Sports Personality of the Year 2015

[Ethan]

These things are often influenced by certain supporter groups mobilising their vote, using social media and the like to make sure they vote for someone to raise the profile of the game. Well done to the rugby league fans who did so. I wouldn't recognise that guy Sinfield if he came in and say down on my living room sofa. With his team kit on.

Murray was the obvious choice, and he seems to be developing a personality of sorts.

 

[MendieGK]

You could stand the majority of Rugby League lads in front of me and there might only be one or two I couldn't name.

This is most likely to do with Geographical location as well though. Being a southerner, i've never been exposed to Rugby League with the exception of the odd game in the background on the TV when nothing is on. Obviously its considerably more popular further north.

 

[Duckster]

This is most likely to do with Geographical location as well though. Being a southerner, i've never been exposed to Rugby League with the exception of the odd game in the background on the TV when nothing is on. Obviously its considerably more popular further north.

When you go to school and college in Wigan you learn about Rugby. Even during break times at our school you played touch rugby, not football.

It is always going to be the more popular sports that get the public's vote, but I'm glad Sinfield got 2nd. I was really surprised to hear that he's the first League man to even be nominated!

 

[Hacker Khan]

It's also to me, those telling us how wonderful Murray is and what a guy, his talent, his ability and his oustanding performances in the Davis Cup, it's the system that's wrong, look on this thread, a few people have asked who the guy in 2nd is, that to me says more than anything, he is a bloke at the top of his sport and is not known, how many other sportsman are at the top of their respective sport and are not known and could be deserving winners.
It's not an open contest, it's between those the BBC decide should be on the list, if it was open would Murray of won? Probably he's had a great year, it's also about timing, see the point about Rutherford.
Being our No1 Tennis player and No2 in the world Murray will probably make next years list as well.
If you're going to have this competition then take it out of the publics hands and get a panel worthy of selecting our Top sportsman.
Let's be honest some of the public do vote based purely on their favourite, regardless of the year they've had.

But there is a danger that if you go down the panel route to pick the winner then it will just turn into another of those awards where the voting process is not transparent. Nothing wrong with those awards, but there are plenty of them about and SPOTY would lose it's USP so to speak. And therefore would not get the public attention it does, As no matter how much people may not like who the public votes for, the process is transparent and people feel they have a say in the process.

As for how decides who is on the list then that is not just decided by the BBC, representatives from national newspapers and past winners also are part of the panel. In fact this year there were more non BBC people on the panel than BBC people.

[TABLE="class: sp-story-body__table, width: 564"]
[TR]
[TH]Sports Personality shortlisting panel[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD]Representatives from BBC Sport: Barbara Slater (director, BBC Sport), Philip Bernie (head of TV Sport) and Carl Doran (executive editor, BBC Sports Personality of the Year). Representative from BBC TV Sport: Jermaine Jenas. Pan-sports broadcaster/journalist: Hazel Irvine.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]National newspapers: Tim Hallissey (the Times), Ian Prior (the Guardian) and Cliff Hayes (the Sun)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Former nominees of an award: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Maggie Alphonsi and Dame Mary Peters. UK sports industry: Baroness Sue Campbell[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
You could also argue that if it became completely open, i.e. no shortlist, then it would become even more based on the power of social media and bloc voting by certain fan bases. The way it works now each shortlisted candidate is given a chance to show what they have done so you can make a semi-informed view on the best person. If that all went away then it could end up very fragmented with joke candidates getting votes and the such like. Agree the present way is not perfect, but it's the best way to do it IMHO.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It's also to me, those telling us how wonderful Murray is and what a guy, his talent, his ability and his oustanding performances in the Davis Cup, it's the system that's wrong, look on this thread, a few people have asked who the guy in 2nd is, that to me says more than anything, he is a bloke at the top of his sport and is not known, how many other sportsman are at the top of their respective sport and are not known and could be deserving winners.
It's not an open contest, it's between those the BBC decide should be on the list, if it was open would Murray of won? Probably he's had a great year, it's also about timing, see the point about Rutherford.
Being our No1 Tennis player and No2 in the world Murray will probably make next years list as well.
If you're going to have this competition then take it out of the publics hands and get a panel worthy of selecting our Top sportsman.
Let's be honest some of the public do vote based purely on their favourite, regardless of the year they've had.

It's not just the BBC who decide who is on the short list

And you have to have some sort of shortlist

 

[Tongo]

Too many people expecting a perfect scenario where it simply isn't possible.

 

[bluewolf]

For once I'm in full agreement with the top 3..

Murray is one of the best all-round athletes in the World. He leads from the front, isn't afraid to speak his mind and doesn't let some of the petty bickering get to him..

Sinfield is one of the most successful English RL players in modern times. I understand that it's a minority sport, but the sheer physicality of the modern RL player is hard to understand if you've never played the game.. It's just unfortunate that some previous RL players have never had the recognition. Ellery Hanley, Shaun Edwards, Lee Crooks, George Fairbairn.. The list goes on..

