SPOTY Who will it be

[Adrian W]

Must be the tightest ever, with the most interest.
I'm a cycling fan so Bradley Wiggens Or Chris Hoy
Then the other cycling Gold winners
Then the rowers
Ben Ainslie
Jennifer Ennis
My feeling is Mo Farah

I think it will spoil it if the short list is only a few

[bigandclever]

So far, Wiggo is the odds-on favourite with the bookies.
Then Mo Farah.
Then Jess Ennis.

[davepoth]

If it's not Jessica Ennis, we'll have another month of "sport is sexist", and that would make me sad.

[tvrforever]

Ben Ainslie's achievement & accomplishments must rank right at the top - five medals (four being gold) in five consecutive Olympics (in a very physical & tactical sport that you can only compete for a single medal every four years)

[bigandclever]

Gaz. said:

It is a public vote so Jessica Ennis will walk it.

She's currently at 9 to 1 (at Bet365).... that has to be worth a punt for you then? I can't help thinking that Chris Hoy at 50 to 1 (fifty!) is a good outsider. But you watch the Beeb change the rules and give it to Team GB.

[Spyder5]

bigandclever said:

Gaz. said:

It is a public vote so Jessica Ennis will walk it.

She's currently at 9 to 1 (at Bet365).... that has to be worth a punt for you then? I can't help thinking that Chris Hoy at 50 to 1 (fifty!) is a good outsider. But you watch the Beeb change the rules and give it to Team GB.

Isn't there already a separate award for Team of the Year?

[bigandclever]

Spyder5 said:

Isn't there already a separate award for Team of the Year?

You're right, there is, and Team GB (or whatever we were called for the 2000 Olympics and Paralymics) won it then. I am a doofus

[TheHeretic]

Wiggins. TDF and Olympic victory.

[Adrian W]

The short list needs to be more than ten, someone at the BBC shouldn't be fiddling with it so that they force people to vote for someone other than there favourite.

I can't see anyone in Motorsport getting there.

[wormburner]

TheHeretic said:

Wiggins. TDF and Olympic victory.

Seconded. Likeable and funny too.

[wollowizard]

.Sir mo farah. Though the sir may come after. If I was her maj I would do it in the closing ceremony

[wiggy001]

I think it will be Wiggins. But at 500/1, couldn't resist £2 on Ainslie and £2 on Hoy at 80/1

[FunkyNige]

Adrian W said:

The short list needs to be more than ten, someone at the BBC shouldn't be fiddling with it so that they force people to vote for someone other than there favourite.

I can't see anyone in Motorsport getting there.

It's not the BBC who pick the list, they ask sports journalists to pick their top tens, then combine them to get an overall top 10.

Edited by FunkyNige on Sunday 12th August 11:13

[wormburner]

Adrian W said:

The short list needs to be more than ten, someone at the BBC shouldn't be fiddling with it so that they force people to vote for someone other than there favourite.

I can't see anyone in Motorsport getting there.

Is there anyone in motorsport who merits inclusion this year?

[Yiliterate]

Gaz. said:

It is a public vote so Jessica Ennis will walk it.

I think the voting public are actually pretty discerning when it comes to SPOTY. Of course, that's not to say she won't be in contention, and on merit too. Personally, though, I'd say it will be between Mo and Wiggo...

[Adrian W]

wormburner said:

Is there anyone in motorsport who merits inclusion this year?

No, that's what I meant maybe I worded it badly

[Spyder5]

Yiliterate said:

Gaz. said:

It is a public vote so Jessica Ennis will walk it.

I think the voting public are actually pretty discerning when it comes to SPOTY. Of course, that's not to say she won't be in contention, and on merit too. Personally, though, I'd say it will be between Mo and Wiggo...

Really, Ryan Giggs? What the fk where they thinking?! Jenson looked horrified!

You've got to feel for the runners up - its got to be strongest year by far. For me it will be Wiggo, the TDF performance was an awesome achievement.

[wormburner]

Adrian W said:

wormburner said:

Is there anyone in motorsport who merits inclusion this year?

No, that's what I meant maybe I worded it badly

Stewart, Surtees, Moss, Mansell and Hill have all won it.

[Yiliterate]

Spyder5 said:

Really, Ryan Giggs? What the fk where they thinking?! Jenson looked horrified!

You've got to feel for the runners up - its got to be strongest year by far. For me it will be Wiggo, the TDF performance was an awesome achievement.

Probably the exception that proves the rule - though Giggs' longevity, ability and success at the top level arguably deserved some form of recognition (he says through gritted teeth!). But given the regular recognition of competitors from non-mainstream sports (Redgrave, Hoy, Cav and Zara Phillips as recent examples), I'd say the voting public are actually pretty even-handed...

[marcosgt]

Mo Farrah seems a good candidate after taking a second Gold in an event Brits (even adopted ones) don't have a great record in.

Wiggins' achievements are remarkable as are a number of others (First female Olympic boxing champion, Chris Hoy's 6th medal, Beth Tweddle's Bronze - just for persevering in the sport!, Murray's remarkable Tennis Gold).

Whoever wins this year, there'll be a lot of losers equally worthy.

M.