Sports personality

Only golfer making the list this year is Rory. The list is dominated by Olympians and Paralympians as expected. In fact, Rory is the only entry from the dozen not to have competed at London 2012. But do any of the others really deserve the annual title more than he does. Many have had great careers, but 2012 has just added the cherry on top. Murray has done something pretty special, but really is a couple of gears behind Rory...
Thoughts?...

1. McIlroy
2. Murray
3. Wiggins

Farah, Murray, Wiggins, all way ahead of Coco for me.

It has to be ennis, although I made a mess of the voting thing at the top and now cant change

COMMENT REMOVED

McIlroy second for having one of the best seasons by anyone in the last 20 years.

Murray third for getting to two grand slam finals, winning one and also winning the olympics.

Voted for coco, but Murray will get it.

I'd be gobsmacked if an Olympian doesn't win it, when was the last time a non Olympian won it in an Olympic year??

Ennis was the face of the games
Farrah's double set 2 Saturdays in August alight the 5k/10k double is a rare beast
but...
Wiggins a gold and a TdF - the first ever by a Brit - To be honest though, most Brits haven't got a clue how big an achievement the TdF is (COMMENT REMOVED)
Murray an Olympic gold at Wimbers and the first male Brit to win a slam since 19 oatcake

In reality it should be between them two but there are too many that make silly unsubstantiated accusations like Mac and there are also too many English people who because of some weird nationalistic insecurity will never forgive Murray for his out of context "anyone but England" quote.
So...I reckon it will be Farrah but hope it's Wiggo, closely followed by Murray. Rory wont even make the podium regardless of how good a year he's had

disappointed Laura Trott isn't on the list. Being part of a team which broke the world record in 6 (I think) consecutive rides, as well as world champ and of course Olympic champ in the omnium (a difficult event for the favourite to ride in). Think she deserves a place more than Katherine Grainger, and maybe even Ben Ainslie (maybe a lifetime achievement award for Ben would have been more apt). Other than that it's a good list.

If McLaren knew anything about cycling whatsoever he'd know just how ridiculous that claim is with regards to Wiggins... Wiggins for me had arguably the greatest ever year by a British sportsman. Aside from the achievements of TdF + Olympic Gold, he won three week-long races: Tour de Romandie, Paris-Nice, and Dauphine, the latter two being probably the two most prestigious week-long races of the year. Amazingly, he was also unbeaten in long individual time trials (ie not prologues) throughout the year, which is quite staggering for an all-rounder.

Murray, McIlroy, Farah all had tremendous years. Ennis delivering under phenomenal pressure with a Brit record was brilliant, the Paralympians are all very worthy contenders, but for me Wiggins has to take it.

Much as I love golf as a pastime, it can't be placed up against those other sports in terms of achievement regardless of how well Spud Face McIlroy played this year. Farah, Ennis, Wiggins, Murray all achieved much more noteable feats, and not in trousers and dress shoes either.

Wiggins will win it.

Just checked and in Olympic years only 3 non Olympians have won it since 1960.

Only 2 golfers have ever won it Faldo & Dai Rees. Clarke's had a couple of 2nd's as has Jacklin and Lyle a 3rd. I don't think Rory will need to be making room on his mantlepiece

If Wiggins doesn't win, it will make an even bigger mockery of the thing than Cavendish winning it last year. How that happened I still don't know. Yes, he won a couple of sprint stages in last year's tour, and the world sprint champs. But that's a specialism within a minority interest sport in this country. NO WAY does that make him worthy of the SPOTY title, especially against Luke's achievements in winning both money lists last year, not to mention Dai Green's overcoming adversity and indeed just about everyone else on the list last year.

This year, cycling was centre stage much more, thanks mainly to the Olympics where the indoor form (where we at least have some pedigree as a nation) is much more prevalent. Wiggins winning the TDF was fantastic, and to then dominate the Olympic Time Trial the way he did (despite Cavendish and co failing to get him to the road race title like they were supposed to) was brilliant. Murray's year was very special, as indeed was Rory's, but it has to be an Olympian and for me there's only one choice given his exploits in France and other races too. As I said, if he doesn't win it then Cavendish ought to give his back out of embarrassment.

sj,
wasn't cavendish the one supposed to benefit from the team effort in the road race title?

team involvement in the TDF seems very critical. almost like a golfer playing as an individual, but getting the better ball scores of his team mates toward his own score

rory and muzza miles ahead of wiggins for me. quite a bit gap between rory and murray too in terms of achievement, though if we're talking personality then murray or mo it is...

don't know why they can't just make this a 4 horse race and give out 'commendations' to the others.

