79 replies to this topic

[Gilles4Ever]

On Thursday at the Spanish there was a situation that appears to have resulted in Alonso losing his cool and even a fist fight.

Depending on the source it was either a fan problem or a press problem.

From a F1 site that reports purely on the news by the look of things we get that Alonso had a problem with the press:

Fernando Alonso's vast popularity proved frustrating to the former double Formula One World Champion at the Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday. When attempting to meet his fans and sign autographs, the Renault driver found himself amid a frantic crush in the paddock, and ultimately escaped to the sanity of a rival team's garage. His bodyguard tried fervently, and physically, to give 27-year-old Alonso some space, but the enthusiasm of some members of the press actually led to one or two minor fisticuffs. Dismayed by the lack of order, Alonso himself raised his voice and demanded calm, before scurrying for cover.

http://www.f1sa.com/...c...&Itemid=219

Yet on another site the same event Alonso is mobbed by his fans.

Fernando Alonso had to hide from his fans in Montemeló on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Formula One Grand Prix. He took cover in a garage after what is described as an avalanche of fans chased him for an autograph. There were insults to members of the press and several photographers came to blows, while Alonso lamented the lack of crowd control.

http://www.typically...cle_21278.shtml

from another thread:

To put it in short...

On Thursday, during the fans autograph signing session, Alonso got angry due to the constant pushing and hitting from the photographers. Also the photographers were making impossible for him to reach the fans and have some fun with them.

In the end, Alonso got mad when he saw one of the photographers standing over the wheel of one of the wheelchairs that can be seen on the picture. He reacted as you've seen (kudos to him), went inside the garage and, a few minutes later, when the media had gone away, he went out again to sign more autographs but in a more relaxed way.

Edit: I think I can find the full transcript of what Alonso said regarding this incident on Friday morning, but I would have to translate it to English. If anybody's interested, just ask.

The photographers had first some time to get pictures. Then, they had to leave for the fans to enter. They didn't leave, and not just that, as you said, one even used the wheel of the wheelchair as a "stand". And that's when this moment took place.

Was anyone actually there who could shed light on what actually happened or know of other sources that give more details. It would be a sad day if the press were spoiling the interaction of the drivers with their fans.

It is unbelievable that something like this isn't all over the news.

Edited by Gilles4Ever, 14 May 2009 - 15:33.

[RoutariEnjinu]

As posted by Aren in the Caption Time thread.

[billkaos]

Was anyone actually there who could shed light on what actually happened or know of other sources that give more details. It would be a sad day if the press were spoiling the interaction of the drivers with their fans.

It is unbelievable that something like this isn't all over the news.

Spanish media reported the incident prominently. Do you want links?

See http://www.elmundo.e...1241716543.html

AFAICT, your description of the events is pretty accurate.

Alonso itself said in Spanish radio that he got angry with the press bad behaviour. Anyways, Montmelo organizers were to blame, and the matter got quickly forgotten in order to enjoy the race.

[prty]

Don't have time to translate as I'm in work, but Alonso's declarations about this:

"Ayer salí a firmar autógrafos, como salgo siempre y como salen todos los pilotos, este año es obligatorio, lo hicimos en las cuatro primeras carreras y lo hicimos aquí también y por desgracia no pude ver a los aficionados. Ellos tampoco me pudieron ver a mi por la cantidad de fotógrafos que había con poca educación", comentó.

"Porque después de hacer algunas fotos y toda la gente gritar ¡fuera, fuera, fuera..!, para poder despejar aquello y poder comenzar la firma de autógrafos, no se quitaron", ha explicado Fernando Alonso. "Intenté seguir firmando poco a poco, entre la avalancha, entre los objetivos, los codazos, para poder hacer feliz alguna gente que había venido aquí y llevaba esperando mucho tiempo, hasta que llegó un momento en que ya no podía caminar. Me acerqué a tres personas en silla de ruedas y en un momento que estaba firmando vi a uno de los fotógrafos subido en la silla de ruedas de un niño, subido en la rueda, para poder así tener mejor ángulo y desde arriba poder sacar mejores fotos", relató.

"En ese momento paré la firma de autógrafos, le mandé bajar y que se apartara al menos diez metros, que no lo quería ver cerca de aquellos, y esa foto es la que normalmente se publica en todos los medios españoles y ninguno extranjero", añadió. "Si a lo que se viene aquí es para publicar y para intentar ponerme en contra de aficionados, de prensa, de enojado, de cabreado, de todo eso, no hace falta ser tan valiente a la hora de escribir por las noches delante del ordenador, hay que venir aquí y preguntar a ver lo que pasa y luego se comenta y se escribe lo que haya pasado" dijo el asturiano.

