It's always nice to be able to pinpoint that moment when a performer appeared on the scene that had the potential to not only completely alter the sporting landscape, but the social one as well. Maybe, just maybe, we were treated to one of those incredibly rare and seminal moments last week.
The key word here is 'maybe', because the future is promised to no one. But since we are living these days in the express lane of information overload and mega-hype, let's get this out of the way right now: Lewis Hamilton could easily become the most important athlete of the 21st century.
Surely you know young Mr Hamilton. The pride of Hertfordshire, England, this rookie driver has made the most auspicious debut in the history of Formula One. Driving for the McLaren-Mercedes team, the 22-year-old Hamilton is the first driver in F1 history to record top-three finishes in his first three races. His next race he finished second and became the youngest driver to ever lead the drivers' championship.
He followed that by coming second at the Monaco Grand Prix before his breakthrough victory last weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix. That's six trips to the podium in six races, an absolutely stunning debut and one that has eclipsed the season, at least so far, of his more heralded McLaren teammate, two-time defending world champion Fernando Alonso.
And, oh yeah, Hamilton is black. Well, technically, he is half black. His father is of Afro-Caribbean descent while his mother is white. But for better or worse, of all of Hamilton's achievements on the track in his remarkable rookie season, none will get more ink than the fact he is the first black driver in the 61-year history of F1.
Predictably, he has been hailed in many quarters as the next Tiger Woods. There are some striking similarities beyond their multi-ethnic ancestry. Both Woods and Hamilton were prodigies whose future success was apparent at an early age. Both are a marketer's dream: congenial, photogenic, intelligent and articulate. Both were also groomed and nurtured by their fathers and both readily admit the key to their success is strong paternal influence.