The Sportsman or the Scientist?

The Sportsman or the Scientist:

who do we revere?

Milo or Pythagoras:

which one do we cheer?

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Newton or DiMaggio:

which one got the girl?

Edison or Baggio:

who lit up the world?

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Darwin’s worm or Tiger’s club:

which one do we prize?

Einstein’s rule or Ali’s glove:

which one makes us wise?

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The Sportsman or the Scientist:

Who inspires us most?

Pele or Copernicus:

Who do we all toast?

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Roger’s slice and Bradman’s whites,

and Michael Jordan’s leap

seem to set our youth alight,

but science makes them sleep.

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How have we rewarded them

since the days of old?

A sportsman wins a trophy;

a scientist wins a scroll.