Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig - her interviews are things of rare beauty
Mitch Docker
Svein Tuft - an amazing life story
Ellery Hanley
Adrian Morley
Josh Charnley
Jermain Defoe
Edited.
Lee Craigie - saw her at a screening of ‘Divided’, her film about her attempt at the Tour Divide (well worth watching if you get the opportunity) and then met her during an event last year. Took the time to chat during the event and at the finish
A few people have mentioned Marcus Rashford already, but it wasn’t just what he did, it was the quiet, determined good grace with which he did it, which rightfully earned such recognition.
I suspect this isn’t the last we’ve heard from him on issues like this
David Silva has also been mentioned. One of the finest players to ever grace the Premiership, yet apparently completely devoid of ego and just came across as a lovely bloke.
Vincent Kompany as well, for generally being a footballing legend, also came across as an ego-free lovely bloke, but for the huge amount he just quietly did for the homeless in Manchester
On the football front, Muzzy Izzett ex of Leicester and Chelsea.
Just a normal bloke, with a head on his shoulders, unlike, as he told us, many other footballers.
A player was sent off for England the night before we were working at his house. Talking about it, we said why would he do such a thing, the straight answer 'he's as thick as f..., and just doesnt think about anything'.
He then told us the story about many footballers, they start as good players at 10 yo, scouts keep an eye on them, and at around 12, if they are still good, they get coaching and other incentives from the scouts club. then at 13 or 14, payments start appearing, all totally illegally, as Clubs cannot sign players that young. From that time, they do not want to do any schoolwork, as they are going to be a footballer, so academics take a back seat, hence some stop learning about life outside football as a 12-14 year old.
I like frankie detourie.he had a bit of a coke habit at one stage years ago but overall I think he's great.
Nicola Adams. I'm half in love her.
Nicole Cooke. Read her autobiography - you won't believe the things she had to fight against. And her retirement speech was excellent.
Ian Wright.
And everyone is right about Rodney Mullen. I met the Bones Brigade long ago when the did a tour. Hawk, Caballero, Mountain, and Guerroro were all really friendly and encouraging, but Mullen stood out - he had time for everyone.
Mike McGill was a cock.
Read her autobiography – you won’t believe the things she had to fight against.
Hmmmm. There was a reason she was without a team at the height of her career (beyond her anti drugs stance) and at the Olympics she elected to rent an apartment rather than stay in the athletes village with the rest of the road team. Reliably informed directly by those who cycled with her that she was hard work to be around.
Sadly passed away now but Joey Dunlop, multiple word chmampion/TT Winner/Road Race King but still had time for his charity work (Romania mainly). Still worked out the back of a van working on his bikes, more than happy to have a quiet chat to whoever happened to be hanging around the pits. This of course could have been a field at a local road race!
Oh, I agree, she had a rep for being 'difficult'. However, I'd still say she falls on the 'good guy' side of the equation.
Am no football fan but Gary Lineker?
Played the game about as cleanly as anyone and V prominent on social media with on moral and political standpoints which I suspect most here would agree.
I don't disagree with this, however, the production staff of MOTD may disagree with your assessment of Mr Lineker as a 'good guy'. Not enormously pleasant, apparently.
Gary Lineker?
Played the game about as cleanly as anyone and V prominent on social media with on moral and political standpoints which I suspect most here would agree.
I know one story about his personal morals where he bought his way out of exposure in a tabloid that makes me view him as total scum.
YMMV
I met tony hawk once at livi skate park in the early 90s. He signed my board..and was altogether a top bloke.
Chris Hoy was in my hall of residence at uni in st andrews. Lived next door to my mate and apparently a totally sound lad.
I worked in a pub in the late 80s/ early 90s in Manchester
Niall Quinn was an absolute star. Most of the other city players weren’t. Peter Reid was okay but Tony Coton was an utter, utter arse.
It takes a special kind to leave Man City as a fans favourite and regular 1st teamer (that would have been an England player if he was at a more fashionable club at the time) and sign up to the then vastly more moneyed Utd to sit on the bench for the rest of your career.
Also agree with David Silva and Vincent Kompany as exemplary professionals. Would add Micah Richards to the list. A very likeable guy that will do well as a pundit / media type.
I'd say the majority of sports people are "good guys".
The bad eggs stick out, the good eggs just keep on keeping on.
There's a lot of cynicism out there.
Am no football fan but Gary Lineker?
Virtue signalling on social media doesn't make up for a significant lack of it in real life.
