SPOTY 2020

[jeremyp]

For the record - in 2016 Leicester City won the team award and Jamie Vardy was shortlisted for the main award.

Jamie Vardy wasn't the captain.

[Nearly Sane]

The reason that Rashford won't be nominated, though as has been established it would be perfectly possible, is that it would just annoy the UK govt while the review of what happens to the BBC and its funding is on the cards.

[jeremyp]

The reason that Rashford won't be nominated, though as has been established it would be perfectly possible, is that it would just annoy the UK govt while the review of what happens to the BBC and its funding is on the cards.

I think that ship has already sailed.

[Nearly Sane]

I think that ship has already sailed.

But many will be clinging on to the anchor

[Nearly Sane]

Special award for Rashford - which surely makes Lewis Hamilton a shoo-in

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54968207

[ProfessorDavey]

Special award for Rashford - which surely makes Lewis Hamilton a shoo-in

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54968207

Yes, as expected Rashford won't be on the shortlist for the main award.

That was never going to happen as the BBC (particularly under their new DG) was never going to make such an overtly political move. It is also the right decision as the main award is for sporting achievement, and while Rashford's achievements on free school meals have been impressive, they are not sporting achievements. His achievements on the pitch in 2020 have not been sufficient for him to get anywhere close to the shortlist.

[ProfessorDavey]

Special award for Rashford - which surely makes Lewis Hamilton a shoo-in

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54968207

Agree on Hamilton.

I'm no great fan of formula 1, but surely he'd be as deserving a winner as you can get, having this year become all-time top of the list for race wins and having equalled Schumacher's record of title wins. And, worth noting, having done so in far fewer races.

[ProfessorDavey]

Agree on Hamilton.

I'm no great fan of formula 1, but surely he'd be as deserving a winner as you can get, having this year become all-time top of the list for race wins and having equalled Schumacher's record of title wins. And, worth noting, having done so in far fewer races.

Worth noting too that Hamilton is also heavily involved in an ongoing political campaign - Black Lives Matter, and has been instrumental in campaigning against racism in his sport and more generally.

And while that is an incredibly worthy endeavour (just as Rashford's is) if he is shortlisted for the SPOTY it will be on the basis of his sporting achievements.

[ProfessorDavey]

So as I predicted way back in the summer.

Rashford not on the shortlist for the main award - was never going to happen as his achievements aren't sporting (good to see that he gets a special award for his non-sporting achievements through).

And

Jordan Henderson is on the shortlist - again as I predicted.

[Nearly Sane]

So as I predicted way back in the summer.

Rashford not on the shortlist for the main award - was never going to happen as his achievements aren't sporting (good to see that he gets a special award for his non-sporting achievements through).

And

Jordan Henderson is on the shortlist - again as I predicted.

While I think you are and will be right, it's worth noting that the shortlist is not complete.

[ProfessorDavey]

While I think you are and will be right, it's worth noting that the shortlist is not complete.

I never said it was, but Henderson is on it and Rashford isn't - that we already know.

Interesting that Broad is on the list rather than Anderson. Also won't be a balanced list between male and female, with just one woman and five out of six named. And we haven't had Tyson Fury on the list yet - surely he will be number 6, which would make it 5-1 male-female.

[ProfessorDavey]

I never said it was, but Henderson is on it and Rashford isn't - that we already know.

Interesting that Broad is on the list rather than Anderson. Also won't be a balanced list between male and female, with just one woman and five out of six named. And we haven't had Tyson Fury on the list yet - surely he will be number 6, which would make it 5-1 male-female.

So now confirmed - Tyson Fury is number 6.

I'm no great fan of Formula 1 but Hamilton surely has to win it - he is now the most successful person in his sport ever. Difficult to see how you can top that.

[Nearly Sane]

So now confirmed - Tyson Fury is number 6.

I'm no great fan of Formula 1 but Hamilton surely has to win it - he is now the most successful person in his sport ever. Difficult to see how you can top that.

Currently 12/5 on. 5/1 bar

[Nearly Sane]

The wild card in the list who just might do something to upset Hamilton's shoo-in is O'Sullivan who could also be argued to be the most successful, and definitely the most talented in his sport ever. I don't think he will be the upset but I think the odds may get closer.

[ProfessorDavey]

The wild card in the list who just might do something to upset Hamilton's shoo-in is O'Sullivan who could also be argued to be the most successful, and definitely the most talented in his sport ever. I don't think he will be the upset but I think the odds may get closer.