Not sure why Murray or Farah winning ahead of Wiggins would be a travesty. Wiggins has had a brilliant year, a unique one for a Brit...but so have the other two.
Also unfortunately for Wiggins road racing is shrouded in a seemingly permanent drugs scandal which may well put a lot of people off.
I'd be happy to see Wiggins win but no way would it be a travesty for Farah or Murray to pick it up. Or indeed Ennis for that matter.

Worst ever SPOTY winners were Ryan Giggs and that horsey wife of that fat ugly alky rugby player.

At least we have lots of worthy nominations this time

1 Farah - 2 Murray - 3 Ennis

Murray for me, but it's feels almost unfair to have to pick only one.

Expect Wiggins to win, but think there's a chance that cycling (and athletics) vote will be split.

Wouldn't have a problem with any of the nominees winning, all have had fantastic years, really difficult to single out just one. As great a year as Rory (and Murray have had) I cannot see past an Olympian/Paralympian this year. David Weir the outstanding candidate for me, to win 4 gold medals in mid/long/marathon distance events at the 1 games was just phenomenal. Wiggins and Ennis/Farah to get 2nd/3rd, but per above very difficult to single out a winner.

Was the first time I actually watched the paralympics, if truth be told I enjoyed it more than the Olypmpics.

Wiggins AINEC

It may be wrong of me but in all honesty I have to admit to having zero interest in paralympic sport.

Diggers wrote:It may be wrong of me but in all honesty I have to admit to having zero interest in paralympic sport.

Nothing wrong in that at all Diggers.

My uncle was a highly successful Paralympian in the 70's and 80's to the extent he'd probably be recognised by an Honour from the queen if he did it now, but I've no real interest either.

Pretty much agree I'm afraid Diggers. Struggle to watch and find myself saying 'hold on, he's a lot less disabled than that guy, that's unfair!'
Only the wheelchair events seem fair to me. Although, I can see what a huge goal it must be for the individual.

Wiggins
Murray
McIlroy

Wiggins will win. Partly because people are sheep and will vote for who they think will win. The bookies seem to know by october every year who's going to win. Some years have been a joke, Ryan Giggs? Even Cavendish last year seemed a bit odd to me. personally I think Murrays achievments were pretty special when you consider who he has to get past to win anything, arguably some of the best ever in his sport. Wiggins did really well but he's in a great team who all sacirfice everything for him to win the TdF. I would have liked to have seen Froome going for it too. Takes something away from it for me.

Sky, my problem with Froome is the British thing completely a marriage of convenience contrived by Sky and Brailsford. As far as I know he didnt even believe he could race for the UK until they approached him and suggested doing a bit of digging. There was no desire there from him or any vague sense of Britishness. I mean Farah comes from Somalia but nobody could question his desire and commitment to compete for the UK.
I certainly wouldnt the same way if Froome were to win the Tour next year as I did when Wiggins won it, a true Brit (all be it Brad was actually born in Beliuim to an Aussie Dad but you know what I mean.....)

Team of the year - the Ryder Cup winning team, surely??

Diggers wrote:....until they approached him and suggested doing a bit of digging.

He didn't have to dig far - his father is British born and his mothers parents were both British...

It would be Team BG for me. International team award to the RC side maybe.

golfermartin wrote:

Diggers wrote:....until they approached him and suggested doing a bit of digging.

He didn't have to dig far - his father is British born and his mothers parents were both British...

True, which begs the question why he had to be asked rather than him feeling a sense of being British and making the approaches himself. If there is no real obviou desire there from the individual then I struggle to have any empathy with their success.

Diggers wrote:It would be Team BG for me. International team award to the RC side maybe.

Is there an International team award?

Trouble with "Team GB" is that some members of "Team GB" failed so why give them an award. Also they were at home in London riding the crest of a wave with huge public support. Compare that to the Ryder Cup team in America with huge public opposition staging one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time.

I think there is an international team award, there is certainly an overseas SPOTY award.
I was a great win, agree with all you say...but it wasnt a British Team at the end of the day.
If you wanted an international team award with a British feel you could also go for Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen winning the doubles at Wimbledon. In terms of a long shot winning a big event that was a much bigger turn up for the books than the RC Team. It may have been a great comeback but at the start of play you have to remember the RC team were pretty much evens to win it so the actual win itself wasnt a huge turn up for the books though the manner in which they achieved it certainly was.

