Hopefully, Hamilton headed to American stardom
He’s black, he’s handsome and he’s one of the world’s best racecar drivers.
He’s Lewis Hamilton and before last Sunday you probably never heard of him.
Hamilton won the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal last week, making him the first black driver to win a Formula 1 race. An Englishman, Hamilton is already a major star on the Formula 1 circuit, which includes Europe Asia and South America. Yet, he’s relatively unknown in America.
Hamilton started from the pole, also for the first time. Apart from losing the lead for three laps when he made his first of two pit stops, he led the entire race and was never challenged.
He’s just 22, yet has six consecutive top-three finishes in six starts, something no other first-year F1 driver has accomplished.
“This is history,” Hamilton said with a smile after the race.
In Formula 1 tradition, fellow drivers on the winner’s stand doused him with champagne. He received a lengthy standing ovation from the time he crossed the finish line until he received his trophy.
Hamilton will race in the United States Grand Prix this week in Indianapolis, the lone Formula 1 race in America each year. Hopefully, someone, somewhere will take note if there are more black fans in the stands at Indy as a result of Hamilton’s newfound stardom in ‘The States’ as his fellow countrymen call this country.
Danica Patrick led 14 laps of the Indianapolis 500 two years ago, and that is basically her claim to fame. She’s never won a race and has thrown several temper-tantrums during her two years on the track. Yet, every time she opens her mouth or lies out on an automobile hood, the racing world takes note.
NASCAR is being forced down the throats of American sports fans whether they like the sport or not. Black Americans are supposed to ignore the lack of even one black driver on its circuit and the dozens of Confederate flags aflying at race sites and join the fun.
Meanwhile, Hamilton has paid his dues at every level it takes to reach the heights of Formula 1 and not only did he succeed, he excelled. He was a proven winner before he ever raced in the ‘big leagues.’
Patrick cannot say the same. Most NASCAR drivers have sponsors, fans and no hope of ever winning a race.
More than 50,000 people took part in an AOL poll this week that asked the following:
Will Lewis Hamilton ever become a big star in the United States?
46 percent said yes, if he keeps winning. 29 percent said yes, if he switches to NASCAR. 25 percent said no.
Is race a factor? When is it not in America? Should Hamilton switch to NASCAR or Indy Car Racing and win a race his first season, the resulting media attention would be tremendous. So would the backlash. A black foreigner winning races in places like Talladega, Fla.? Now, that would be something to see.
How to fix the NBA
The topic of terrible TV ratings and lack of fan interest is being debated as the NBA Finals continue.
The SportsEye has the solution.
First, find a really good American white guy. Then, put him on an East Coast team that has a few other solid white players to go with a nice mix of black standouts.
Then, find a flashy All-NBA black guy. Put this guy on a West Coast team and surround him with black stars and couple of white “gritty” players.
Put those teams against each other in the NBA Finals.
Then, sit back and watch. It would be Magic. Ratings would soar like a Bird. Get what we’re saying here, NBA?
