to
Nigel Mansell's winning the Sports Personality of the Year award.
It is fortunate that the people who elected Nigel Mansell are not a
team of ''experts'' but the British public. Maybe I would have given
Linford Christie the nod, although I did not feel strongly enough
actually to cast my vote, but I am satisfied that Mansell is a very
worthy winner.
His acceptance speech was extremely polished and magnanimous in his
praise for Frank Williams and the Williams Racing team with whom he has
had so much rancour.
Accepting that he may not be the best of TV communicators, I can only
state that the attributes required to succeed in a highly competitive
sport are not necessarily those needed to excel in front of a TV camera.
After all, a number of noted scribes who made their name for their
ability to string words together have failed to impress on screen (Brian
Meek excepted, of course).
Perhaps it is Nigel Mansell's Englishness to which The Herald's
journalists object. Do Linford Christie's colonial roots make him more
British and therefore more acceptable?
While agreeing that we quickly forget past winners of this trophy, I
am sure that time -- the true test of recognition -- will rank his
achievements alongside that of motoring greats Clark, Stewart, and Moss.
In the meantime we must respect the choice of the voting public.
Howard Franks,
Wyndales Farm,
Symington,
Biggar.
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