My 3 Young Stars on the Rise
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Given all the negative press in the sporting world nowadays I thought I would sit back, reflect and think about who are the bright young stars that are out there. So after much consideration I decided that my criteria had to be for an athlete who is under the age of 25 and limit the list to my top 3. With that set my list became immediately clear as to who are my favorite young stars in sport. Now of course your list will differ from mine and I encourage everyone to state who they like as the new upcomers in the sporting world.
3. Lewis Hamilton (22) - Formula 1
Lewis has entered the world of competitive motor sport as a whirlwind this season. He leads the drivers standings in F1 going into this weekend's race at Monza. What strikes me about young Lewis is his poise on the track mixed with confidence and a bit of aggression. He is masterful in using the curbs while driving McLaren-Mercedes. Some his moves at the start have been brave indeed, darting in quickly to gain an advantage. Perhaps one of the best things I like about the young driver is his composure in the post race press conferences. Lewis has injected F1 with new vitality this season, a season that many thought would be dull due to the retirement of Michael Schumacher.
2. Francesc Fabregas (20) - Arsenal
At only 20 years of age Cesc has already proven himself to be a real leader on the pitch. He has loads of talent which manifests itself in either making a pinpoint accurate pass to a teammate or scoring a beautiful goal from the run of play. Although he is not the biggest player on the pitch he is not afraid of the physical challenges when going into a tackle. Perhaps one of the nicest honors Cesc recently recieved was when the Junior Gunners Supporters Club named him Arsenal's Player of the Year for last season, so his talent is obviously understood and appreciated by the younger fans. Given all of that, what sets Cesc out apart for me is his leadership. He has a commanding presence in the Arsenal midfield and I can definetly see the day when Cesc will wear the Captain's armband for the club.
1. Sidney Crosby (20) - Pittsburgh Penguins
I have seen many great hockey players over the years from Orr to Gretzky to Lemieux. If given a choice I'll take Crosby. Skating, passing, and scoring are all part of his game. Last season he led the NHL in scoring giving him the Art Ross Trophy and he also won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the League's Most Valueable Player. Quite a set of honors for such a young star. What puts Sir Sid over the top for me though is his work rate. I have never seen a player with so much talent have such a fantastic work rate, it is that work rate which also brings out the best in his teammates. The Penguins made the right choice in handing the Captaincy over to him this summer and hopefully Sid will lead his team to the promised land of the Stanley Cup.
So there you have it, my 3 top young talents in the world of sport. They all have some similar qualities and they all seem to exhibit what is best in sports both on and off their respective competitive arenas.
