British Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton is now a bonafied world champion. On Sunday Hamilton came in fifth place at the Brazilian Grand Prix securing the world champion title making the youngest to ever win it and the only Black man to ever hold the title."I thought, 'Do I have it?' They told me and I was ecstatic. I must thank God," Hamilton said after barely taking the fifth position."I'm speechless - that was so pretty close. You guys (his McLaren team) have done an amazing job all season. It's been such a long journey - all the sacrifices we've made, I'm so thrilled to do this for everyone. It was one of the toughest races of my life."
The win comes after a tough week of more racist taunts. After experiencing racist taunts from fans in Spain earlier this year, it appeared those fans weren't giving up. The racist taunts showed up online. A Spanish F1 racing fan launched the website, pinchalaruedadehamilton.com, which means "Burst Hamilton's Tires," and asked fans to virtually leave nails, pins and porcupines on the race track image on the Web site.
This site also asked fans to "Leave a Message for Lewis," which featured hundreds of racist and obscene comments directed toward Lewis. Formula One's governing body denounced the website telling a Brazilian news source that it stands firm against acts of "discrimination and prejudice."
The website was pulled after the Spanish branch of the New York-based ad agency, TWBA, who owned the server the site was on, started making headlines. The website grabbed attention just as Hamilton was preparing for the final race of the season in Brazil. Last year Hamilton lost the title by one point to Kimi Raikkonen.
Comments: (11)
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By: janis robinson on 11/03/2008 8:05AM
Racism is ignorance .ignorant people are not that bright .
luckily lewis is bright ,intelligent ,talented and will rise above all the negativity .
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By: William Daum on 11/03/2008 9:10AM
The website is no longer available as far as I can tell. There are many wonderful Spaniards as there are Brits and so on. But there are always some (in this case too many) fringe freaks that like to spoil things for real sportsmen. Seems like the FIA has their own problems being fair as well. Has the FIA been infiltrated by the Spanish lunatic fringe freakos?
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By: William Daum on 11/03/2008 2:07PM
To the Formula I Officials.
I have no problem believing that some Mafia guy calls the shots and instructs the FIA to make their shady decisions. Do they really think that we are all so stupid that we can't recognize their bias and blatant racism?
They are like a bunch a babies that think we can't see them when they put their hands over their eyes!!! But we do see them and know them for the weaklings they are. Massa and Raikonen have been cheating all year long and gotten away with it, and with the blessing of the officials. Real men DO Not want to win based on the cheating of officials. Men who accept such victories are worthless imposter's, mere shadows. Which is exactly what I consider Raikonen and Massa and Ferrari to be. To think that at one time I was an earnest supporter of them. I am truly ashamed to admit it.
Only when all competitors start from the same starting line, regardless of race, sex or religion, or country of origin, and are subject to the same rules applied by the "blindfolded lady of justice" will we have a fair race. Anything less is a sham and that victory is hollow and meaningless. Each person must be allowed to reach their full potential regardless who or what they are. That is the true way it is intended and those who thwart the truth, get to live with an unclean conscience.
William
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By: Smraz Shah on 11/03/2008 9:49AM
GOD gave all men same ability and only man can see colours that look different. onece all are given same chances and opurtunity the result will not differ.
white, red, yellow and black are just the colours that we see no one is better then the other. We are proud of you Lewis Hamilton
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By: Braystud on 11/03/2008 10:36AM
Hmmm.Methinks some Spaniards might be a mite jealous about Ha-
milton's World Drivers' Championship.
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By: Zenzele on 11/03/2008 5:42PM
The way I see it, if they were so superior, they wouldn't have felt the need to sabotage this man's race - his "inferiority" would have been proven, had he lost. Oh well, didn't happen that way, so these guys can just go back into their caves, until the next full moon.
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By: D J on 11/04/2008 2:48AM
Stand tall Mr Hamilton if you like yourself, and the paychecks and trophies keep coming, who cares about people that can't appreciate greatness.
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By: Andre Pearce on 11/04/2008 6:24AM
Massa was gifted 4 points and a win that was stolen from Lewis which made it an 8-pointer robbery. Massa was also gifted a ghost point and had a world class team mate playing a supporting role. AND HE STILL LOST. Lewis had to deal with harsh and unfair penalties, racism and a crap team mate. He still came up tops. What more proof does anyone need to see that Lewis is a born winner? Massa deserved to lose and nothing can alter destiny. Lewis will continue to shine.
I sincerely pray that Lewis does not get distracted by all the negativity, because he will most definitely go through what the Williamses and other black sporting legends have gone through. They still dominated their respective sports. Lewis simply needs to continue to work harder and cut out those silly mistakes. He also needs to speak to people like Richard Williams who coached his daughters on how to deal with hateful and hostile crowds.
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By: stephen on 11/05/2008 5:02AM
lewis is the best thing that has come to f1 (excitment) he is the most exciting racer ive seen for many years.theres so many people jeloeus of what he has achived in the 2 years in f1 and some of them are f1 drivers cant wait till next year.. good luck lewis
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By: Guy on 11/06/2008 12:12PM
As a PanAfricanAmerican-I see the world is still tainted by it's own ego and ignorance,
Spain with it's sordid past should remember it's history in the world and how it stands in the world.
The many nations colonized by the Spaniards do not have much love for it. A barbaric nation still running with bulls and stabbing them for sport.
What makes Spain so great anyway/Rum and Pirates?
women with broad swaying hips?
They may have forgot or don't care that they too had a hand in slavery and racism, and a past of feuding with it's neighbors over vane ideology differences.
As a matter of fact, many coloniozed nations that are now independant nations have little or no love for those invaders either,even Africa has it's own faults because of greed and ideological/philosophical/religious differences.
Now the PanAfrican population is rising into the global competition arena, in all sports and industries, determined to win.
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