Froome for Sports Personality of the Year
rflook
Posts: 72
Just been listening to BBC Radio 5 and reading an article on the BBC website about how Froome is an underappreciated great sportsman.
When you think of it, he has eclipsed so many of his contemporaries in the sport while being a well respected, genuine, nice guy. It is a travesty that last time round he wasn't even nominated for sports personality of the year.
I'd love to see him at least be nominated this time round so maybe the cycling community can get things rolling. Perhaps a Twitter campaign might be a good start? Love to hear what other people think.
When you think of it, he has eclipsed so many of his contemporaries in the sport while being a well respected, genuine, nice guy. It is a travesty that last time round he wasn't even nominated for sports personality of the year.
I'd love to see him at least be nominated this time round so maybe the cycling community can get things rolling. Perhaps a Twitter campaign might be a good start? Love to hear what other people think.
0
Posts
There is no drama to his wins... as a personality comes across pretty bland, with not much interesting or controversial to say. He doesn't have a busy schedule of TV apperances, so people know little of him and that little doesn't seem particularly exciting. He doesn't get invited to talk to Graham Norton or the One Show... you have to ask yourself why...
Just because he hasn't jumped on the commercial bandwagon and whored himself out to he highest bidder sits well with me.
Arguably it's another indicator that our society is more interested in perceptions rather than actual achievements. Froome is a perfect example. I think we like to celebrate underachievers, premier league tossers anyone
Desmond Tutu
I see your point but have to ask, why do you have to be controversial? Surely we should appreciate him for the great sportsman that he is and the nice guys that he is? Perhaps he doesn't have a busy media schedule because he prefers to focus on being a superb all round cyclist and not self promotion?
Agreed. He is a cyclist who works damn hard to stay at the top of his game. Surely he should be lauded for that. He is a great role model in my eyes
Commuting / Winter rides - Jamis Renegade Expert
Pootling / Offroad - All-City Macho Man Disc
Fast rides Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra
I completely disagree with Ugo (not for the first time and doubtfully the last) re Froome's personality. Not everyone loves an obnoxious, arrogant egotist. Some of us prefer the grey man who lets their actions do the talking and treats others with a bit of respect.
You can't disagree... it's a fact... he's always made the BBC shortlist based on merit and never got anywhere near the top in the public vote, because people don't like him.
Possibly he doesn't care and that is great of him, but since the topic asks why Froome never gets the prize... there is your answer.
That said, this year nobody has achieved very much... I doubt Murray will make the shortlist... no Olympians, Athletic worlds are not a big deal... although Moh Farah...footballers have been useless like usual... unless a golfer or Mark Selby pip him. He might have a chance to make the podium based on lack of alternatives...
He lives in a tax heaven and most likely took advantage of his British heritage to gain better funding and sponsorship potential. Not a crime, but not exactly a vote winner is it...
S-works Tarmac sl5 etap
Colnago c64 etap wifli
Brother Swift
To be fair to him, he's had a British passport his entire life.
A combination of him being dull and road cycling not being a particularly popular spectator sport in the UK will limit his chances. If Hamilton wins the world championship again, I think Froome will struggle which is probably a shame.
Who else is a role model in your eyes, name say another 5 people who inspire?
Specifically sports? Craig Bellamy. Jesse Owens. Jessica Ennis Hill. Manny Pacquaio. Rafael Nadal
I don't think that is as big an issue as you think it might be. Wiggins was born is Belgium to an Australian father. Hamilton lives in Monaco. Similar beloved sports stars were not born in the UK or didn't live in the UK
Yet some how Andy Murray has won it.
My thoughts exactly. And not just once. Three times now I think
Now that's something to aspire to :roll: :roll: :roll:
Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
Froome definitely deserves to be up there though. Maybe by voting time he'll also have a Vuelta win on his palmares.
I expect another second place finish! It appears to the natural order. Anyway back to my original point. Perhaps a social media campaign pushing for Froome might help? Get a hashtag trending?
