BBC S.P.O.T.Y.

Frank the tank

I'm not really bothered,BUT

I would love to see Wiggo win as I feel he deserves it,however, given the great summer of sport we've just enjoyed plus Murray winning the US Open I think "our man" will need every vote he can get now. I may be wrong but I think the Tennis lobby will sway it Murrays way.

If there's any justice footballers (for once) won't get a look in.

mr_goo

In any other year Wiggo for sure. Don't think Andy Murray will win it either.
My money is on Mo Farrar. But I would really like to see David Weir get the gong. What he achieved in that two weeks over the various distances was nothing short of fantastic.
Vote David Weir.

Leeuw

I think the Team prize will be interesting too - TeamGB, ParalympicsGB, SKY - could the "Games Makers" qualify??

Hasn't Mo been a contender before? Could be in with a shout... I think the list is pretty much endless this year - and I would second David Weir, amazing achievements considering the varying distances involved.

graeme_s-2

Leeuw wrote:

I think the Team prize will be interesting too - TeamGB, ParalympicsGB, SKY - could the "Games Makers" qualify??.

Don't they normally break it down a bit? I seem to recall the Olympic Cycling Squad won the Team prize in 2008, not the whole of TeamGB

CambsNewbie

Frank the tank wrote:

If there's any justice footballers (for once) won't get a look in.

I can't think of any footballers worthy of being nominated let alone making the shortlist. I think the Euro championships showed yet again that away from the Premiership, we aren't actually very good at football anymore!

I'd really like to see a Paralympian getting some recognition. But from Wiggins winning the Tour through to Andy Murray on Monday night it has been an amazing summer for British sport. I'd hate to be on the committee trying to shortlist 12 athletes from all the outstanding performances!

Pross

It really is spoiled for choice this year. When you think back to the year Zara Phillips won it (I actually think she was the right choice that year and most of the criticism was reverse snobbery / lack of understanding of her sport) the options were virtually non-existent. Providing we get a sensible list to start with there won't be an undeserving winner.

CiB

List to be extended to handle much bigger list of contenders, reports The Paper.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/9536287/Andy-Murray-moves-up-to-second-favourite-for-Sports-Personality-of-the-Year-award-as-BBC-extends-shortlist.html

laurentian

Joey Barton

brettjmcc

Don't forget the golf fraternity too. McIlroy won his second major and the Ryder cup is yet to come, with also that FedEx thing.

Ellie Simmonds for Young SPOTY?

Leeuw

Graeme_S wrote:

Leeuw wrote:

I think the Team prize will be interesting too - TeamGB, ParalympicsGB, SKY - could the "Games Makers" qualify??.

Don't they normally break it down a bit? I seem to recall the Olympic Cycling Squad won the Team prize in 2008, not the whole of TeamGB

Good point - if we breakdown TeamGB we can exclude the football team - just HAD to end on a penalty shoot out

Omar Little

I'd prefer a different format this year as it seems a bit unfair to single out one achievement over another, would just like a programme based on a celebration of sport in the last year rather than some shit x factor style popularity contest

CiB

Omar Little wrote:

I'd prefer a different format this year as it seems a bit unfair to single out one achievement over another, would just like a programme based on a celebration of sport in the last year rather than some shoot x factor style popularity contest

I said that in parliament I mean in the pub the other night, that for this year only drop the idea of a competition to pick one and award it to everyone en masse who competed under the Team GB banner at both the first Olympics and the Paralympics. Normally I'm all for rewarding whoever did well enough to attract a shed load of votes but this year is different. Ennis better than Weir? Rutherford less of a personality than Wiggo? Elle Simmonds not at least equal to Mo? Don't think so. and statitiscally ihaving lots more means that the winner will win on a small share of the vote anyway.

Stuff tradition for once; just make all of the Team GB Olympians SPOTY and be done with it. And have the Games Makers as team of the year.

Bozman

Wiggins or Mo, Murray has 4 attempts at winning a grandslam every year so that lowers the achievement(apparently).
A guy on 5live was adamant that Seb Coe should get it after the success of the Olympics.

Frank the tank

I hope my OP didn't imply that I was viewing it as a two horse race it clearly isn't there are many deserving of the accolade this year.

CanalRider

It does say sports PERSONALITY of the year, so it is not necessary to win anything. For that first reason every professional footballer is ruled out and Murray for that matter. I would like to see Wiggo get it, for he inspired me to get a road bike and stop pootling around canals on a MTB. I'd like to see Ellie Simmons get it, a great representative and local lass to boot. TBH too many to choose

mattshrops

There really are so many deserving candidates this year, i also think it should be a one off special format -everyones a winner style thingymabob.

Failing that a fair way to choose between all the contanders - A 25 mile time trial. 8) Winner takes all.

snoopsmydogg

CiB wrote:

List to be extended to handle much bigger list of contenders, reports The Paper.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/9536287/Andy-Murray-moves-up-to-second-favourite-for-Sports-Personality-of-the-Year-award-as-BBC-extends-shortlist.html

Andy Murray - SPOTY

now theres an oxymoron.

tim_wand

I had money on Various People, Wiggo, The Queen, Mohammed Ali, Steve Redgrave and Lord Lucan to light the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony at London 2012.

