Top 5 Sporting Moment of 2012

[Hacker Khan]

In no particular order: -

1. The Olympic Opening ceremony. Up until that point there had been a great deal of cynicism and fear over what might happen. But in the space of 4 hours we showed the world that we are the coolest nation on earth and it was all going to be OK. What other country would put the Sex Pistols, James Bond and the Queen, a lesbian Kiss, Dizzie Rascal, Sir Tim Berners Lee, 2 songs by a group called **** Buttons (look it up, but possibly not on a work PC, as I am trying not to be modded for asterisking too much) and a 20 minute section devoted to the NHS in a ceremony watched by millions. And after all the speculation, the way the torch was lit was a touch of genius. It paved the way for the greatest summer of sport this country will ever see and for the first time in a very long time made be proud to be British.
2. 1 Km to go in the Tour de France’s final stage in Paris. On the final stage, all the yellow jersey normally does is take it easy and stay out of trouble as they have effectively won it baring any mishaps. But with 1 km to go, with the peloton travelling at scary speeds, Bradley comes to the front of the whole race to help to lead out Cav for yet another victory. Yellow jerseys are not supposed to do that, it was a touch of class from the SPOTY in waiting.
3. Ellie Simmons’ 400m freestyle at the Paralympics and subsequent interview on Channel 4. Fantastic race, made my cry at the time and still makes me cry when I watch it on You Tube. And she’s only 17.
4. Justin Rose’s put on the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] at Medina. Great put, I thought it was the turning point myself, but the reaction from Big Phil was even better. In a sporting world of greed and gamesmanship (to put it politely, diving and cheating to put it more strongly) it showed that there is still some room for some class in even the most pressurised of situations.
5. Jo Rowsell, Laura Trott and Dani King in the women team pursuit at the Olympics. Broke the world record 6 successive times on the way to the gold. In a world of X Factor and Heat magazine, it was so good to see 3 young attractive females becoming famous for having talent and working damn hard. And absolutely mullering all the opposition in the process. Yes in a few decades I have no doubt the Chinese will win just about every Olympic medal they want to, but in the mean time the 3 girls from the UK were so far ahead of the rest, it was so beautiful to watch. Also kudos to Rowsell for showing her baldy head as well.

And the worst sporting moment of 2012, as ever it is Premiership Football, specifically the racism and utterly vile chants that seem to be in the news. Hissing sounds to replicate the gas chambers at Tottenham matches, calling someone a ******* black **** (which is not racist apparently according to the courts). That’s not sport, it’s just very disgraceful human behaviour.

 

[Hooper]

1) Mo Farah
2) Poulter's birdies on Saturday
3) Andy's win in US
4) Brownlee brothers
5) Every night in the Oylmpic stadium. Showing football fans that you can have passion and atmosphere without the rubbish.

Special mention to Phil applauding Justin's putt on final day.

 

[Val]

Sporting moments of 2012.

1 - Olympic games as a spectacle was amazing, great achievements collectively by all the GB&I athletes and hard to single 1 individual.

2 - The Ryder Cup - An amazing spectacle with some awesome performances from both sides with Poulter being the standout.

3 - Euro 2012 - Can any more be said about that fabulous Spanish team, it's up there with the best world football has ever seen IMO.

4 - Rory McIlroy - Amazing performance from him this year, can he get better with time?

5 - Andy Murray - Olympic gold and britians first male grand slam winner since Fred Perry

 

[Fader]

1. Justin Rose Putt on 17th at Medinah
2. Murray Winning US Open
3. McIlroy winning PGA
4. Sir Chris Hoy winning another gold
5. Laura Trotts gold medal haul

 

[Stuey01]

Can't disagree with any of those in the OP.

When Wiggins hit the front of the peleton in yellow on the champs ellysee it was magnificent. There were two other sprint trains coming up either side of team sky and it was looking like a real fight was on, when Wiggins lit the afterburners he just blew them apart, making Cav's win a formality. It was a great moment, I was screaming at the TV and had a tear in my eye.
It was also a great way for him to thank Cav for putting the team before his own personal ambitions in the TdF this year. Seeing one of the greatest road sprinters of all time, in the world champs jersey, leading his team up a mountain and carrying water bottles was very odd!

 

[Adi2Dassler]

5. Super Saturday, Mo,Ennis & Rutherford rocked it, would loved to have been there.
4. David Rudisha....800 metres in 100 seconds.
3. Saturday afternoon and Poulter charges, oh my goodness
2. Justin Rose drains one on the 17th, Phil applauds.Proper sport.
1. Champs Elysee, last lap and Bradley leads the Sky train round that penultimate bend, spine tingling stuff.

