Sports Letters: Loving losers

Sir: Jean Van de Velde's lost opportunities in the Open will cement his name forever in British minds. We take losers to our hearts more than winners: just look at Jana Novotna and Greg Norman, who both threw away commanding leads at Wimbledon and the Masters respectively that will forever overshadow their achievements. There is something to be said for the British attitude that gives Greg Rusedski and Damon Hill the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for coming second. This may be the reason why we have so few sporting heroes: we applaud losers too much. If Van de Velde has a hard time in France, he should move to this country where he would get a hero's welcome.

MATTHEW MORRIS

London