Just checked. I concede that RC Team shouldn't be Team of the Year because the requirement does say "British Team". International Team of the Year has only been presented once in 1983. "Team GB" it is then!!

I guess if you wanted to narrow the team award down you could go for Helen Glover and Heather Stanning winning gold in the rowing, thats what set the gold rush off after all.

golfermartin wrote:Team of the year - the Ryder Cup winning team, surely??

The RC Team shouldn't be considered as a "Team" for the purposes of International TOTY (if such an award exists).
They aren't a team in the true sense of the meaning..........they are 12 individuals who played 1 match over 3 days...........and lets face it, they only won that match by 1 point, so it wasn't as if it was a massive win...................

Hopefully the programme will pass over the football in about 5 seconds.

super_realist wrote:Hopefully the programme will pass over the football in about 5 seconds.

I know you hate the game but in terms of pure sporting theatre the climax to last seasons Premier League was fantastic. Much as Im no fan of the RC Ive admitted I enjoyed the last day as it was just great sport, the same can be said of the last day of the EPL.
That at least deserves a mention.

Yes, a mention, that's all.
I remember last year there were about a million close ups of has-been Michael Owen. Nice a guy as he is, and bright for a footballer but he's done nothing in the game for a decade.
I just hope they get the balance right this time.

Couldn't give a tinkers cuss about Elly Simmonds though, What's all the fuss about? I await Mac's fake outrage.

Couldn't give a tinkers cuss about Elly Simmonds though, What's all the fuss about? I await Mac's fake outrage..

it does get a bit condascending all the fuss etc. I watched one of her races and there was all manor of abilities/disabilities and it really was a 2 horse race.

super_realist wrote:Hopefully the programme will pass over the football in about 5 seconds.

I sincerely hope it's quicker than that...flash a quick picture or 2 of Russian Roubles, Emirati Dirhams & US dollars...there job done, that was football in 2012...next sport!!

I hear she's very good in the Hobbit though Super.....

Got to agree with super on the football front, and I'm football mad. Just a bit sick of hearing about it all the time at the moment, you can't get away from it all, generally its scandal after scandal, 'he said she said' rubbish, and after the excellent summer of sport with the Olympics and RC, I'm sorry the footballers haven't taken a lead out of their book. They've done very little to deserve more than 5 minutes mention so I hope that's how it will be.

Diggers wrote:I hear she's very good in the Hobbit though Super.....

I used to love football, but I can barely last a full match now unless I'm in company. It now appears to be riddled with cheats and everything is the refs fault for missing something rather than punishing the culprit. All this if its not in the refs report nothing can be done about it is nonsense. I'd mike up the refs, yellow card all bad language and come down heavy on all obvious divers.

John Cregan wrote:

golfermartin wrote:Team of the year - the Ryder Cup winning team, surely??

The RC Team shouldn't be considered as a "Team" for the purposes of International TOTY (if such an award exists).
They aren't a team in the true sense of the meaning..........they are 12 individuals who played 1 match over 3 days...........and lets face it, they only won that match by 1 point, so it wasn't as if it was a massive win...................

Team GB shouldn't be considered as a "Team" for the purposes of International TOTY (if such an award exists).
They aren't a team in the true sense of the meaning..........they are 200+ individuals who played innumerable sports over 14 days...........and lets face it, they only came 3rd...................

SpacemanSpiff wrote:I used to love football, but I can barely last a full match now unless I'm in company. It now appears to be riddled with cheats and everything is the refs fault for missing something rather than punishing the culprit. All this if its not in the refs report nothing can be done about it is nonsense. I'd mike up the refs, yellow card all bad language and come down heavy on all obvious divers.

Well if you ever run for head of the Premier League or FA or whoever it is who makes these decisions, you'd get my vote!!!!!!!! Well said.

Its a pity really because the football this year is actually really good, much more of a fluid, open passing game from most sides.
And this isnt even just the Premier League, the days of pointless hoofball in the lower leagues do seem to be going thank god.

goldwolf wrote:

SpacemanSpiff wrote:I used to love football, but I can barely last a full match now unless I'm in company. It now appears to be riddled with cheats and everything is the refs fault for missing something rather than punishing the culprit. All this if its not in the refs report nothing can be done about it is nonsense. I'd mike up the refs, yellow card all bad language and come down heavy on all obvious divers.

