Sports Personality Of The Year

The_Lizards_Jumpers

Well-known member
The other poster reminded me (and not having a go at anyone), but why do people assume that this award is some sort of pinnacle of sporting achievements and not just a glorified X factor popularity contest?

You see when someone wins a major achievement in their sporting field, say Wiggins winning the TDF in 2012, people instantly start talking about "oh he's a shoe-in for SPOTY" as though just winning the greatest prize in their chosen sport, to which they've dedicated their life, is just a byproduct to winning the ultimate accolade of the SPOTY.
 
Nobody sees it as the pinnacle of any sport but it’s a nice way to recognise achievements, especially in some of the less popular ones.
 
Nothing would surprise you in the current climate.

If you read the right wing press yes you can believe anything like that. As it is the SPOTY is voted for by the public and is conducted by an independent survey company completely out of the control of the BBC - yes they choose the shortlist but to be frank it picks itself. Especially this year.
 
If you read the right wing press yes you can believe anything like that. As it is the SPOTY is voted for by the public and is conducted by an independent survey company completely out of the control of the BBC - yes they choose the shortlist but to be frank it picks itself. Especially this year.

It's about time an angler won it.
 
The other poster reminded me (and not having a go at anyone), but why do people assume that this award is some sort of pinnacle of sporting achievements and not just a glorified X factor popularity contest?

You see when someone wins a major achievement in their sporting field, say Wiggins winning the TDF in 2012, people instantly start talking about "oh he's a shoe-in for SPOTY" as though just winning the greatest prize in their chosen sport, to which they've dedicated their life, is just a byproduct to winning the ultimate accolade of the SPOTY.
I think it’s because sportsmen compete against each other in different sports. No one would say winning SPOTY is THE ultimate accolade, but it is an interesting talking point given that whoever wins it has to beat people from all other sports as well as their own.
 
I. No one would say winning SPOTY is THE ultimate accolade, but it is an interesting talking point given that whoever wins it has to beat people from all other sports as well as their own.

But that's almost my point, as soon as something amazing happens then peoples thoughts instantly turn to SPOTY.

I remember Twitter (not a great example I know) the day Wiggins won the TDF, or the Olympic TT, people talking about SPOTY for him when they should have been talking about him achieving his lifes dream and being at the very top of his chosen sport.
 
But that's almost my point, as soon as something amazing happens then peoples thoughts instantly turn to SPOTY.

I remember Twitter (not a great example I know) the day Wiggins won the TDF, or the Olympic TT, people talking about SPOTY for him when they should have been talking about him achieving his lifes dream and being at the very top of his chosen sport.
Well I suppose in some ways SPOTY just means the whole nation recognises it. Like Phil the Power won how many world titles but never SPOTY because the wider public never really bought into his achievements.
 
The other poster reminded me (and not having a go at anyone), but why do people assume that this award is some sort of pinnacle of sporting achievements and not just a glorified X factor popularity contest?

I'm not sure I've spoken to anyone who assumes that to be honest.

However, I did used to prefer the BBC's sports review of the year programmes; SPOTY was just a small part of those, but it has morphed into the main, indeed only, event now.

I think it's because I'm more interested in the sports than in the people.
 
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