I was extremely happy to loose that money when I saw British Olympic greats handing over the torch (Baton) so to speak to their selected sporting protege to light the flame and carry the legacy forward.

In regard of this spirit (and I am as partisan as anyone on here for Twiggo to win it) I think for once its would just be too unfair to single out an individual (part of me worries that this might lead to Seb (Tory boy) Coe winning it.

The thing is The BBC will run a phone line (After the Ant and Dec debacle do TV companies still get revenue from this?)
If not then through forums like this we should petition the sports minister / culture minister to just recognise the Olympic spirit as this years Winner.

Simmotino

snoopsmydogg wrote:

Andy Murray - SPOTY

now theres a moron.

FTFY

Daz555

I'm going to have a guess that the top three will be:

Bradley Wiggins
Andy Murray
David Weir

heavymental

Murray won't win because too many people still think his dry personality is infact a complete lack of personality. Charlie Brooker is worth a read on this subject..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... ust-normal

His is a nice story though. The loss at Wimbledon followed by smashing up the Olympics and winning the US Open. All kinds of records set etc.

I'll be voting for John Terry for his terrific goal line clearance in the Euros.

tommasi

The title is just the old style meaning for 'person' . Nothing to do with charisma.

dw300

Why does no one mention the other 3 races Wiggins won this year .. he didn't just win the Tour and the Olympic TT.

In 2012 he also won the Paris–Nice, the Tour de Romandie, and the Critérium du Dauphiné.

Rory McIlroy is going ballistic this year, if he does something special at the Ryder Cup he'll be very close to winning it. He'll be number 1, and have stupendous earnings as he's been there or there abouts all year.


On the personality thing, I honestly don't think there's a great deal of difference between Murray and Wiggins, in that they both don't really care for playing up to being a celebrity stereotype when there's a camera shoved in their face. They both just retain their natural demeanour, or at worst, clam up and seem disinterested. Brad is more ice-cool in competition, and Murray is totally the opposite and gets very hyped up, and they're both great to watch. The US Open final was Epic, if you stayed up for it. At least they're both positive. I hate it when people that haven't achieved sh*t, critisize them for not smiling inanely and churning out cliched sound-bytes for TV.

Drumlin

I have reservations about Wiggins' personality but becoming the first British winner of the Tour de France is such a monumental achievement that I will put those to one side. He gets my vote.

Fru T Bunn

The 99% of the population who never heard of Wiggo before this year will have forgotten about him come December.

Here's the list. Anyone know a statto? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Sports ... Year_Award

fatreg

David Weir should win hands down, it's about time we, the British public stood up and thanked our disabled Olympians, I am full body able but I am unable to run a marathon (all be it in a wheelchair). What we achieved in nothing short of miraculous.

Having said that I do hope Lee Pearson gets a nod at New Years Honours, 10 gold medals, 3 in 00, 3 in 04, 3 in 08 and 1 in 12, plus a silver and bronze to boot from 12. Sir Steve and Sir Chris have 6 each...

Gizmo_

I noticed that Zara Phillips in 2006 is actually the last English winner - since then, Wales, Scotland, IOM and Northern Ireland have all had a go

This year above all, it should be won by someone who has achieved something historic - amazingly one gold alone isn't enough for the list though I've included some with specific claims/career achievements.

So, who are the candidates...

Wiggo's Dauphiné, Romandie, first British TDF yellow jersey, Olympic Time Trial Gold
Ben Ainslie's 4th gold
Katherine Grainger (long career crowned by gold)
Ed McKeever (first K-1 gold medal)
Hoy's 6th gold
Queen Vicky
Laura Trott's double
Jason Kenny's double
Jessica Ennis (face-of-the games)
Mo's double
Tom Daley (face-of-the games)
Sarah Storey's collection
Charlotte Dujardin - two golds (individual/team) in horsedancing
Lee Pearson - ten golds in total, G-S-B this year
Ellie Simmonds' double
David Weir's four
Hannah Cockroft's double
Sophie Cristiansen - three Equestrian golds
Nicola Adams - first Olympic women's boxing gold
Andy Murray - Wimbledon runner up, Olympic Gold, US Open winner
Plus Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button if they win the F1 title

Anyone else?

Fru T Bunn

Shut up Legs for overseas personality

dylanfernley

Can we get Roger Mellie to compare the 'show' ?

carl_p

Drumlin wrote:

I have reservations about Wiggins' personality but becoming the first British winner of the Tour de France is such a monumental achievement that I will put those to one side. He gets my vote.

Any other year he would have won it. This year he won't get a look in. David Weir will get my vote, 5000m, 800m, 1500m and a marathon in what 7 days? The popoulous will go for the face of the olympics - Ennis.

captain_oakley

Lot's of well meaning and intelligent discussion, but I fear 'auntie' will talk to the Diversity Directorate before
a decision is made.

I am convinced (always have been) that the whole event is fixed. Personally my money is on Mo Farah, for what
it's worth. As for team of the year....... olympic volunteers anyone.


'time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana........'