True - although I think that Tyson Fury has the best chance of pipping Hamilton at the post. I hate boxing but it has a huge a loyal following who might just tip the balance.

But realistically there are only 3 vaguely plausible winners - Henderson, Doyle and Broad wont get a look in. And without wishing to be ungracious, I suspect they'll be a lot of people who will never have heard of Doyle.

[Nearly Sane]

Fury has been up for it before. And may well be up for it again. This may be O'Sullivan's only chance. It may well drive a push from general sports fans.


Agree that the other three are toast.


Did they reduce what was the top.ten to six this year, or had that happened earlier?

[ProfessorDavey]

Fury has been up for it before. And may well be up for it again. This may be O'Sullivan's only chance. It may well drive a push from general sports fans.

Perhaps but I don't think snooker has the profile and pulling power that it once did.

Agree that the other three are toast.

Yup.

Did they reduce what was the top.ten to six this year, or had that happened earlier?

I think that they have changed the number on the shortlist from time to time, depending on the numbers of credible candidates. I guess with the relative lack of sport this year a shorter list was chosen. In a normal year we would presumably have had a selection of Olympics winners also to choose from, but not this year. Hard to see who else could have been credible and I think there are some on the list who wouldn't have come close in a more normal year.

[ProfessorDavey]

I think that they have changed the number on the shortlist from time to time, depending on the numbers of credible candidates. I guess with the relative lack of sport this year a shorter list was chosen. In a normal year we would presumably have had a selection of Olympics winners also to choose from, but not this year. Hard to see who else could have been credible and I think there are some on the list who wouldn't have come close in a more normal year.

I've just looked at the last few years.

The last couple have had 6 nominees, but in 2016 there were 16 and there have been 10, 12 nominees in some years over the last decade. So the number of nominees expands or contracts depending on the number of credible candidates it would appear.

[Nearly Sane]

Tyson Fury asks to be removed from list


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/55162164

[ProfessorDavey]

Tyson Fury asks to be removed from list


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/55162164

What an idiot

[ProfessorDavey]

What an idiot

Now he's taking legal action against the BBC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/55302097

As I said - what a total idiot.

[Outrider]

Now he's taking legal action against the BBC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/55302097

As I said - what a total idiot.

Yes, and no - he's building a brand, and as someone that knows he's not going to win he's doing something to change the conversation to being about him and trying to build up his image of himself as somehow an 'outsider'.  It's a reasonably good marketing strategy that can't overcome the fundamental problem that he's an obnoxious dick-bag in the first place.

O.

[ProfessorDavey]

Yes, and no - he's building a brand, and as someone that knows he's not going to win he's doing something to change the conversation to being about him and trying to build up his image of himself as somehow an 'outsider'.  It's a reasonably good marketing strategy that can't overcome the fundamental problem that he's an obnoxious dick-bag in the first place.

O.

This is the guy who railed against the BBC  last year for not shortlisting him. Now he is complaining that they have shortlisted him. I see no strategy, merely a hypocrite who doesn't like losing. He is following the Trump playbook.

And on brands - I don't think he needs to build a brand - he already has one as you have eloquently described in the last few words of your post

[ProfessorDavey]

Yes, and no - he's building a brand, and as someone that knows he's not going to win he's doing something to change the conversation to being about him and trying to build up his image of himself as somehow an 'outsider'.  It's a reasonably good marketing strategy that can't overcome the fundamental problem that he's an obnoxious dick-bag in the first place.

O.

And another thing - I loath people who self-define themselves as 'the people's' this that or the other. Makes no difference if it is 'the people's champion' or 'the people's princess' etc etc. The cannot self define yourself as such, the only, err, people who could do that are, well the people and they are not a homogeneous block who all think the same. Anyone describing themselves as such, in my view, simply has an over inflated view of their own importance.

[jeremyp]

And another thing - I loath people who self-define themselves as 'the people's' this that or the other. Makes no difference if it is 'the people's champion' or 'the people's princess' etc etc. The cannot self define yourself as such, the only, err, people who could do that are, well the people and they are not a homogeneous block who all think the same. Anyone describing themselves as such, in my view, simply has an over inflated view of their own importance.

Part of the problem is that SPOTY 2020 will almost certainly show that Lewis Hamilton is the "People's Champion".