BBC Sports Personality of the year 2012

mike65

The list of 12 (it must be the toughest short list to get on for years, maybe ever)

Nicola Adams · First female gold medalist boxing
Ben Ainslie · - 4th successive gold Sailing
Jessica Ennis · Heptathlon gold medalist
Mo Farah · 5,000 and 10,000 metre track golds
Katherine Grainger - gold rowing at 37 and 4th games
Sir Chris Hoy · 2 Olympic cycling golds, 6 golds in all.
Rory McIlroy · Golfist, winner of USPGA Championship, top money winner of 2012
Andy Murray · Winner US open singles, Olympic Gold singles
Ellie Simmonds · Double gold, silver and bronze medal winner Para games
Sarah Storey · 4 para golds cycling
Bradley Wiggins · Tour de France winner
David Weir - 4 gold medals Paralympic athletics

No Laura Trott, I'm outraged ! :pac:

catch.23

I'd be inclined to think wiggo or ennis will get it . . . very hard list to pick from though!

Skid

You could make a case for any of them. A hugely successful Olympics but also a first ever British Tour De France winner, and the first Tennis Grand Slam in living memory (almost). Nice to see some Paralympians in the shortlist too.

I think Bradley Wiggins might take it, the Cycling fans tend to be well organised in their votes, Mark Cavendish took home the top prize last year.

Should be a great show on December 16th

(P.S. You forgot to mention Wiggins' Olympic Gold in the Time Trial, Mike!)

IsThisIt???

I think Wiggins is still a sure thing, even in a year as competitive as this. I'd probably give 2nd to Murray myself but can see Ennis or Farrah getting it

locum-motion

Golfist?

The_Kew_Tour

Wiggins will win this.

I will go Murray 2nd and Ennis third.

Farrah would of won this any other year.

Just such great year for British sport.

cgpg5

Wiggins, Murray, Farah in that order I think.

Ennis shouldn't be close to these guys but she's very popular. I still think these will oust her though.

To think a Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medallist along with a double olympic gold medallist in 5000m and 10,000m may not even win is incredible. Really strong this year

MrCreosote

Sir Bradley is a shoe-in this year.

Two cyclists in 2 years...who'd have thought it.

cgpg5

MrCreosote wrote: »

Sir Bradley is a shoe-in this year.

Two cyclists in 2 years...who'd have thought it.

Think he'll win it, but I don't really think it's a shoe in. Murray has the Scottish vote and he may well have the most impressive VT on the night which will show his W'don tears, Olympic Gold so soon afterwards and first British Grand Slam in forever. The voting is all done then remember

With Farah I think everyone remembers where they were on those 2 incredible nights. The moments of the games from a British persepective. If it was going on olympics alone he'd win it.

The bookies odds are ridiculous frankly, but they've gotten this very wrong in the past. Public vote can be unpredictable. Generally there is a leading contender but this year you could make a case for either Murray, Farah or WIggins imo

I don't think anyone else should come close, but that's not knocking their achievements in any way

Anyone

Nailed on for Wiggins to win this, nobody else comes anywhere close.

cgpg5

Anyone wrote: »

Nailed on for Wiggins to win this, nobody else comes anywhere close.

It's funny had Murray won Wimbledon over the US Open (although they have the same significance in terms of achievement) he'd win this, no doubt about it

I'm no McIlroy fan but it's amazing he's so far down the pecking order. Number 1 golfer in the world, and golf is such a popular sport worldwide and widely played sport.

To think Ryan Giggs got this a few years ago :pac: So competitive this year

MrCreosote

The thing that will swing it for Wiggins I reckon is that he's remained in the public eye to a much larger degree than the others since the Olympics, mainly because of that whole Lance Pharmstrong thing.

He's not a simple clean-cut sporting hero either- it is the "personality" award after all, and he come across as having plenty of that.

Silvio.Dante

What a list, what a year for British/world sport...:)

If you made me pick one (which is very difficult to do) I'd give it to Katherine Grainger. *Gasps from the masses*

This lady has kept coming back time and time again. Rowing is a very lonely sport (yes, I know she was in a pair). You get no limelight in comparison to other higher profiel sports. The training is gruelling, with no golden cheques at the ned of it.

She did it for an ever diminishing hope Gold Medal. Awe inspiring.

