Schumacher gives $10 million to tsunami aid

[Paleocon]

BERLIN (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher will donate $10 million (5.3 million pounds) to help the victims of the South Asian tsunami, his manager Willi Weber said on Tuesday.

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/050104/2/8b75.html

I wish it was easier to dislike this guy...

[HEyHEY]

1. Who would have known that fucking asshole is the type?

[BlueEyedSon]

2. God, look how many pounds that is! Yikes!

[MidwestTransplant]

7. Just think how much it would weigh if he paid in pennies!

;)

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Probably would have had to pay it in taxes otherwise.

Is my guess.

[Tacos al Carbon]

8. You're kidding

right?

[xdk999]

37. no, Schumi pays a lump sum in taxes ,

thats how it works in Switzerland, for some folks.

In their system, it is possible to negotiate a lump sum with the community you want to relocate to. It is not the usual thing and it works for rich foreigners only.

It's legal however, the trick is:
they ask you: how much you earned this year?
you say: no idea, can you estimate how much it is?
and since the community cannot - and does not really want to - know how much it really is, they have to guess it according to ones living standards (car, house yacht).
Since it is almost impossible to estimate the real income from Schumis car and house alone...well...its about 800K USD/Year Schumi pays, if I recollect correctly.

The community is relatively free in its decision, if community A "estimates" for about 2 mio taxes, community B is free to "estimate" for 1 mio only. Its called tax-challange (German: Steuerwettbewerb).

Its very rural where he lives, thats why its only so little taxes, too. Also, people do not make big fuss about Schu being there, he use to play in the community's amateur soccer team for instance, others say he uses to drive the kids to school himself. Just a regular guy after all, not arrogant at all.

anyway, just a casual observation...

cheers, d.

[Lautremont]

4. At least it's not Joel Schumacher.

Who is Michael Schumacher anyway? I mean, besides being a race car driver?

[progressiveBadger]

5. I was wondering the same thing

Why all the hate?

[Paleocon]

6. He's the dominant F1 driver of his generation...

Many fans (myself included) feel that his domination of the sport is actually bad for the sport, but I don't think any of us can deny that we are living through great history by being able to watch him.

I am impressed by his generosity in this instance, like I said in my original post, I wish it was easier to dislike him.

Other notable F1 drivers from years past are Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Niki Lauda, etc...

[Khephra]

12. At least I can keep my dislike for Joel now.

:evilgrin:

[Paleocon]

14. LOL...

Now that's funny!

[sierrrarancher]

9. He is the highest paid athlete in the WORLD

[devilgrrl]

13. What's so "athletic" about auto racing?

Seems more like dare-devilry than athleticism.

Not flaming.

[Paleocon]

15. To withstand that amount of G forces and function as well as he does...

in the car for three hours at a time make him quite the athlete.

In all kinds of weather, heat, rain, etc... Of all drivers on the F1 tour he is probably the best conditioned.

Like I said, I don't like him, but I respect him.

It really takes amazing reflexes and ultra quick decision making, trust me, he (and most professional racers) are athletes.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. Try driving a race car ... it really does require great physical condition

It is not the same as a drive to the corner grocery.

There are actually many pursuits that are much more athletic than some people might imagine. Consider ballet dancers, if you will. We consider them artists, but who can argue that it takes anything less than the same (or more?) physical prowess as an NFL defensive end or just about any baseball player?

[KDLarsen]

19. As it has been mentioned before..

.. it does takes quite a bit of physical skill to compete at this level. Someone once mentioned that it's impossible to find one pound of fat on his body. It's all bone & muscle.

Tom Kristensen, 6 times winner of Le Mans 24 hours endurance race, has mentioned that the end of that race is the only time he allows himself to have a party. Other than that, it's training, training & even more training.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ThorsHammer]

42. I don't consider it a sport either, but it requires a lot of skill

[0007]

30. Race driving is an athletic sport? Give me a fucking break!

Car racing shouldn't even be a sport in my opinion.

[Paleocon]

31. I disagree....

:silly:

[0007]

35. ...and that's why they make chocolate and vanilla ice cream!

Please state your case, Sir

[Paleocon]

38. Please see my post above, #15...

As far as IceCream, can I be chocolate?

