Joe Bugner was right about this country

[Phill-Mitchell]

He said before the Bruno fight:

"this country doesn't like winners, the media tears them down and the public laps it up. What this county loves is a good loser "

Bugner spoke the truth, he's seen as a villan but by god he had a very valid point

[scotchpieirnbru]

Completely right, people in this country can't handle someone else having a bit of success.

[WarpedDesign]

Yeah, everybody was really pissed off about the unprecedented success of the Olympics. Can you imagine how fucked off we'd be if we won a World Cup?

[Godsavethequeen]

Originally Posted by scotchpieirnbru

Completely right, people in this country can't handle someone else having a bit of success.

You talking about Scotland or England LoL

[brucebufershair]

There is some truth to the build them up knock them down thing however i also thing he's a bit bitter because the British public took to him the way they took to Henry Cooper or Frank Bruno. I've not seen that much of Bugner because he was before my time but i think he was maybe in the wrong place at the wrong time. He had Henry shadow on his shoulder whereas Bruno had space to breathe and develop his own identity

[widdy]

i think more people cheered and enjoyed bruno winning the world title than losing any off his fights.

what we don't like doing is fucking moaning about looses,its the british mentality,we lose we stand back up and carry on like real men,not moan like fuck and cry in a corner and make excuses like little babys(well most of us)

[like a boss]

Originally Posted by scotchpieirnbru

Completely right, people in this country can't handle someone else having a bit of success.

Tall poppy syndrome is not restricted to the UK.

[ron u.k.]

It's an old worn out cliche and mostly bullshit. Anyway going off Bugners opinion then the British public should have liked him.

[HOF]

Originally Posted by ron u.k.

It's an old worn out cliche and mostly bullshit.

Hmmm not so sure about that. There is a definite truth in our love for a heroic loser, or to be more precise someone who gives the public something mushy they can lap up. Look at Andy Murray for example. Being a world class player who unfortunately has 3 of the best players ever up against him wasn't enough to get people to appreciate him until he had a sob at Wimbledon. Thank f*ck he won the US Open.

The 'tearing them down' bit is a moot point. Although I tend to agree with that to a certain extent as well when names like Dallaglio, Calzaghe and Hatton come to mind. Then again the scum at the News of the World ain't around anymore.

[trotter]

Absolute load of shite

Hatton and Bruno were wildly popular before they lost a fight

Look at Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis, Bradley Wiggins - all successful and universally liked.

However we also embrace those who try valiantly but fall short, nothing wrong with that - having a go. And also those who are humble and down to earth, regardless of success.

[hitandhope]

Originally Posted by trotter

Absolute load of shite

Hatton and Bruno were wildly popular before they lost a fight

Look at Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis, Bradley Wiggins - all successful and universally liked.

However we also embrace those who try valiantly but fall short, nothing wrong with that - having a go. And also those who are humble and down to earth, regardless of success.

Exactly. One of the biggest myths is that Brits hate winners. We fucking despise arrogance in victory and we love someone who takes defeat like a man and carries on regardless.

As for the press, yes, most of those bastards try to destroy everybody at every opportunity, especially winners.

[Makingweight]

Think it's a myth as well.

It is the media that are the ones that build them up & knock them down take Gascoigne after 1990 world cup never left the bloke alone.

For Bugner he was never liked for getting the decision against Cooper but his attitude & defensive style was never going to make him popular with the man in the street.

The press all over the world destroy there own sports people it is just a tag that we have been given take other places like Italy or any South American country they go crazy when they fail in the world cup same with asian nations & cricket!

[ron u.k.]

Originally Posted by Makingweight

Think it's a myth as well.

It is the media that are the ones that build them up & knock them down take Gascoigne after 1990 world cup never left the bloke alone.

For Bugner he was never liked for getting the decision against Cooper but his attitude & defensive style was never going to make him popular with the man in the street.

The press all over the world destroy there own sports people it is just a tag that we have been given take other places like Italy or any South American country they go crazy when they fail in the world cup same with asian nations & cricket!

And there lies the answer pal why Bugner wasn't popular.Here was for the time a huge sculptured heavyweight who people thought was going to take it to his opponent and cause some destruction.Instead he was a pacifist who lost fights against the likes of Jack Bodell. He was actually quite good and especially in a losing effort against Joe Frazier showed he was capable of cutting it against the best,but those efforts were few and far between.

[avk47]

As someone not originally from the UK, would be good to know why Lewis wasn't hugely popular. Is it because people saw him as Canadian?

[Flea Man]

Originally Posted by ron u.k.

It's an old worn out cliche and mostly bullshit. Anyway going off Bugners opinion then the British public should have liked him.