Thats not to say Bradley (especially in my view), Mo, Jess, Rory etc don't warrent huge praise...:)

Dan man

I think Bradley Wiggins is going to take the title and he'd get my pick also as the first ever British Tour de France winner and he backed it up with gold in the Olympics.
I think Mo Farah will come in second and Murray in third....but as everyone has said, it is an exceptional list, so many worthy candidates to choose from.

catch.23

The fact that this far into the thread Hoy hasn't even gotten a mention shows how good the list is!!!

Dan man

catch.23 wrote: »

The fact that this far into the thread Hoy hasn't even gotten a mention shows how good the list is!!!

I know, there is an unbelievably good list to choose from. Ben Ainslie who won a 4th consecutive Olympic gold medal in sailing also won't get into the top 3 in all likelihood and that is bizarre in itself. His achievements are up there with anyone on the list.

Silvio.Dante

catch.23 wrote: »

The fact that this far into the thread Hoy hasn't even gotten a mention shows how good the list is!!!

Very true.

Ben Ainslie! Of course...:eek:

roro2

Murray outside the Top 3 for me - he doesn't have enough backing from the general public, as evidenced by the reception he got in London recently. In saying that, the Scottish vote may come in handy. Wiggins is a certainty - he'd be a certainty if it wasn't an Olympic year, and then he has the gold medal on top of that. Ben Ainslie as an outside bet for third place, now that he's retiring (from Olympic competition anyway).

cgpg5

roro2 wrote: »

Murray outside the Top 3 for me - he doesn't have enough backing from the general public, as evidenced by the reception he got in London recently. In saying that, the Scottish vote may come in handy. Wiggins is a certainty - he'd be a certainty if it wasn't an Olympic year, and then he has the gold medal on top of that. Ben Ainslie as an outside bet for third place, now that he's retiring (from Olympic competition anyway).

That crowd consisted of a lot of Europeans rather than locals. He got a fine reception in every other game it was just an over enthusiastic federer fan club from all over Europe. The voting public will be completely different

Ainslie won't be near it, sailing just isn't popular enough unfortunately.

Beasty

I would like Wiggins to win it but have a sneaking suspicion that Murray will pip him, particularly as the cycling vote will be split across Wiggins, Hoy and Storey

MrCreosote

I can't see Murray winning it- he just doesn't seem to have the public love that Wiggins does. A lot of people find him too petulant.

cgpg5

MrCreosote wrote: »

I can't see Murray winning it- he just doesn't seem to have the public love that Wiggins does. A lot of people find him too petulant.

Wimbledon turned a lot I'd imagine. If that didn't happen and he then went and won the Olympics and US I wouldn't think he'd be in the reckoning although he should be. The first Brit to win a slam in living memory is a huge deal to the british public as tennis is such a worldwide popular sport. Think those Wimbledon tears won a lot of doubters over though. I think he won the wrong slam though so I think he'll be second

I can't think of much myself to separate farah, Murray, and wiggins. Some are saying Murray not being there could cost him votes. Unlikely I think since calzaghe got it before when he was in the states

MrCreosote

It is true that he seems to have calmed down a lot since Lendl started coaching. Think you're right about winning the wrong slam too.

cgpg5

MrCreosote wrote: »

It is true that he seems to have calmed down a lot since Lendl started coaching. Think you're right about winning the wrong slam too.

Big Murray fan but I can't decide who I want him or Farah! Those Farah moments in the olympics were just magical, moment of the games for me

Football Gambler

It's come a long way since 2006 when David Walliams was a runner in the betting (pre short list) for swimming the English Channel, such was the shortage of candidates.

If someone had told me a few years back that a British tennis player would win a slam and not get sports personality of the year, I would have been astounded. That just goes to show what Wiggins has achieved..

It's a shame one of these events didn't take place the year Giggs won it for his career contribution.

Pherekydes

I hope Ennis wins.

I don't know why people keep mentioning Murray and grand slam in the same sentence. He's won one major. He needs to win all four to win a grand slam.

cgpg5

Pherekydes wrote: »

I hope Ennis wins.

I don't know why people keep mentioning Murray and grand slam in the same sentence. He's won one major. He needs to win all four to win a grand slam.

:rolleyes:

"Majors" are known as Grand Slam's in tennis.

ormond lad

Pherekydes wrote: »

I hope Ennis wins.

I don't know why people keep mentioning Murray and grand slam in the same sentence. He's won one major. He needs to win all four to win a grand slam.

No he has won a grand slam. The term grand slam refers to both winning 1 of the 4 opens and all 4 of Wimbledon, US, Australian and French Opens in the same calender year.
Federer has 17 grand slam titles

Pherekydes

cgpg5 wrote: »

:rolleyes:

"Majors" are known as Grand Slam's in tennis.

