Cav surely a shoo-in for BBC Sports Personality of Year?

[FignonLeGrand]

I repeat, the BBC and SPOTY are not English.

no but that vast majority of voters are

Half my family is Scottish or Irish I am fully aware of the construct of the United Kingdom, doesnt change the fact that most people live in the English bit and most of the voters will be English.

Most of my scottish family refer to the EBC not BBC!

 

[Tei6chai]

True but when it comes to cricket its GB by another name. All the good Irish, Welsh and Scots (I think there is one scot who almost played) played for England. Also approximately 85% of the UK population is English so if it was to go by country England would still have a healthy advantage.

That Irish, Welsh and Scots play for England is utterly irrelevant.

Fact is, cricket means next to nothing to that 15% of the electorate.

Other facts:
1. That 15% are much more likely to vote than their English cousins ... Chris Hoy's SPOTY was widely considered a result of Scottish over-representation among actual voters.

2. Cricket is a minority sport in England that is massively over-represented in the media (possibly due to public schoolboy journos) .... most English people, even in Yorkshire couldn't care less about it. (P.S. I love the sport).

 

[ramjambunath]

True but when it comes to cricket its GB by another name. All the good Irish, Welsh and Scots (I think there is one scot who almost played) played for England. Also approximately 85% of the UK population is English so if it was to go by country England would still have a healthy advantage.

Dougie brown played 25 ODIs for England and he is Scottish.
If Cavendish had this season last year there wouldn't be so much debate on the SPOTY, but the cricket has been dominant to an alien level for England.

It is the England and Wales cricket btw, Glamorgan is a county in Wales and the city Cardiff hosted the opening ashes test in 2009 which was sold out for 5 days.

 

[Frosty]

True but when it comes to cricket its GB by another name. All the good Irish, Welsh and Scots (I think there is one scot who almost played) played for England. Also approximately 85% of the UK population is English so if it was to go by country England would still have a healthy advantage.

O/T but Gavin Hamilton is a Scot who played for England. Eoin Morgan played for Ireland (and is from the Republic so not part of the UK) before switching to play for England.

Dont understand why they are called England, especially as it is the England and Wales cricket Board.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

I love test cricket (not the ****ty 2020) I love cycling as well, I think both have similarities, for long parts they attritional (not dull), but when they spring to life both can be exhilarating (more so than any other sport).

Great post. I agree with every word. You need patience and stamina sometimes to enjoy test cricket and cycling, but are rewarded for that in a greater way than in any other sport.

It's become a bit of a joke award really. The Giggs win was the final insult and probably an embarassment to the man himself. Cav's the most deserving this year, but Cook and McIlroy are decent shouts, too. They've both had tremendous 12 months.

I'm guessing the team award and overseas awards are certainties for the England cricket team and Djokovic.

 

[FignonLeGrand]

That Irish, Welsh and Scots play for England is utterly irrelevant.

Fact is, cricket means next to nothing to that 15% of the electorate.

Other facts:
1. That 15% are much more likely to vote than their English cousins ... Chris Hoy's SPOTY was widely considered a result of Scottish over-representation among actual voters.

2. Cricket is a minority sport in England that is massively over-represented in the media (possibly due to public schoolboy journos) .... most English people, even in Yorkshire couldn't care less about it. (P.S. I love the sport).

I dont disagree that Cricket doesnt mean anything to a great many, think South Wales might be an exception. But its ridiculous to call it a minority sport. How many minority sports have a dedicated stadium in most cities. Most towns, villages, schools etc have a team.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

doesnt change the fact that most people live in the English bit and most of the voters will be English.

Last 4 winners have been Celts though. Never underestimate the Celts ability to back one of their own. There'll be 80,000 manxmen and women hammering their repeat dial button, for sure.

 

[Tei6chai]

I dont disagree that Cricket doesnt mean anything to a great many, think South Wales might be an exception. But its ridiculous to call it a minority sport. How many minority sports have a dedicated stadium in most cities. Most towns, villages, schools etc have a team.

Fair points, I probably exaggerated ... but those sort of metrics still put cricket well behind sports like golf, snooker, darts and bowls ... and light years behind fishing (obviously, not a great spectator sport).

The point I was trying to make by calling cricket a 'minority' sport is that while it has many devoted fans and players in England ... it has a relatively small number of 'casual' fans. It's a 'marmite' sport. Snooker, for example is the exact opposite ... masses of casual fans, comparatively few 'in the arena' fans.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

I hope that Cav wins (particularly having voted for him in the past), but who knows how much of the general public will remember much about his season by December or whenever the award ceremony is.
Honourable mention for the Alistair Brownlee - the outstanding and dominant male triathlete this season, not forgetting his brother or Helen Jenkins who have done incredibly well also. Not holding my breath however.

 

[richardp]

I would expect the majority on eligible voters on the Isle of Man (approx 60,000) to vote for Cav - that might be enough to swing it.

 

[mancsyboy]

I think he has a chance and would be a deserved winner. Hoy won it through having Scotland and cycling campaining for him.

If he wins it has to be this year as next years winner will be from the olympics

Cricket will probably win the team award. I think it will be between Clarke and Cav. Mo Farah should be up there but athletes need to win an olympics before considered. Just amazing that every year there is at least one cyclist up for it. Even Rory Mclroy tweeted the other day Cav deserves it

 

[The Hitch]

No, it will be Alastair Cook or Jonathan Trott.

cook scored 766 runs in the Ashes which they won for the first time in Australia since 1986-87.

