11 Controversial Knighthoods
Once upon a time, Knighthood was the highest of honors reserved exclusively for those that served their country in a most remarkable way. These days the title seems diluted, mainstream and largely up for interpretation. Below is a list of people that have been controversially knighted under the newer and less chivalrous standards.
Mario Lemieux
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Canadian born, Mario Lemieux is a retired hockey all-star that was a 17-year force on the ice for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gathering a host of individual achievements in the NHL and 2 Stanley Cups, he was a true poster child for the league. With such an impressive resume on American soil, it was hard to swallow his Knighthood from the Quebec Premier.
Mick Jagger
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Widely known as the Rolling Stones’ front man, Mick Jagger is an unlikely candidate for Knighthood. Considering the band stood for everything anti-establishment, even members of his own band openly spoke against the acceptance of the accolade. Adding fuel to the argument, Sir Michael Jagger is infamous for having no record of philanthropic acts, 18 wives and skipping the Queen’s 50th anniversary concert.
Alex Ferguson
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It is no secret that Alex Ferguson served well as an athlete and prolific team manager for the Manchester United soccer club but is Knighthood the appropriate gesture of gratitude? Soccer is certainly a different beast in the European lifestyle but there are more suitable candidates when it comes to one’s patriotic service to state.
Chris Hoy
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Great Britain athlete and Olympic cyclist, Chris Hoy won himself three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics – enough to nudge him into the favor of Knighthood. With all of the funding and sponsorships he’s gained over the years, his accomplishments are no doubt impressive but they’re also his job. Even Brits are angered by the excessive notion.
Tom Jones
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Welsh born, Tom Jones is an internationally known singer that has sold more than 100 million albums since the 60s. He’s had his fair share of chart-toppers across the years but he’s also no stranger to publicized infidelities and illegitimate children – not necessarily the moral qualities of the Knights of old.
Bill Gates
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Founder of Microsoft and an innovator in a technological era, Bill Gates is a household name known for his riches above all. As an entrepreneur and avid philanthropist, Queen Elizabeth awarded him Knighthood for his contributions to personal enterprise. Skeptics, however, note that this prestigious honor comes within months of his promise to donate over $200 million to Cambridge.
Tiong Hiew King
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Founder of a Malaysian logging company, Tiong Hiew King was granted Knighthood for his contributions to “commerce, community and charitable organizations” by Queen Elizabeth. This decision fell under great controversy considering King and his teams are widely responsible for mass destruction of rainforests and infamous for illegal logging practices. In addition, King’s methods go against Prince Charles’ staunch efforts to save these forests.
Ted Kennedy
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As senator of Massachusetts and key ambassador of American-British relations, Ted Kennedy was awarded his Knighthood in early 2009 by Queen Elizabeth II. The honor has many naysayers considering the legal discrepancies in his past – most notably, the elusive automobile incident in 1969 that resulted in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne.
David Beckham
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The list of athletes receiving controversial Knighthoods continues – David Beckham received the top honor for his athletic achievements and charitable community contributions. While some don’t mind the honors going to mainstream folks like Beckham, even his own teammates disapprove and are quoted as advocates against the award.
Salman Rushdie
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Rounding off the list as the most politically controversial Knighthood, Salman Rushdie, a British Indian, received the honor for his “service to literature.” Upon writing Satanic Verses, a novel inspired by the life of Muhammed, Muslim nations viewed it as blasphemous and raged at his British nomination for Knighthood. As a result, he’s been in hiding for 30 years.
Nils Olav
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No Knighthood is more ridiculous than that of Sir Nils Olav, a Penguin. Residing in a Zoo in Scotland, he is the mascot and Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard. In August of 2008, hundreds of people showed up for the Knighthood ceremony where the King of Norwary granted the honor because the penguin “in every way qualified to receive the honor and dignity of knighthood.”
I don’t think you quite understand the difference between a knighthood, and other honours bestowed by the British Empire. David Beckham, for example, is an OBE, not a knight of the realm. Aside from that, non British nationals can’t receive full knighthoods.
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This post was mentioned on Digg by eastwood24: C’mon Britain you know want to knight Obama so I can make fun of conservative ideologues for throwing temper tantrums. …