Sports Personality...

[foxesfan1989]

Has to be Andy Murray, he is literally on his own in the world of British tennis. Setting record after record, winning Olympics medals along the way too. He wont win it though as the media has set him up as some sort of English hating bore. I assume it will be Wiggins in first, Farah in 2nd, then Murray in 3rd if he is lucky.

[Captain...]

On a side note, (and some people will think I'm right cnut for this)

Are some folk really going to vote for paralympians over people like Farah, Ennis, Murray and Wiggins? I'd like to hear a sporting argument to justify it.

I think what David Weir has achieved this year and in his career more than matches any other athlete in terms of achievement:

http://en.wikipedia....d_Weir_(athlete)

At the London 2012 Summer Paralympics Weir won four golds, three at the Olympic Stadium and one in the marathon. On 2 September 2012 in the 5,000 metres, on 4 September 2012 in the 1,500m and on 6 September 2012 in the 800m and on 9 September 2012 in the Marathon.

Mo won 2 golds, Ennis 1,

Has to be Andy Murray, he is literally on his own in the world of British tennis. Setting record after record, winning Olympics medals along the way too. He wont win it though as the media has set him up as some sort of English hating bore. I assume it will be Wiggins in first, Farah in 2nd, then Murray in 3rd if he is lucky.

Maybe on his own in British Tennis, but not World Tennis, Wiggins and a number of the others have proven themselves to be the best at what they do in the world, and Wiggins' achievements have been more historic than Murray's and he has more personality.

The main difference is Wiggins achieved things no Brit has ever achieved before, Murray's achievements were impressive but he is not the first Brit to win a grand slam.

Ennis is only there because she is a woman and was one of the poster girls of the games, Grainger is there because of her past failures, in terms of achievements there are other less well known female olympians that achieved more.

McIlroy has had an amazing year and fully deserves to be nominated, and has done more than say Rutherford, one good jump, vs a year of being the best golfer in the world.

Wiggins to win, Murray second, McIlroy or Weir third, based on achievements.

Team GB team of the year.

Wiggins' coach who got ran over to win coach of the year.

[Kitchandro]

I think Farah deserves to be in the top 3. He did win two golds, for me they were the best moments of the olympics. I'm not saying he should win but he's had more impact on the British public than McIlroy.

I'm with Matt, sorry but the paralympics just can't have the same credibility for me.

[Guest MattP]

I think what David Weir has achieved this year and in his career more than matches any other athlete in terms of achievement:

http://en.wikipedia....d_Weir_(athlete)

At the London 2012 Summer Paralympics Weir won four golds, three at the Olympic Stadium and one in the marathon. On 2 September 2012 in the 5,000 metres, on 4 September 2012 in the 1,500m and on 6 September 2012 in the 800m and on 9 September 2012 in the Marathon.

Mo won 2 golds, Ennis 1,

That's the problem though, like Kit said it's about credibility, the fact someone could do all that is farcical to be honest and shows the complete lack of quality, the thought of a real athlete even trying to attempt that is laughable.

Trischa Zorn won 46 Paralympic medals, 32 of which were gold. She's not ahead of Phelps, Bolt, Redgrave etc in terms of being the greatest Olympian of all time.

Three Paralympians in this field is a joke to be honest. Tokenism at it's very worst. Weir I could accept, Simmonds and Storey ahead of people like Brownlie?, no way. This guy ran a 10K about 1 minute slower than Mo Farah did to win gold in the individual event. That was after swimming 1.5K and cycling 43K

[foxesfan1989]

Laura Trott won 2 golds I remember, surprised not to see her name on the list. Can't have everyone I guess

[Captain...]

That's the problem though, like Kit said it's about credibility, the fact someone could do all that is farcical to be honest and shows the complete lack of quality, the thought of a real athlete even trying to attempt that is laughable.

Trischa Zorn won 46 Paralympic medals, 32 of which were gold. She's not ahead of Phelps, Bolt, Redgrave etc in terms of being the greatest Olympian of all time.