"Luego volví al box después de varios empujones, puñetazos a mi ''manager'', gafas rotas etc., siempre por parte de los fotógrafos, no por parte de los aficionados como se intentó vender hoy, y después de esperar tranquilamente veinte minutos en el ''motor home'' para que todos estos maleducados se fueran ya a casa volví a salir y ya estuve con los aficionados firmando sin ningún problema y disfrutando finalmente", subrayó.

"Quería aclararlo, aunque me da igual lo que se escriba, gracias a Dios no vivo de lo que se escriba, me pagan por otro trabajo como es conducir el coche", señaló. Por último dijo sobre lo ocurrido que "es una pena que con los esfuerzos que se hacen para hacer feliz a la gente, las ganas que tenían de que saliera a firmar, se han estropeado ayer, y que hoy se venda de otra manera".

Nothing to do with the fans. You can in fact hear them shouting "fuera!" (get out!) to the press in youtube vids like these:

[Gilles4Ever]

As posted by Aren in the Caption Time thread.

thanks, I missed the link under his other pic

[Barramut]

What happened is that a photographer climbed the wheelchair of the partially handicaped fan to get a best shot of alonso and he got mad about the lack of respect of the photographer.
Another point for you Fonzo. up

[Nonesuch]

The Dutch TV commentator brought the incident up during the race broadcast. If I remember correctly, Fernando Alonso was meeting his fans when a number of journalists got too pushy causing some unrest in the crowd. Fernando then left, leading some journalists to claim he walked away from his fans. Fernando then quickly returned to his fans once most of the journalists had left and continued signing their caps etc.

Edited by Nonesuch, 14 May 2009 - 17:12.

[tahadar]

well i think theres no doubt alonso did the right thing to react the way he did towards the press.

[Yellowmc]

He is the Messiah.

These journalists should learn that you can't invade someone private space, they are almost as bad as the paparazzi.

[Barramut]

I believe the place was too open and improper to attend the fans and the media.

[Ricardo F1]

Cue - "He's NOT the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy . . ."

[Aren]

This was published last Tuesday in the magazine "Grand Prix Actual". It's a motorsport magazine that is only published every Tuesday after a Grand Prix:

Question: You had an incident yesterday during the autograph signing

Answer: Yes, I would like to clarify what happened. After a lot of pushing when I was getting ready to start signing, I saw one of the photographers standing over the wheel of a handicapped boy and I ordered him to get down inmediately, stopping the autograph session. Unfortunately, they took some pictures on that moment and that's the picture that was published in most of the media. And because of that, is not good that they report what happened in such a bad way (*)

(*) Alonso says so because, as already pointed out, there were some journos reporting that Alonso was rude and blaming him of what happened.

And yes, the circuit should have arranged something better for this, but the main problem came from the last people you should expect to cause any. Shame on them.

[blackgerby]

Seems like Alonso reacted correctly to me.
what's the problem?

[One]

I completely agree. photographers goes too far shamelessly in taking pictures. I mean who wants to see a crazy photographers standing on a wheel chair of a person! journalism is terrible by making a terrible reports out of this incidents. I would cheer Fenando doing what he did and blame the photographer.


Too much is too much.

Edited by One, 14 May 2009 - 21:01.

[MarkWRX]

I am not an Alonso fanboy, but what he did was completely correct in my opinion. Members of the press and, it seems, especially photographers, seem to think they have the right to interfer with other people's enjoyment of an event. At one of the last US GPs at Indy I was walking with my then 7 or 8 year old daughter, holding her hand, in the pits during the Thursday pitwalk. I don't know what the cause was, but there was a rush of people and press towards the Ferrari garage. Everyone went around us except one person who wanted to go between us. I was looking for a way out and said, over my shoulder, "Excuse me" but the person pressed again, this time forcing my daughter's hand from mine. That was enough, so I turned and shoved, with both hands. He backed up into a couple of other people, then put up both hands in the international "Sorry" gesture.

My daughter then kicked him in the balls...

Just kidding - she was scared but ok.

A press or photographers tabard doesn't give anyone the right to be rude or instrusive like that.

[MichaelPM]

The media reported a twisted bullshit story about Alonso?
Well I never!

Obviously the British tabloids are not getting enough attention for smearing Alonso any more or the guy in the wheelchair would of been Hamiltons brother and it was part of their made up personal vendetta against the family.

[Suntrek]

Seems like Alonso reacted correctly to me.
what's the problem?

No problem at all, Alonso reacted to photogphers having a hard on when seeing him¨
despite children and despite hadicapped and despite everything.

If I hadn't been Alonso fan already, I'll sure be one now, seeing how he handled those things.

[RoutariEnjinu]

British tabloids

Link please.