Well if you ever run for head of the Premier League or FA or whoever it is who makes these decisions, you'd get my vote!!!!!!!! Well said.

I'm afraid FIFA have there heads in the sand regarding most things. Even the recent racist chanting etc. I would give the ref the power to hault games when unacceptable chanting starts. I don't know how black players to don't walk off with their team when they're subjected to such abuse. That would soon stop it.

golfermartin wrote:Just checked. I concede that RC Team shouldn't be Team of the Year because the requirement does say "British Team". International Team of the Year has only been presented once in 1983. "Team GB" it is then!!

I thought that the RC team won the team of the year in 2010 (and then Monty won coach of the year, to a chorus of howls... including Iain Carter)?

SpacemanSpiff wrote:

goldwolf wrote:

SpacemanSpiff wrote:I used to love football, but I can barely last a full match now unless I'm in company. It now appears to be riddled with cheats and everything is the refs fault for missing something rather than punishing the culprit. All this if its not in the refs report nothing can be done about it is nonsense. I'd mike up the refs, yellow card all bad language and come down heavy on all obvious divers.

Well if you ever run for head of the Premier League or FA or whoever it is who makes these decisions, you'd get my vote!!!!!!!! Well said.

I'm afraid FIFA have there heads in the sand regarding most things. Even the recent racist chanting etc. I would give the ref the power to hault games when unacceptable chanting starts. I don't know how black players to don't walk off with their team when they're subjected to such abuse. That would soon stop it.

The thing is, and Im not making excuses for the chanting, but this is actually an area where football is way, way better than it was 30 or even 10 years ago.
Racism was rife then, it was just accepted. Now we get a huge furore when there is an instance but actually by and large its just not that much of an issue anymore, which is perhaps its such a big story when it does happen. So yes football has got worse in many ways but in reality I dont believe racism is one such area.

I doubt that Rory will make the top 3 to be honest.

A decent case can be made for him and I think he "deserves" a shot, but in reality, I don't think he will receive many votes relative to the high profile Olympians. Golf for starters is not a good platform for what is almost a popularity contest.

Other points:

* Money list double - brilliant, obviously. But someone did that last year.
* Major - fantastic, but I don't think it was even the main headline in the sports bulletins (can't remember what was though - Olympics perhaps). And he won one last year. As did some other guy from Northern Ireland. Oh, and another one the year before. The [US] PGA Championship is also one which is not shown on BBC TV, speaking of which...
* BBC airtime available to all - didn't perform spectacularly in any of The Masters, BMW PGA, The Open or RC.

Diggers wrote:

SpacemanSpiff wrote:

goldwolf wrote:

SpacemanSpiff wrote:I used to love football, but I can barely last a full match now unless I'm in company. It now appears to be riddled with cheats and everything is the refs fault for missing something rather than punishing the culprit. All this if its not in the refs report nothing can be done about it is nonsense. I'd mike up the refs, yellow card all bad language and come down heavy on all obvious divers.

Well if you ever run for head of the Premier League or FA or whoever it is who makes these decisions, you'd get my vote!!!!!!!! Well said.

I'm afraid FIFA have there heads in the sand regarding most things. Even the recent racist chanting etc. I would give the ref the power to hault games when unacceptable chanting starts. I don't know how black players to don't walk off with their team when they're subjected to such abuse. That would soon stop it.

The thing is, and Im not making excuses for the chanting, but this is actually an area where football is way, way better than it was 30 or even 10 years ago.
Racism was rife then, it was just accepted. Now we get a huge furore when there is an instance but actually by and large its just not that much of an issue anymore, which is perhaps its such a big story when it does happen. So yes football has got worse in many ways but in reality I dont believe racism is one such area.

You're quite correct Diggers, there is a much bigger furore nowadays, which is good. But what do they actually do about it? Fine a rich club? Doesn't really stop it in my book. Lets stop games, stadium announcement as to why, and go from there.

Skydriver wrote:
I thought that the RC team won the team of the year in 2010 (and then Monty won coach of the year, to a chorus of howls... including Iain Carter)?

You're right Sky in fact they've won 5 times in all. The requirement though is "Awarded to the team with the most notable achievement in British sport", so maybe they shouldn't have.