Three Paralympians in this field is a joke to be honest. Tokenism at it's very worst. Weir I could accept, Simmonds and Storey ahead of people like Brownlie?, no way. This guy ran a 10K about 1 minute slower than Mo Farah did to win gold in the individual event. That was after swimming 1.5K and cycling 43K

Simmonds competed in 4 events and got 4 medals 2 gold a silver and a bronze, and she is about the same size as my cock, not bad going for a teenager, I think one or other Brownlee stood a chance, but they would have needed to sweep the board outside the Olympics as well, but they took medals and records of each other so it is hard to pick one over the other, Alistair got Olympic gold and Jonathan the World Championship event this year.

I don't think we should belittle the achievements of the paralympians, it is like saying McIlroy shouldn't be in there, despite being the best in the world at his sport, because it is a stupid sport.

[Guest MattP]

Simmonds competed in 4 events and got 4 medals 2 gold a silver and a bronze, and she is about the same size as my cock, not bad going for a teenager, I think one or other Brownlee stood a chance, but they would have needed to sweep the board outside the Olympics as well, but they took medals and records of each other so it is hard to pick one over the other, Alistair got Olympic gold and Jonathan the World Championship event this year.

I don't think we should belittle the achievements of the paralympians, it is like saying McIlroy shouldn't be in there, despite being the best in the world at his sport, because it is a stupid sport.

Brilliant quote!

I agree we shouldn't belittle it, but we also shouldn't make it bigger than it is either, watching some of the events I could have raised a team to beat most of the things I saw.

I don't like Golf, but Rory is at the top of the tree of 60million Worldwide players and he's one of us. I don't think anything a paralympian has done comes close to that.

[Captain...]

Brilliant quote!

I agree we shouldn't belittle it, but we also shouldn't make it bigger than it is either, watching some of the events I could have raised a team to beat most of the things I saw.

I don't like Golf, but Rory is at the top of the tree of 60million Worldwide players and he's one of us. I don't think anything a paralympian has done comes close to that.

I don't think the number of participants should determine the validity of a sport, I'm sure there are more wheelchair athletes in the world than cricket players for example, and Weir is the top of all of them, I would like to see able bodied people train and compete in wheel chair racing or handcycling, partly because it looks fun, and partly because it would dispel this notion that what they do is not valid. Weir is a supreme dedicated athlete who has swept the board this year and deserves to be there.

[Jon the Hat]

I'm not sure how you can say anyone should win by a country mile considering the quality of the nominees.

Did I say should? He will win I am sure. Personally I would give it to Ennis, but that is another story

[Guest MattP]

Did I say should? He will win I am sure. Personally I would give it to Ennis, but that is another story

You think? I'm pretty sure Wiggins has got it sewn up already, the athletics vote i think will be too split for one of them to take it.

The cycling fans come out in force for this, they got Cavendish the win last year so Wiggins shouldn't be a problem/

[clare]

^{It's got to be Wiggins for me. The Tour de France is widely regarded as one of the toughest sporting events on the globe. After winning the TDF, then going on to be part of a team producing a brilliant, but ultimately unsuccessful, ride in the quest for gold for Cav in the mens road race at the Olympics, and then bag a gold for himself in the Time Trial only a few days later, is frankly a staggering achievement.}

^{Given who has been nominated and the strength of those who haven't, I think it's safe to say that 2012 has been an amazing year for British sport!}

[Lobsterboyuk]

What a year, but Wiggins gets my vote. Gutted that I couldn't be in Paris back in July and his olympic achievement just a week later was astonishing. I think his no nonsense manner is very refreshing as well. No overblown acceptance speeches on the Champs Elysee as per the dirty cheats who preceded him. (Shame about that Lesley Garrett moment though but that's the French for you!) Twenty years ago never would have believed that we would be a top cycle racing nation in my lifetime. Much needed boost for the sport when clean riders are winning on the basis of hard work and talent rather than being assisted by "vitamin" injections from a dodgy sports doctor.

[clare]

What a year, but Wiggins gets my vote. Gutted that I couldn't be in Paris back in July and his olympic achievement just a week later was astonishing. I think his no nonsense manner is very refreshing as well. No overblown acceptance speeches on the Champs Elysee as per the dirty cheats who preceded him. (Shame about that Lesley Garrett moment though but that's the French for you!) Twenty years ago never would have believed that we would be a top cycle racing nation in my lifetime. Much needed boost for the sport when clean riders are winning on the basis of hard work and talent rather than being assisted by "vitamin" injections from a dodgy sports doctor.

Well said! Haha - that Lesley Garrett moment was soooo cringeworthy. Totally unnecessary!

