Ayrton Senna was the biggest. He was like a big brother even though I never met the Great Man.
Still we seemed to have a lot in common. The way of thinking The search for winning and a
very very similar temperament.
I followed his career in F1, preferably on Eurosport
live and I lived through the races like I was sitting in the car. I united myself with Ayrton.
Ayrton made my dreams come true. I also watched his last
race live. I did not realize how bad the crash was. Ayrton was immortal to me. So when the
news came out that he was dead, it was a big shock. I cried like I'd lost a dear family
member when he died in 1994... My wife came home from work and, seeing me crying like a
waterfall she thought my mother has died or something worse. It took a long time before
I gathered myself so much that I could say "Senna is dead..."
Robert A. Heinlein on his side have put an impact on how I'm dealing with life, being a little more patient perhaps and adjusting my philosophy. Heinlein has also changed how I write. Another positive thing with Heinlein is that his characters seldom are bad, you may say never. I have never been a friend of horror nor bone breaking thillers. Still Heinleins books have fabolous intrigues and interesting people
Princess Diana has also been with me a long time. I even have written her a letter in my youth and even got my answer! I loved Diana because of her glamourous looks and honoured her for trying to fight against what the Royal Family wanted her to be. Still I think she was a bit childish and inmature. I think she had a very good set of cards on her hand as Charles' wife and everything else. She probably could have played those cards a lot better and only God knows where she would have ended. The mysterious crash was a pitty
Urho Kekkonen, the right man, in the right place, in the right moment. He did so many good things for Finland. Those who thinks he was too USSR friendly should examine the history books more deeply
Ulf Lundell has to be here even though he also can be found on my music page. Ulf is one of those you either love or hate. He has always been in the fire. He is not only a song writer. He also writes books and poems. He is a hippie that has remained a hippie. He speaks straight, doesn't polish anything. I love him because there lives an anarchist in me too, and I find myself in his songs and other writings.
Jörn Donner, the finnish ex politician and novelist. A bit like Ulf. Donner came striking into my life through Hufvudstadsbladet, the swedish daily newspaper in Helsinki, where he did write a column at least once a month. He also speaks very straight and has strong opions. "I rather be honest than a piece of shit that makes compromises because I have the possibility" - Donner, summer 1970. And my personal opion is that I would have liked to see Donner as the President of Finland.
Severiano Ballesteros and we are back in the sports. But one thing remains: charisma. Seve is one of, if no the most tallented golfer in our time. He has proved us with the unbelievable shots in golf's history. And besides that he has charisma.
John Wayne and the pattern remains. I use to say that John Wayne is the most manly man that ever lived. Strong beliefs even here. No more has to be said.
Muhammad Ali is to me the Greatest Of All Time. I've never been a big fan of boxing. But I geatly admire the way Ali went into it, with the unstoppable selfconfidence that made him what he was. Ali was clever and has a great sense of humour
John McEnroe, brilliant and controversial. Played fantastic tennis and let his bad temper out meanwhile. And I must say I liked it. If you're playing badly or the umpire makes a bad decision, of course you're angry. John has also given us these wonderful matches with Björn Borg to remember
Manon Rheaume is a perfect example that you should never give up your dreams, the first woman to play a game for a NHL-team.
Natalie Maines, lead singer of the band Dixie Chicks, said 2003 in the beginning of a concert in London, just as the Iraq war has started, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.". This lead to lot's of things. The band was said to be anti-american and Natalie even got treatened to be shot. Natalie didn't back down and that's why she is mentioned here. Their documentary Shut up and sing is worth seeing