"It is a massive distraction, yes. And that's why Bernie Ecclestone loves Lewis Hamilton so much because he's able to jetset around the world and do so much for the sport. Nico just can't do that at the moment and it's a real problem," said someone, seriously.
Would you like to know what's a 'massive distraction' and a 'real problem' for Nico Rosberg? Well, if you follow Formula 1, you probably already know what the sports people were referring to, but I was flabbergasted as I flung my car round the Theale roundabout. In fact, I was a little bit outraged at the nature of this great 'distraction' that had so bothered Bernie Ecclestone, a load of rich people in suits and some late-night radio presenters.
It turns out that Nico Rosberg's wife is expecting a baby.
Yep, that is the 'problem' - they don't think he can concentrate on his all-important driving while his wife is about to give birth.
Is it just me, or is that ridiculous? And maybe slightly offensive? A problem? Really? A distraction? Are you kidding?
"Apparently, he has his jet standing by," laughed one of the sports people as though it was one of the most absurd things a very wealthy person had done. They went on to speculate what would happen if she went into labour as he went into qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. Apparently Nico had just said, "Well, she won't" when a reporter had asked him earlier.
Well she might not, but I tell you what, if it were me, I'd be leaving that car in the middle of a lap, throwing off my crash helmet and phoning my pilot to tell him to start the engines. There is nothing I can think of that would get in the way of that moment, and it is totally bonkers to think that this thing called 'sport' could obscure something so massive. Surely everyone knows it? How obscene to refer to that moment as a 'distraction' when in reality it should be the other way around!
For sports people though, it appears the motivation is a bit different. The radio presenters seemed to think he was barmy. I've never fully understood sport - no-one ever stops and says, "Hang on a minute lads, why are we doing this, again?"
I drove down the High Street, thinking about it. I was never going to lead out the England cricket team at Lord's or knock in an FA Cup Final winner. I can see that achievement matters and I can see that the adrenaline of a moment can be overwhelming, maybe even all-consuming for some of these sports people. But it's not bigger than your life, is it? It's not bigger than the things that really matter, the moments that remind you what it means to be human, what it means to be loved and to love - to hold the hand of a person that you helped to create, minutes old and in need of you as much as they need oxygen. I might not understand sport but I'm not going to join in with anyone who devalues those moments in favour of a spin around a concrete roundabout in a shiny machine.
I twisted the radio off and drove into our road, slaloming between the parked cars on either side. I was muttering to myself about how unbelievable it all was and I very nearly squashed a hedgehog. He scurried off under a fence.
Maybe, I, unlike Nico, should concentrate a bit more on the driving.
"Apparently, he has his jet standing by," laughed one of the sports people as though it was one of the most absurd things a very wealthy person had done. They went on to speculate what would happen if she went into labour as he went into qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. Apparently Nico had just said, "Well, she won't" when a reporter had asked him earlier.
Well she might not, but I tell you what, if it were me, I'd be leaving that car in the middle of a lap, throwing off my crash helmet and phoning my pilot to tell him to start the engines. There is nothing I can think of that would get in the way of that moment, and it is totally bonkers to think that this thing called 'sport' could obscure something so massive. Surely everyone knows it? How obscene to refer to that moment as a 'distraction' when in reality it should be the other way around!
For sports people though, it appears the motivation is a bit different. The radio presenters seemed to think he was barmy. I've never fully understood sport - no-one ever stops and says, "Hang on a minute lads, why are we doing this, again?"
I drove down the High Street, thinking about it. I was never going to lead out the England cricket team at Lord's or knock in an FA Cup Final winner. I can see that achievement matters and I can see that the adrenaline of a moment can be overwhelming, maybe even all-consuming for some of these sports people. But it's not bigger than your life, is it? It's not bigger than the things that really matter, the moments that remind you what it means to be human, what it means to be loved and to love - to hold the hand of a person that you helped to create, minutes old and in need of you as much as they need oxygen. I might not understand sport but I'm not going to join in with anyone who devalues those moments in favour of a spin around a concrete roundabout in a shiny machine.
I twisted the radio off and drove into our road, slaloming between the parked cars on either side. I was muttering to myself about how unbelievable it all was and I very nearly squashed a hedgehog. He scurried off under a fence.
Maybe, I, unlike Nico, should concentrate a bit more on the driving.
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