What a bunch of bull****.

As is the SPOTY of course.

 

[The Hitch]

Football gets a lot of unnecessary hype in such awards. England's footballers and Indian cricketers are the worst breed of sportsmen around.



If you fart in the direction of a medal, won't it turn into a coal medal.
Gesink if ever fit will be one sportsmen of the year.

Its good to hear some countries exist which care about more sports than just football. Speed skating is hard, they deserve some recognition.

2009 - Jenson Button wins the F1 world championship. who gets the BBC SPOTY? Ryan Giggs.

Never assume that the award is cut and dried

Cav actually accomplished something as an athlete though.

Not that it matters in this sPersonality oty publicity stunt.

 

[Ragerod]

I doubt know how they'll deal with the Ashes because it took place over two calendar years so half of it shouldn't count. Besides, based on 2011, Cook hasn't even been England's best batsman. Ian Bell has that honour.

Cav has a great shout but the feel-good story of Darren Clarke will be difficult to beat, even though it's the only thing he's done all year.

 

[ramjambunath]

What a bunch of bull****.

As is the SPOTY of course.

Like it or not that is a sensational feat. Cyclists are most definitely under appreciated in Britain, it's hardly a sport where I am from. I have stated in this thread that if he had the 2011 year in 2010 he would be a shoo in for the SPOTY and if he isn't second or third (at worst), it would unfortunate.

 

[MartinGT]

A joke of an award tbh.

Phil Taylor is a nice bloke, but come on, he made the "podium" last year and looked chuffed to bits, but how is darts even in there I do not know.

 

[ramjambunath]

A joke of an award tbh.

Phil Taylor is a nice bloke, but come on, he made the "podium" last year and looked chuffed to bits, but how is darts even in there I do not know.

Firstly, darts is a bar game. testament to this is the fact that players down a pint during the game.

Secondly, the guy is a sex offender. That should immediately strike him out of any award.

 

[MartinGT]

Firstly, darts is a bar game. testament to this is the fact that players down a pint during the game.

Secondly, the guy is a sex offender. That should immediately strike him out of any award.

Never knew that

 

[adamski101]

Firstly, darts is a bar game. testament to this is the fact that players down a pint during the game.

Secondly, the guy is a sex offender. That should immediately strike him out of any award.

I think you need to be careful how you word that comment, as it is not strictly true. he is not on any registered list within the UK. he was found guilty of assault charges (12 years) ago. No actual sex act took place, and he was fined £2000.00.

I am just saying that you should be careful how you word comments/remarks like that, as the terminology you used is not actually correct.

 

[adamski101]

I doubt know how they'll deal with the Ashes because it took place over two calendar years so half of it shouldn't count. Besides, based on 2011, Cook hasn't even been England's best batsman. Ian Bell has that honour.

Cav has a great shout but the feel-good story of Darren Clarke will be difficult to beat, even though it's the only thing he's done all year.

Clarke would be a good outside bet, came close back in 2006. For me it's between Cavendish and Clarke.......unless by some miracle England win the rugby world cup and one of them grabs the award.

 

[ramjambunath]

I think you need to be careful how you word that comment, as it is not strictly true. he is not on any registered list within the UK. he was found guilty of assault charges (12 years) ago. No actual sex act took place, and he was fined £2000.00.

I am just saying that you should be careful how you word comments/remarks like that, as the terminology you used is not actually correct.

Point taken

 

[adamski101]

latest odds are:

Darren Clarke 11/10
Mark Cavendish 3/1
Mo Farah 5/1
Rory McIlroy 11/2
Tom Daley 20/1
Alaistair Cook 25/1

So the bookies seem to think that Cav has got a good chance. looks like they are not taking any chances with Clarke, as they know he will grab a huge amounts of votes due to the whole background story.

 

[ramjambunath]

latest odds are:

Darren Clarke 11/10
Mark Cavendish 3/1
Mo Farah 5/1
Rory McIlroy 11/2
Tom Daley 20/1
Alaistair Cook 25/1

So the bookies seem to think that Cav has got a good chance. looks like they are not taking any chances with Clarke, as they know he will grab a huge amounts of votes due to the whole background story.

That is just wrong. Rory has just one win all season. Clarke has won 2, one of which was a tiny tournament, the Iberdola open.
Nice to see Cav have such short odds though.

 

[sublimit]

Some of the previous winners are a bit of a joke to be fair, like you now get these internet campaigns to get a particular person to win and so vote for them like last year with a jockey.

I'd go for Darren Clarke this year personally because he's been a talented player for a long time now and finally got the breakthrough win. I'm not going to start a campaign though because that is so lame.

 

[ramjambunath]

Some of the previous winners are a bit of a joke to be fair, like you now get these internet campaigns to get a particular person to win and so vote for them like last year with a jockey.

I'd go for Darren Clarke this year personally because he's been a talented player for a long time now and finally got the breakthrough win. I'm not going to start a campaign though because that is so lame.

To be fair, he has won a few big tournaments and had a WGC victory. His career at the start of the year was a bit like Westwood's without the same consistency as Lee.