:silly:

[0007]

40. That's a melt down post at its best, but then again that's your opinion.

It would more of sport if trained monkeys were driving, LOL!!

BTW Roger McClusky has been a close friend of mine for many years.

[Paleocon]

41. LOL....

OK, you win...

[Democracy Died 2004]

36. Were you in some way

hurt by a racer? I sense a dislike of auto racing. Maybe the noise terrifies you?

[Coventina]

43. Have you ever "driven in anger"?

I suspect not, because if you had you would know that it IS physically demanding. Yes, race car drivers are athletes, even NASCAR drivers.

[Brundle_Fly]

10. Saudi Arabia

Pretty scary when one man can match a countries entire pledge.

[MaineDem]

11. That's fantastic

And I share your dislike of him. Fanstastic driver but I just don't like him.

I hope the other highly-paid (over paid?) athletes do the same.

[IronLionZion]

17. Good for him

politics/rivalries aside, no donation is too small or too large to help your fellow people. :toast:

[blackcat77]

18. Wow

I take back some of the nasty things I've said about him the past couple years.

Forza Ferrari and Forza Schumi!

[KDLarsen]

20. As much as it may seem..

.. this is really only a quick dive into his pockets. He earns about $80 million a year & he has quite a fortune. Someone on DU made a similar comparisson earlier about the millionaire donating $1000 and the single mom with 3 jobs donating $10.

[ZR2]

21. He must have had some drug money left over

after the racing season.

[MrSlayer]

22. Very generous of him.

Simply a great gesture on his part.

[Just Me]

23. Applaud!!!!

Now, let's spread the love!!! :bounce:

[FlashHarry]

24. Now, if only the bastard would retire.

He's a helluva driver, but F1 is getting a little boooooring.

[IMSA]

25. Agreed, F-1 has been boring for years

Can't knock his record though

IMSA

[DS1]

32. Eccelstone needs to get his ass kicked to the curb

Damn, I hate the prick.

Even if they relaxed the ridiculously controlling specs, Schumi would win a lot, but he'd have to fight for it more instead of lapping the competition.

[Charon]

27. F1

At least FI driver have to be able to make right and left turns

[Almost_there]

28. Is it hate, or sort of jealousy?

I remember watching Shumacher back in the mid-90's when he had sort of blown onto the scene, and the announcers just couldn't believe how good he was. I understand people saying they hate him, but, he's never said anything bad about other drivers, he is obviously a generous person, sure, he makes $80 million a year, but, let's say I make $80,000... can I give $10,000 to charity? Nope. I can't. He is very generous. Plus, just because he is so much better than everyone else, why hate him?

Its like hating DaVinci for being such a great artist, or Shakespeare for writing so well, or Einstein for being so smart. Driving is what he does, and right now, and basically since he entered Formula One, he absolutely dominates the sport like no other professional athlete has dominated any sport. So, I'm more impressed at his talent than anything.

~Almost

[Karenina]

29. GOOOOO SCHUMI!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[RuleofLaw]

33. Exactly!

He is one awesome driver and I love to watch F1 racing. Much more exiting than the boring NASCAR here in the states.

Good for him.

[jeffgad]

39. Very well said. You can bet Schumacher's accountants could found

somewhere else to put that $10m. Unlike most professional stick and ball athletes, he's shown he has some class and some sense of humanity. And all that "auto racing isn't a sport" stuff is bunk. I've raced cars and run marathons for a number of years, and you need tremendous fitness, discipline and skill to succeed at either. Some people need to understand that being a car-nut doesn't preclude having liberal political, social and environmental views. Just my TCW.

[Coventina]

34. Yay! Schumi, I take back all the bad things I've said about you!

Actually, I've been warming up to the guy over time.

He seems like a really nice guy.
Arrogant about his driving prowess, maybe, but hey, no one has proven him wrong on it. Plus, that arrogance is probably due to the fact that the F1 machinery tried to hinder his success in the early years (at least, that's how it looks to me).

But, when I heard that he rescues stray and shelter dogs to be family pets, that really meant something to me. No stupid, overbred girly dogs for him! He actually saves doggy lives. That's real class and heart.

You go Michael!