I'm not trying to debate what makes someone British. I'm just suggesting that someone who has spent zero time living in this country is unlikely to be considered British by lots of the voting public. I don't think the wiggins comparison is at all similar for obvious reasons.
I'm also not sure Hamilton holds the position you think he does... Personally I'd say he devides opinion. But he still ticks lots of boxes Froome doesn't. Can you name any other sportsman who has never lived in this country and won sports personality of the year?
S-works Tarmac sl5 etap
Colnago c64 etap wifli
Brother Swift
There is the all Murray family story... and there is Wimbledon... which is a bigger thing than the Tour de France in this country. I also agree with the public that winning Wimbledon is harder than winning the Tour de France, these days. Maybe in the past it was the opposite, but these days the competition at the top of ATP is savage... whereas Sky is pretty much unrivaled... Landa very nearly made the podium... a former world champion and class act like Kwia playing domestique on the climbs... c'mon... compare that with the "might" of Ag2R, packed with riders you've never heard of. I don't think the public is so stupid
why does it bother you so much? its just a fashion parade, jeez some w(h)inners dont even bother to turn up.
you need to understand that cycling is tainted, most people associate the sport with doping and/or a bunch of Mamils who ve slowed them down! also as said Froome is hardly considered British and that matters in a post brexit UK.
Captain of England, blooded and every inch a fighter
Oh Butcher was born in Singapore.
I don't get "no one likes him" argument, he's a grey man and interested in the madness of TV, publicity or launching his own clothing or bike brand.
It's more that Froome is low profile and unless you're a cyclist most people would pass him in the street without knowing who he is and what a world class cyclist just walked past. Now that's cool.
Desmond Tutu
Then considering the Olympics 5 golds and 8 medals in total, world track 12 medals, world road 1 gold plus 3 others, etc. The 5 Olympic gold medals alone got him more public recognition than Froome even if he got 5 tour GCs. Add in the fact he has, arguably, a personality. If Froome has a personality I've yet to see it.
The BBC sports award isn't about success, it's about personality with success. I would not be surprised if more ppl would have voted for desert orchid (race horse from many years ago) as having a better personality than Froome if they'd been around at the same time. On pure success grounds in their sport Froome could be considered on the list but that's not enough for this award.
If he was on a menu he'd be Weak Cabbage Soup.
The thing is, he's just bland. People may not understand how Murray can win but not Froome, but whereas Froome is bland, Murray is miserable and miserable actually at least makes for something of a personality.
To win you need a crossover of voters, not just fans of the sport to win. Once you're down to votes only coming from cycling fans, and then only coming from the ones who don't mind bland boring people, you won't amass enough votes. If you collected all the details of people voting for Froome you could sell that database of contacts to dating websites so that they could improve their service by not sending anyone on a date with any of these people.
Ironically, he can be exciting to watch, but that can be said of most top sportspeople so it's not really saying much either.
Christopher Froome - Sports Personality of the Year 2017, naa, it would be a joke.
i think you ll find Butcher spent almost of his childhood in Suffolk, not Nairobi
from a news article in 2015 after his second win.
"....... He is just not very British, is he? The British public knows it, he knows it, his team know it."
Pacquaio? Uhhh... okay.
Personal opinion based on the tough childhood he had and his desire to keep improving himself and not resting on his laurels
You say cycling is tainted. Is that due to the Armstrong affair? Wiggins won it after the Armstrong issues so the sport being tainted didn't affect him.
And why does it bother me. I think bother is the wrong word. I guess I am just disappointed that some characters who are actually pretty poor role models get public 'adoration' and those who are great role models don't.
As a Welsh football fan absolutely made up to see Bellars on your list, but dismayed to see JEH on there who still has not issued an apology despite Ched being found innocent. Wonder if she will be back at Bramhall Lane now Ched is back there.