Loads more that could be mentioned, and I agree that football shouldn't be mentioned...possibly with the exception of Messi, we're living thru the time of the worlds best ever player in the worlds most popular ever sport, and he doesn't seem to be your standard modern day prima donna.

 

[CMAC]

The Olympic games by a country mile, inspirational, passionate, inclusive and a one off that none of us will experience again in our lifetime..............which is quite a sobering thought

 

[Dodger]

There is only 1.

The whole Ryder Cup Sunday was without doubt the best sport I have had the pleasure to watch both live or in this case on the telly box.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Loads more that could be mentioned, and I agree that football shouldn't be mentioned...possibly with the exception of Messi, we're living thru the time of the worlds best ever player in the worlds most popular ever sport, and he doesn't seem to be your standard modern day prima donna.

True, it's just a shame he's playing through an era in which the football world governing body is being run in a manner which several African dictators would probably class as 'a bit harsh'. With baffling decisions being made that, whilst you can't prove it, you are pretty sure involve some kind of corruption. Which will most likely come to light once Herr Blatter has gone, Playing a world cup finals in Qatar anyone? Really?

And also the stock of the average footballer, manager and team in the UK is as low as it has been for a long time. Every week there seems to be a new low in behaviour. The only footballer I suspect that had any chance on getting on the SPOTY short list was Muamba. And all he's done is basically not died. Fair play to the lad and all that, but if that's the best the so called national sport can offer then it's a pretty poor show.

 

[GB72]

I have to admit that, until someone mentioned it on here, I had forgotten that Euro 2012 actually took place this year. The Olympics was just magnificent. Anything that can get my wife dashing home at night to watch sport has to be something special.

The last day of the Ryder Cup was the best for me though. To watch is slowly build from an almost certain defeat to a great victory was just compelling and had me cheering at the screen.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Have to agree Ryder Cup Sunday , watching it at Gainsborough GC with Mike, The GM crew , PYB finalists and the members of the club, on a huge screen, beer flowing, (apart from RickG and his sparkling water)
Fantastic Golf, Fantastic atmosphere, The groans when Kaymer put his first putt long, the anticipation, the shock and lots of man hugs afterwards

A close second for me is David Weir winning 4 Gold Medals in the paralympic wheelchair races, Its the different distances that stagger me, 800m, 1500m 5000m & Marathon No other athlete can cover that range at that level in any sport .

For me the ryder cup team is team of the year and David Weir is Sports person of the year

Fragger

 

[Stuey01]

Its the different distances that stagger me, 800m, 1500m 5000m & Marathon No other athlete can cover that range at that level in any sport .

Thats a red flag to me. If he can beat the specialists over such a range of distances then really what level of competition is he facing?
There is a reason no-one else can cover that range in another sport, because the level of competition is too strong in other events and sports.

 

[JPH]

Olympics
Olympics
Olympics
Paralympics
Paralympics

Went a lot as just round the corner ... Amazing

 

[JPH]

Ha blimey , I nearly forgot the Ryder cup Sunday

Was at Ashbury ( butlins of golf ) hotel , was buzzing , about 8 people watching at first but at least a hundred by the end

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Thats a red flag to me. If he can beat the specialists over such a range of distances then really what level of competition is he facing?
There is a reason no-one else can cover that range in another sport, because the level of competition is too strong in other events and sports.

Disagree, Wheelchair racing has come on huge amounts in recent years and there are some very good racers at all levels

It just happens that Weir is better than any of them, I was there, I saw it with mine eyes

End Of...

 

[thecraw]

Andy Murray single handedly dragging Scottish, sorry I mean British tennis (now that he's a grand slammer) up by the socks.

Ryder Cup as it was awesome viewing!

The rest no idea.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Andy Murray single handedly dragging Scottish, sorry I mean British tennis (now that he's a grand slammer) up by the socks.

Ryder Cup as it was awesome viewing!

The rest no idea.

Yep the boy done good

Cant argue with success

 

[LanDog]

The most impressive thing about David Weir and most of the Wheelchair athletes Phil, is that when they train they push themselves uphill and of course their chairs don't have any breaks!! So if they stop. They're going all the way back down

 

[PhilTheFragger]

The most impressive thing about David Weir and most of the Wheelchair athletes Phil, is that when they train they push themselves uphill and of course their chairs don't have any breaks!! So if they stop. They're going all the way back down

Backwards :rofl:

Braver than me

 

[LanDog]

Backwards :rofl:

Braver than me

The option they use is to not stop. Incredible