[Lobsterboyuk]

Well said! Haha - that Lesley Garrett moment was soooo cringeworthy. Totally unnecessary!

Three weeks of hard slog and then you have to go through that. His face said it all!

[Carl the Llama]

Three weeks of hard slog and then you have to go through that. His face said it all!

:xmasbiggrin:

[vandamman]

Just responding to a few posters, i'm glad Rutherford is not on the list. Whilst he did fantastic to win gold, the standard of long jump was pretty poor at the olympics as far the jumps were concerned, so for him to win it was a surprise but then again not SPOTY worthy imo.

I would vote for Wiggins, to do what he did and the way he won the race was just super human, if you follow his story he deserved to win this race and he duly delivered. He also did some noble things in the race such as forcing the peloton to slow down as one of the contenders fell off his bike. Wiggins is a true champion and a great bloke. Although, I wouldn't mind if Farah won it, has put british distance running back on the map and the night he won was one of the best of the olympics.

[vandamman]

Simmonds competed in 4 events and got 4 medals 2 gold a silver and a bronze, and she is about the same size as my cock, not bad going for a teenager, I think one or other Brownlee stood a chance, but they would have needed to sweep the board outside the Olympics as well, but they took medals and records of each other so it is hard to pick one over the other, Alistair got Olympic gold and Jonathan the World Championship event this year.

I don't think we should belittle the achievements of the paralympians, it is like saying McIlroy shouldn't be in there, despite being the best in the world at his sport, because it is a stupid sport.

Spot on with this, I was suprised not to see a Brownlee on the list but for the reasons you mention is probably why they didn't make it. I think what makes them special is the fact they attack and dominate their opposition so aggressively, they are not technically the best triathletes but their competitive spirit is phenomenal. Hard to dismiss Storey's feat either she dominated her sport and put times in that would be close to able body athlete, should not forget she trains and competes with the able bodied olympic team.

[Lobsterboyuk]

Hard to dismiss Storey's feat either she dominated her sport and put times in that would be close to able body athlete, should not forget she trains and competes with the able bodied olympic team.

She was so close to riding the team pursuit at the olympics, missed out at the very last selection.

Thinking about it, they should've expanded the nominations to at least 20 (or more) and made the ceremony much longer to give maximum recognition during this extraordinary year IMO.

[Matt]

What are people's thoughts of Wiggins winning and Ennis for 2nd, tempted to bet on it.

£30 pays £70+.

[Craig]

Dave Weir top 3 finish 9/1...

[Jimothy]

Shows what a great year of sport we've had when Andy Murray, Wimbledon finalist, Olympic gold medalist and US open champion is 4th favourite at 20ish to 1.

Personally for me it's between Murray and Wiggins, talk of anyone else getting top two is silly. Everyone's achieved a lot, mainly at the Olympics, but these two have had great Olympics and great years outside the Olympics.

[Fox in the North]

1st Wiggo

2nd Murray

3rd Simmonds

:xmassmile:

[foxesfan1989]

Murray is 4th favourite with the bookies. If he doesn't make top 3 it will be nothing short of daylight robbery

What are people's thoughts of Wiggins winning and Ennis for 2nd, tempted to bet on it.

£30 pays £70+.

I'm thinking Farah in the top 2!

[Matt]

Murray is 4th favourite with the bookies. If he doesn't make top 3 it will be nothing short of daylight robbery

I'm thinking Farah in the top 2!

Yeah thats my only fear. However looking at the indivdual odds Wiggins and Ennis are well out front, Ennis is 2nd fav @ 5/2, Farah is 3rd fav @ 6/1 that's a huge difference, I know you can't base things on that and ultmatly it's down to the public but the bookies tend to be right with things like this. However maybe the bookies are playing a game and know people (like me) have this opinion so are bluffing a little bit .

I can't see Murray getting in the 3, that's not because I can't stand the lad either, putting all that aside I have admit he has had a great year but I think his frosty, moody, arrogrant demeanor and personality will lose him votes from the public. However he did actually show some emotion and personality when losing Wimbledon - The first time i've ever seen him do so.

If I could i'd bet on Wiggins, Ennis and Farah to be finish in top 3, any order but can't find a market for this.

[foxesfan1989]

Just cannot find the number to vote for Mario Balotelli in the overseas category...admin error??