Sports personality of the Year

That looks lovely.

what was he 17 or 18 at the time of the Portugal shirt thing ?? which he has since said many times he now regrets - give him a break.

too many golfers.

Why wasn't Scott Parker nominated?

he's a non-person since he left Upton Park - £5M - what a joke

He's the best money Harry's invested. Other than the cash he's going going to court about, obviously. I'd have him back at the Boleyn tomorrow.

I thought Gold & Sullivan were supposed to be switched on / shrewd / business types - and they let him go for that - gutted.

Mind you the Big Sam quote for earlier in the year when asked about the deadwood clear-out still makes me laugh, went something like "we got rid of 10 or 11 first team players, plus Benny McCarthy". Probably unintentional, but still funny.

Football thread >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I was once cycling home during Wimbledon and went past a pub. As I did, there was an almighty roar from inside. When I got home I discovered that that must have been the moment that Murray lost.

Are you sure that the roar wasn't because you went past the pub?

Cavs favourite on Betfair.

I'm tempted to take a punt on him, but I'm worried about the golfers (Rather than Murray), as the voting is going to be a bit of a popularity contest.

Is Cycling bigger than Golf? [no?] but there are a few golfers on the list which might spread their votes...

The last time I punted on SPOTY, Zara "bloody" Phillips screwed everything up by being royal, blonde and young, so I'm steering clear this year.

The high number of golfers will probably split the vote, but I'd mainly be worried by Alistair Cook as he was a star during the tours (including having the best song) and there are lots of cricket fans out there.

Two golfers?
ffs

He should never win anything. Particularly after that Portugal shirt incident. Wanker.

If I could be arsed to vote, I'd vote for him for this alone.

Two golfers?
ffs

Three.

Clarke, Donald, McIlroy. 2 NI, so will split the Irish vote as well.

We have both the male and female ITU World Tri champs - and they don't get a look in?

BBC should be pushing growth sports, they are the only ones they can afford to broadcast.

Cav get's my vote

Plus we have Chrisse Wellington 4x Ironman Champion, such a crap list with to many golfers

Thats about par.

Doesn't look like anyone's mentioned this, but can we do something to encourage people to vote for Mark Cavendish, his achievements this year speak volumes, but to a certain extent only to us cyclists who already know how good he is. In a boom time for cycling it would be good to get all those with an interest to get voting and to raise the profile of cycling even higher by having Cavendish become 2011 sports personality of the year.

Any thoughts ways this could be achieved are welcome..

If that's the shortlist the whole concept is clearly shitted and should be ignored unless voting can be rigged. Although he should win, Cav shouldn't be included since he left IOM as it was too windy.. and any good sportsperson shouldn't have a personality. ;)

You can't leave when its windy. No boats.

No suggestions, but agree 100%.

**Murray **- just because middle class housewives get excited when wimbledon comes along and this guy is quite good does not mean a perenial runner-up in a sport irrelevant for 11 months of the year deserves anythingl.

pretty ignorant comment, like a tennis fan saying cycling is only important for that race in france.

Trying to enlighten people here. (I agree with your principal though)

It's a tricky one. It's not actually about success per-se is it? Isn't it meant to be about who's been really nice and helped youth involvment / fund raising / being all round good egg and promoting their sport for the good of the nation?

It is a bit of a shit list no matter what way you look at it. Except for Cav and Farah (who is a bit of a legend in athletics - European athlete of the year this year) I wouldn't consider any of them either successful or publically "good" for their sports.

IMO people like Nick Matthews (World Squash Champion) are more deserving. His on top of the world in his sport, AND is a massive ambassador for british squash, and a nice chap to finish it off.

@ Jeez, to say rowing is niche is wrong imo. Rowing is a massive sport in the UK, massive. It holds some of the biggest events in the sporting calender (Henley, Great Thames Head race etc), and we're bloody good at it. Katherine Granger & Anna Watkins have been unbeatable in the double scull, and either one of them would be a truly deserved winner. I could bang on about rowing until the cows come home, about how its run and whats wrong with both public perception, funding issues and why its criminally under looked considering we're top of the world but I'll spare you ;-)

no anglers on that list.

Jeez - your assessment is hilariously one-eyed.

How can Cav be nominated when he can't ride up hills? When he's won a couple of grand tours he should come back.

You've missed my point. I think Cav absolutely deserves his nomination.

I was just applying your logic for dismissing the other nominees. You can be a great cyclist but never win a grand tour, but that doesn't apply for tennis or golf's majors. You are setting your own arbitrary levels of achievement, but fans of other sports would vehemently disagree with them.

I was giving an example of why.