[holiday]

What happened is that a photographer climbed the wheelchair of the partially handicaped fan to get a best shot of alonso and he got mad about the lack of respect of the photographer.
Another point for you Fonzo. up

If true, 10 points for him. I know what *******s photographers can be. I once had almost a fist-fight with one during a Peter Ustinov interview.

[Vegetableman]

Heh Heh. Classic comedy.

Cue - "He's NOT the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy . . ."

[postajegenye]

Alonso was right, journalists and photographers often go way, way too far...

Anyway, the photographers probably loved his rant, it gave them a special opportunity to take pictures of an angry Alonso.

[RobH]

Link please.

+1

[Orin]

Kudos to Alonso. Bloody Spanish press.

Any chance of MichaelPM returning to this thread?

[Clatter]

The media reported a twisted bullshit story about Alonso?
Well I never!

Obviously the British tabloids are not getting enough attention for smearing Alonso any more or the guy in the wheelchair would of been Hamiltons brother and it was part of their made up personal vendetta against the family.

You are the only one that has tried too link this to British tabloids so can you show where they have used this to smear Alonso?

[Imperial]

Regarding British tabloids: That claim is bollocks, that incident wasn't covered in our newspapers.

Regarding Alonso: Did exactly the right thing, although he could have bettered it slightly by taking a leaf out of Sean Penn's book and punched the cheeky **** (who stood on this guys wheelchair) down to the floor, minus a few of his teeth.

[NadsatII]

Regarding British tabloids: That claim is bollocks, that incident wasn't covered in our newspapers.

Regarding Alonso: Did exactly the right thing, although he could have bettered it slightly by taking a leaf out of Sean Penn's book and punched the cheeky **** (who stood on this guys wheelchair) down to the floor, minus a few of his teeth.

Alonso suddenly realised that someone in the Press Conference was climbering onto a handicaped guy in his wheel-chair and inmediately reacted against that, shouting to all the Press: Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" Leave this guy alone!

Nothing wrong with that. In the opossite. He was doing the right thing. A lot of journalists were climbing on someone's else and Alonso tried to protect him.

[Powersteer]

Ok, ok we all know what happened and thumbs up to Alonso for losing it to give a helping hand but who was the horror that tried to climb a wheelchair??

[GregAU]

Gosh he has lost a LOT of weight.

What happened to the "no neck" muscleman Alonso of old?

[mclarensmps]

Wow, those journos are assholes, he seemed to be signing for a bunch of handicapped people, too.

Wanker press.

[klyster]

Not a huge Alonso fan here, but his actions were commendable. Nice one Fernando

[pUs]

[Gilles4Ever]

Regarding British tabloids: That claim is bollocks, that incident wasn't covered in our newspapers.

Regarding Alonso: Did exactly the right thing, although he could have bettered it slightly by taking a leaf out of Sean Penn's book and punched the cheeky **** (who stood on this guys wheelchair) down to the floor, minus a few of his teeth.

Precisely, it wasn't covered in your newspapers. A F1 driver came to the rescue of someone who was in a wheelchair and protected them from an over eager press. In these times with F1 you would think a good news story like this would get some column inches especially when Hamilton's own brother is in a wheelchair.

[Clatter]

Precisely, it wasn't covered in your newspapers. A F1 driver came to the rescue of someone who was in a wheelchair and protected them from an over eager press. In these times with F1 you would think a good news story like this would get some column inches especially when Hamilton's own brother is in a wheelchair.

Was it covered by the newspapers in any other countries?

[postajegenye]

Was it covered by the newspapers in any other countries?

It was covered on Hungarian websites (I don't know about newspapers) , but not the whole story with the wheel chair, it was basically "Alonso got angry due to too many photographers"

[RoutariEnjinu]

God damn BRITISH people with their Hungarian websites!

[Gilles4Ever]

Was it covered by the newspapers in any other countries?

I don't know. It was supposedly prominent in the Spanish press. I am English speaking and our press relies on British sources for F1 news so we have had no coverage on the story, maybe someone from other European countries can help out? I seems it was mentioned on Dutch TV during the race coverage.

[postajegenye]

God damn BRITISH people with their Hungarian websites!

I'm Hungarian

[Clatter]

I don't know. It was supposedly prominent in the Spanish press. I am English speaking and our press relies on British sources for F1 news so we have had no coverage on the story, maybe someone from other European countries can help out? I seems it was mentioned on Dutch TV during the race coverage.

So why have you singled out the British press for not covering it when it doesnt appear to have been covered widely by anyone?

I'm not trying to defend our press, but I find it quite odd the way certain people jump on the British tabloids are evil bandwagon, even when they have not been involved in a story in any shape or form. I can see no reason why anyone should have brought up any reference to British press in this thread.