If you want a sportsperson who has lived an exemplary life, look to Mary Peters - a truly special person
Dave Moorcroft is a top bloke. He once awarded me with a BUSA XC medal many years ago and met him many years later, friendly and down to earth. World beater on his day.
No one mentioned Chris Akrigg?
I know one story about his personal morals where he bought his way out of exposure in a tabloid that makes me view him as total scum.
I have heard that one too.
Niall Quinn was an absolute star.
Brilliant guy.
A mate was in the newsroom when GL was rung and asked if he had any comments on the story they were going to print. Said it was entertaining to say the least.
If it's the one I think, it's one of those that is so contrary to (at the time) wholesome public image that it boggled the mind.
Round the back of Chinawhite if I remember correctly.
I know one story about his personal morals where he bought his way out of exposure in a tabloid that makes me view him as total scum.
A friends sister worked at one of the Hello/celebrity mags,around 10 years ago. G.L was known as a 'serial shagger', but the stories never got published. They reckoned he was seeing one of their senior Staff members, who kept him out of the mag, in between his wife and other floosies.
Doddie Weir seems lovely and is showing real courage/character
He’s local to me and is always handing out trophies at schools, kids rugby, local cross country events etc. Everyone loves him, he is always smiling and has time for everyone, a real pillar of the community
The Mail and other papers hate Linekar because he is sort of leftish, popular, and successful. They have been trying for years to get some sort of scandal on him. If it existed we'd have heard about it.
...or I could believe people on the internet who's mate's sister's uncle knows someone who lives next door to someone who is a cleaner at the BBC and they get all the gossip and the KNOW that he is the worst man in Britain.
Lineker has a reputation as a ladies' man, I don't know the finer details but it's moot whether it disqualifies him from being a "good guy" on the whole.
But I assume Ryan Giggs is a non-starter for this thread then?
They have been trying for years to get some sort of scandal on him. If it existed we’d have heard about it.
One paper did get the scandal. They did a deal the nature of which offends me far more than the act he was covering.
Not a big football fan myself, but Bob Wilson has always seemed a "good guy".
They did a deal the nature of which offends me far more than the act he was covering.
... and how did you come by this information?
From someone I worked in in our newsroom who previously worked for that red top in their newsroom.
Not a big football fan myself, but Bob Wilson has always seemed a “good guy”.
He lived on my old patch when I worked as a local paper reporter.
Interviewed him under sad circumstances, but he did seem like a nice fella.
I think I'll stick with not taking any notice of it without further evidence.
Check how many tabloid "Lineker Scandal..." stories there are online. If there was any evidence of this story someone would have published it.
From personal experience and via my sister who runs a theatre I can say that the following are genuinely decent people:
Greg Minnaar
Steve Peat
All of the Athertons
Manon Carpenter
Jenson Button
Mark Webber
David Coulthard
Martyn Ashton
Guy Martin
Nicky Grist
Jessica Ennis-Hill
All are great and totally normal but the one that's above all of them is Ellen MacArthur. You would not believe what she has done if you only took her at face value, so modest, down-to-earth and no ego whatsoever.
eddiebaby and I have agreed to disagree.
I'd just like to say it's refreshing to disagree with someone who can keep things civil - no snide remarks or 'witty' insults.
Cheers eddie.
When working on a football game, we had to go round top european league clubs and take photos of the players so we could model realistic likenesses. Apparently Liverpool were really nice, all the players polite and amenable. David Oleary's leeds on the other hand most unpleasant bunch of shits.
Chris Bailey (90's tennis) was a "good guy".... Had to work with him for a motion capture shoot. It's quite a long tedious process he never complained. When asked by the art director "now we need some dives".... the look of incredulity "I don't Dive!" was the reply.
eddiebaby and I have agreed to disagree.
You had me at “cheers”.
Of the folk I know(ish) ... Jason White (ex Scotland rugby captain), Dario Fanchitti and his cousin Paul Di Resta, Chris Hoy, Danny MacAskill and big Ben Cathro.
Folk I wish I knew ... Sadio Mane.
The Mail and other papers hate Linekar because he is sort of leftish, popular, and successful.
Well if that is the case, and I am not convinced, he is a bit of hypocrite because he was a serial user of tax avoidance schemes, that is a matter of public record - search for his name on Companies House.
I don't know about the scurrilous gossip but I do live in the same neighbourhood nds he is pretty unique among the many well known people who live here for being a bit of a "billy big boots" and for always being on the pull.
Gary Linekar is a sleaze ball not a ladies man.
Check out his brothers instagram Wayne Linekar if you want to see someone even more sleazy.(If thats possible?)