>>http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/09/03/hawking.god.universe.criticisms/index.html?hpt=C1
>
>I don't really have a dog in the fight here, but I wonder (probably shouldn't aloud) how much influence/prominence Stephen Hawking would have if he weren't crippled.

I don't think he would be a household name - he makes for great video segments.

He is by all accounts absolutely brilliant - in astrophysics I think he would have equal or possibly higher prominence if he were healthy.