Brazil's adoration of Ayrton Senna transcends sports. It's something only someone like Pele can relate to in the country of football. When hundreds of thousands of people lined up for hours to take a final glimpse of Senna's body before his funeral, they were paying tribute to more than a three-time Formula One champion. To Brazilians, Senna was more than a sports idol. He personified pride and patriotism. Every time he pulled the country's green-and-yellow flag to celebrate his victories on the track, Brazilians rejoiced back home. At a time when Brazil's national football team had few victories to celebrate and the country was beset by political and economic turmoil, Senna gave...
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