Jess Ennis-Hill has returned from a lengthy lay off and risen straight back to the top of her sport. The sheer dedication and willpower, coupled with her appearing to be genuine person means that she had to be considered..

Honourable mentions to Lizzie Armitstead and Chris Froome who have had fantastic seasons but have probably been tarnished by the poor image of their chosen sport...

 

[fundy]

for all those moaning about the shortlist, who did you want to vote for that wasnt on it?

 

[Tongo]

for all those moaning about the shortlist, who did you want to vote for that wasnt on it?

Joe Root was a fairly glaring omission.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I think Root is the one person I think should have been on the list

 

[Fish]

for all those moaning about the shortlist, who did you want to vote for that wasnt on it?

Tai Woffinden

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Tai Woffinden

Yep, he'd of got my vote instead of Sinfield.

 

[MegaSteve]

Good to see a few other speedway fans out there...

And, whatsmore Woffie actually does have a personality :thup:...

 

[User62651]

Lots of people couldn't get through to vote which was a shame but turns out Murray was well clear in the voting so wouldn't have affected result, Fury was 4th which shows people rate what he did, even if he says some stupid things for attention, I don't blame him for trying to make hay while the sun shines - any press, good or bad, is better than no press and he's trying to get noticed for £££.
Whole thing is quite strange in this day and age, seems a throwback to when there was only 3 channels on tv, but fair play to Beeb and Northern Ireland, they put on a good show imo. I don't think anyone really cares who wins, its just a chance to review the year in sport and I think they do that quite well, its not interrupted with adverts so gives a solid 2 hours. Tennis and rugby league don't do much for me but I respect what those individuals have achieved, Ennis Hill is an odd one, I think her celebrity and 'face of 2012' did it for her this time, nothing to do with hepathlon which is dull to watch, people dont have the attention span or interest to watch 7 events over 2 days live with all the sitting about that goes on in the field events. They just like to see the 800m as the last event and see her win overall.
Froome and Farah's were the best and toughest achievements for me in the year but both don't have much charisma really and perhaps aren't seen as British as some of the others, which is a shame given they're both multiple winners. Both have had to defend alleged association with PEDs of course which doesn't help.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Lots of people couldn't get through to vote which was a shame but turns out Murray was well clear in the voting so wouldn't have affected result, Fury was 4th which shows people rate what he did, even if he says some stupid things for attention, I don't blame him for trying to make hay while the sun shines - any press, good or bad, is better than no press and he's trying to get noticed for £££.
Whole thing is quite strange in this day and age, seems a throwback to when there was only 3 channels on tv, but fair play to Beeb and Northern Ireland, they put on a good show imo. I don't think anyone really cares who wins, its just a chance to review the year in sport and I think they do that quite well, its not interrupted with adverts so gives a solid 2 hours. Tennis and rugby league don't do much for me but I respect what those individuals have achieved, Ennis Hill is an odd one, I think her celebrity and 'face of 2012' did it for her this time, nothing to do with hepathlon which is dull to watch, people dont have the attention span or interest to watch 7 events over 2 days live with all the sitting about that goes on in the field events. They just like to see the 800m as the last event and see her win overall.
Froome and Farah's were the best and toughest achievements for me in the year but both don't have much charisma really and perhaps aren't seen as British as some of the others, which is a shame given they're both multiple winners. Both have had to defend alleged association with PEDs of course which doesn't help.

So apart from Murray, it was a popular celebrity competition then. Plus going on the way people have purposely voted against the main contender in shows like X-Factor etc it wouldn't surprise me if it was this mentality that got Fury some votes😃

 

[hovis]

How can a person void of a personality win "sports personality " of the year. As much as a knob fury is, at least he doesn't make you fall asleep in your shredded wheat

 

[MegaSteve]

I suspect, for the vast majority, Jess has a closer association with Santander rather than her sport...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

How can a person void of a personality win "sports personality " of the year. As much as a knob fury is, at least he doesn't make you fall asleep in your shredded wheat

It is nothing to do with an individuals 'personality' with that naming being a historical quirk as sports 'person' of the year had already been nabbed. As far as I am aware SPotY has never been about 'personality' per se and I am a bit baffled why some folk seem to think that it is or should be. Maybe it's just a handy thing to hang a gripe from.

Besides - as far as the winner is concerned - loads of actual personality there IMO (and my Mrs thinks also - and she's English btw - as if that might matter - except that she knows what we are like )

 

[MegaSteve]

Unless you've seen a sports person on QoS you won't really know if they have 'personality'...

One persons idea of 'personality' is another's idea of being a 'tool'...

 

[Dan2501]

Pretty awesome to see the McGregor KO feature on one of the highlights packages. Not often that the BBC show MMA, so nice to see it feature on the biggest BBC Sport show of the year.