A Tribute...

This is a tribute to one of the 3 greatest sportsmen that I have seen in my lifetime...it is a bit late due to the assignments that I had to catch up with, but now I finally have the chance to do it, and in school..hmm..

Michael Schumacher - Special, Mercurial, Gentlemanly, Brilliant

I cannot say enough for this one special driver who woke me up and stoked my interest in racing on four wheels. My first impression in Formula 1 came, believe it or not, when I saw Aryton Senna's car crash in the walls of a particular race in 1993 (correct me if i am wrong). Then on, commentators all the world said that the most demanding racing sport had lost its most colourful and charismatic driver, and will be hard to replace.

How wrong they were. Senna was a great, but as in all sports, there will be future greats. In F1 at that time, there was such a person waiting in the wings...

Schumacher had made some F1 analysts and scouts sit up with his outstanding performance for a rather mediocre Jordan, and had just made a transition to Benetton where he already seized 3 victories in what was relatively an average car at best. Then on, the world had to take notice. A yong star was born. True to behold, I was able to see him win his 2 championships with Benetton, and then see him make his shock move for Ferrari. Ferrari were in the doldrums, and had lost all hope when its reliable drives Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger left.

Schumacher came in and was the difference.

He had his controversial clashes with Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve but then one must recognise that this is the essence of the winning spirit. Absolutely do everything possible to win. Schumi's frustration must be understood from a racing capacity. He is the only drive that I know will always pull something out of the hat even when the odds throw themselves square at him. He has done it not just once, twice, but so often when at the end of the day, when he manages to do it so well, there is a term coined for this - Schumi magic.

I managed to see him win his 5 other titles with Ferrari, and that's what binded me in the sport of F1. It is an understatement to say that Schumi made me just interested in F1. Then on, I learnt 3 things from him.

Excellence, Willpower, Professionalism with humility.

The fact that he encompassed what it meant to be German - efficient and highly determined with a streak to do the impossible, and that he regularly supports welfare and support for kids with his numerous football apperances for charity matches in UNICEF, and his donation to the Tsumani disaster on the spot, says a lot about his character.

Everything said and done, I am proud to say that I am a converted Tifosi because Schumi's influence on me was special - practising of the true value of life at its very best.

Hail Michael Schumacher, the greatest driver of my generation, and possibly for all time and eternity.