I know that. It's still an incorrect use of the term.

ormond lad

Pherekydes wrote: »

I know that. It's still an incorrect use of the term.

Its not an incorrect use of the term

cgpg5

Pherekydes wrote: »

I know that. It's still an incorrect use of the term.

I agree but it's just the way it is, so therefore being pedantic about people saying he has won a "grand slam" when that's what the term for a major actually is, is silly

I've no idea why it's called a grand slam, maybe because 4 slams have 4 different surfaces and therefore it's so difficult to win them all so they prefer a better sounding term like "career grand slam", or the term "major" is overused in sport. I don't know

I like Ennis myself but it's a joke if she gets ahead of Murray, Farah or Wiggins tbh

Pherekydes

ormond lad wrote: »

Its not an incorrect use of the term

Tell me, if Murray, or any other Tennis player wins the Australian, French and US opens and Wimbledon in the same calendar year does that mean they've won 4 grand slams or just one?

locum-motion

+ 1 on the usage of the words 'Grand Slam' being incorrectly used in tennis reporting. According to Wikipedia, 'THE Grand Slam' refers to winning all four, whereas 'A Grand Slam title' refers to one of them. This is different to what it means in virtually ever sport.

From Wikipedia:

The term Grand Slam also, and originally, refers to the achievement of winning all four major championships in a single calendar year within one of the five disciplines: men's and women's singles; men's, women's, and mixed doubles. In doubles one team may accomplish a Grand Slam playing together or one player may achieve it with different partners. The term "Grand Slam" without qualification refers to winning the four majors in a single calendar year.[1][2][3] However, the term "Grand Slam" when used with an indefinite article is widely accepted as referring to any one of the Majors (e.g. "Andy won a grand slam title this year").

Football Gambler

I used the term 'a slam,' not 'The Grand Slam'........ maybe it is the wrong phrase, I don't know, but I imagine everyone knew what I meant.

Skid

SPOTY is on at 7.30pm tonight.

Good to see the BBC have given it an extended running time thus year (2 and a half hours). Bradley Wiggins is still odds on to take the main prize, although this show has has some surprise winners in the past. Jessica Ennis has twice finished third in the vote, so perhaps she could go all the way this year. It should be a great show.

Edit: I see Lord (Seb) Coe has been awarded the Lifetime achievement award. I am very pleased to see this, he is one my favourite Athletes of all time. His 800 metre times would still beat almost anyone in the World 30 years on (except David Rudisha). And he played a crucial role in getting the Olympics to London, and delivering a terrific games.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/sports-personality/20691572

efb

1. Bradley Wiggins
2. Andy Murray
3. Jessica Ennis

Silvio.Dante

Wel done Ellie...:)

Beefy78

What a sporting year it was for the Brits (of which I am one )

Mo Farah for me. I saw both of his wins in Hyde Park and they were truly special moments. Any of the 12 would be worthy winners though.

Silvio.Dante

Beefy78 wrote: »

What a sporting year it was for the Brits (of which I am one )

Mo Farah for me. I saw both of his wins in Hyde Park and they were truly special moments. Any of the 12 would be worthy winners though.

Hyde Park looked like it was the place to be if you couldn't make it to the venue itself. Wonderful memories for you...:)

Beefy78

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

Hyde Park looked like it was the place to be if you couldn't make it to the venue itself. Wonderful memories for you...:)

It really was mate. Sounds naff, but I'll never forget it or anything else from that two weeks.

Silvio.Dante

That looked the business...:)

Silvio.Dante

Lovely to see Roger Bannister there...

Silvio.Dante

Martina's looking better now than she did 25 years ago...

theoneeyedman

Nice touch including Paudi on the roll of honour of people who passed away ...

Truman Burbank

Paidi O Se. That's respect man.

Silvio.Dante

Páidí O'Shea was remembered in the pieace about those who have passed away this year. Nice touch...

Itssoeasy

Nice touch by the BBC including paidi in the tribute to people who have died in 2012.

Big Game

Top gesture putting Paidi in there, big respect to the BBC.

cgpg5

What a standard! Farah doesn't even make top 3

Good show, happy for Wiggins

Silvio.Dante

Seb was the real winner tonight for me. To get the Olympics and then to be the head of what was such a fantastic extravaganza of Olympic sport, respect to the man...:)

Beefy78

I bloody love David Beckham.