[Gilles4Ever]

So why have you singled out the British press for not covering it when it doesnt appear to have been covered widely by anyone?

I'm not trying to defend our press, but I find it quite odd the way certain people jump on the British tabloids are evil bandwagon, even when they have not been involved in a story in any shape or form. I can see no reason why anyone should have brought up any reference to British press in this thread.

Like I said, our press gets its F1 news from the British press and I have seen nothing, Google news searches (in English) have returned 2 stories, one from a English language site that is actually Spanish. I dont know about any of the other languages like I said. All my news is basically from the British media and there is no coverage on this story when I feel there should have been. Its a story that should have been covered by everyone not just the British.

[Korben82]

This was the circuit's fault, for enabling a horde of people to crowd around a driver, creating a potentially dangerous situation. But also the fault of the assholes that decided that a boy's wheelchair was an appropiate place to take photos from. As someone said earlier, that ******* should have left the circuit missing a few teeth.

Kudos to Alonso, but the guy must already be familiar with the press trying to turn the people against him. I remember the story that was reported, saying that Alonso refused to sign autographs for some fans who had spent a lot of money on a planned trip which included meeting him. What they didn't report (or reported in a small space a few days later), was that these guys had been scammed by some asshole who sold them what they thought were tickets to this meeting with Alonso, when such tickets never existed. After that, Alonso even met them (without having to do so) and signed them autographs.

But I'm sure it sells much more newspapers if they print that Alonso attacked some of his own fans. Oh and btw, these two stories, the wheelchair one and the scam one, were both reported by the spanish press, which can be as vomit inducing as the worst UK tabloid.

[RoutariEnjinu]

So it is better that press in some countries report it as Alonso lashing out at fans, or not mentioning the trigger for it. But it's unacceptable for the British press to be oblivious to it/not deem it news worthy?

[Clatter]

Like I said, our press gets its F1 news from the British press and I have seen nothing, Google news searches (in English) have returned 2 stories, one from a English language site that is actually Spanish. I dont know about any of the other languages like I said. All my news is basically from the British media and there is no coverage on this story when I feel there should have been. Its a story that should have been covered by everyone not just the British.

Then complain about your own press then. It's not the British press fault that your guys are too lazy to go and find the news for themselves.

[Gilles4Ever]

Then complain about your own press then. It's not the British press fault that your guys are too lazy to go and find the news for themselves.

ffs what is your problem?

I don't know if it was covered by the other press because I don't know the language so can't find out and I said as much! I speak English and found nothing so that is the only frame of reference I have. Who our press get their stories from is irrelevant, the British press have not covered the story.

[lokiman]

Not a particular fan of Alonso's, but I completely respect him for reacting in the way that he did.

[postajegenye]

I remember the story that was reported, saying that Alonso refused to sign autographs for some fans who had spent a lot of money on a planned trip which included meeting him. What they didn't report (or reported in a small space a few days later), was that these guys had been scammed by some asshole who sold them what they thought were tickets to this meeting with Alonso, when such tickets never existed. After that, Alonso even met them (without having to do so) and signed them autographs.

The fact is that fans don't know the drivers at all (personally) but they still judge them by their actions. I mean, they see them at a Grand Prix for 5 seconds and then decide whether xy is a good or bad guy.
I saw Alonso in Budapest (in the city) going to do some PR thing one evening during the 2007 Hungarian GP. A small crowd of fans was gathering in front of the building Alonso was supposed to go in, with a fence and guards. Alonso appeared, and he was obviously rushed into the building, he was said to be already late for the PR programme, so he didn't stop to sign autographs. Half of the crowd disappeared, they were very disappointed and called Alonso names for not caring about his fans. About 15 minutes later, after the PR stuff had finished, Alonso came out and spent a lot of time signing to the fans who remained there.

[Orin]

Like I said, our press gets its F1 news from the British press and I have seen nothing, Google news searches (in English) have returned 2 stories, one from a English language site that is actually Spanish. I dont know about any of the other languages like I said. All my news is basically from the British media and there is no coverage on this story when I feel there should have been. Its a story that should have been covered by everyone not just the British.

If you ever run out of straws I'm sure we can get some more airmailed to you.

[rookie]

Gosh he has lost a LOT of weight.

What happened to the "no neck" muscleman Alonso of old?

KERS

[Owen]

Not a particular fan of Alonso's, but I completely respect him for reacting in the way that he did.

Agreed. Leave him alone.

[Claudius]

God damn BRITISH people with their Hungarian websites!

Well done by Alonso.

[MichaelPM]

You are the only one that has tried too link this to British tabloids so can you show where they have used this to smear Alonso?

Well no one is linking it to the British press then because my post was a "what if....it was 2006, 2007 or 2008" story about Alonso.