Mathematician Hawking beats Beckham as British role model

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2004

LONDON (AFP) — British mathematician Stephen Hawking is more of a role model to teenage boys than soccer star David Beckham and comes a close second to rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson.

Hawking came second in a poll to find the men whom boys aged 16 to 18 look up to the most. He was just beaten by Wilkinson, England's Rugby World Cup hero, in the survey of 500 teenage boys for Good Housekeeping magazine.

Hawking, author of "A Brief History of Time," was quoted in the magazine saying: "Over the years I've been voted the second-most intelligent person in Britain and was amused to be listed among the world's 10 sexiest men.

"But I'm honored to be an inspiring role model. Thank you," said Hawking, a Cambridge University professor.

The 500 boys, from across the...