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

[B_Ugli]

He wont win it for the simple fact that although cycling in the UK is all of a sudden a "lifestyle" sport the majority of car drivers in the UK have a deep (I would say irrational) hate of cyclists.

I tried to work out the other day why motorists dont possess the same degree of hate towards horseriders, motorcyclists, tractors, campervans & caravans, horse & carts and any other thing on the road that my hinder their progress.

Even people I know who I would consider sensible individuals still think its ok to roar up behind groups of cyclists reving their engines and tooting at them to get out of the way as in their words "they shouldnt be on the road and they get in the way".

Rant over.........

 

[Dalakhani]

Hills have him as the favourite:

Mark Cavendish 6/5
Darren Clarke 7/4
Rory McIlroy 7/1
Mo Farah 8/1
20/1 Bar

I'm not a golf fan, so I can't really compare him to Clarke or McIlroy, but I think that there have been far less deserving winners than Cav (e.g. HRH the horse rider, Shagger Giggs).

Steve

 

[The Hitch]

Im not a fan of the BBC sports personality thing, hate it actually, but I would love for Cav to win this .

I don't think Cav will win. I remember one of the f1 "champions" - was the "heavy favorite" one year, and another one the next year, and they both lost.

And unfortunately guy driving fast car > 10 TDF titles.

Also I remember in 2009 one of the articles I read dismissed him with the words " should not win this title in a non olympic year".

But if winning it could raise Cav's profile in this country, and make him maybe one of the big names and faces on advertising boards around the country going into the olympics, bring it on.

 

[Ferminal]

Cav should have won it in '09, but I guess the "lesser" achievements aren't enough for the fans.

For the same reason, Donald will not win this year, despite being dominant.

Technically some of Cook's best achievements were Nov-Dec 2010, and cricketers don't win it often - not sure he quite has the "personality" of Fred.

Cav "should" win, so I guess that means Murray will.

 

[Ragerod]

Cav or Farah should win. The golfers will take votes off each other.

It's been a farce ever since they removed the panel and has become a popularity contest rather than recognising top athletes. I'm not buying this Murray deserves to be on list because he reached 4 semis. In another year perhaps but not when Alistair Brownlee has dominated triathlons and Chrissie Wellington is winning Ironman's with a torn peck.

 

[richtea]

That's just small fish though. He doesn't have quite what it takes to take up Djokovic as well by the way.

He beat Djoko in the final of Cincinnati this year, bageled Nadal in Tokyo final, leads the head to head against Federer, and won 2 more Masters titles this year to take his total to 8 and placing him joint 12th in the all time list of Masters winners. His year hasn't been that bad. But even if he won a slam, he wouldn't win SPOTY because he was once asked by Tim Henman who he was supporting in the World Cup and he said 'anyone but England.' This forum is sadly missing a :chin: smiley.

 

[therealtimshady]

Being a Brit I was embarrassed the year Ryan giggs won (2009) dispite doing nothing that year ( although his career has been successful), the same goes for ap McCoy for winning a race that every Brit win each year so don't expect the British public to vote for cav

 

[The Hitch]

Cav or Farah should win. The golfers will take votes off each other.

It's been a farce ever since they removed the panel and has become a popularity contest rather than recognising top athletes. I'm not buying this Murray deserves to be on list because he reached 4 semis. In another year perhaps but not when Alistair Brownlee has dominated triathlons and Chrissie Wellington is winning Ironman's with a torn peck.

Yeah Brownlee is maybe Britains top athlete, one of the worlds best too, so its sad not to see him get any recognition.

 

[ramjambunath]

Andrew Strauss

It would be mental if Donald doesn't beat either McIlroy or Clarke though he's been lightyears better than either of them this season and is on course for doing the money list double.

Cook is still my pick. Cavendish for top 3.

Criticism of the list of nominees-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/sports_personality/15936294.stm

 

[El Pistolero]

He beat Djoko in the final of Cincinnati this year, bageled Nadal in Tokyo final, leads the head to head against Federer, and won 2 more Masters titles this year to take his total to 8 and placing him joint 12th in the all time list of Masters winners. His year hasn't been that bad. But even if he won a slam, he wouldn't win SPOTY because he was once asked by Tim Henman who he was supporting in the World Cup and he said 'anyone but England.' This forum is sadly missing a :chin: smiley.

That's all nice and all, but he reminds me of Kim Clijsters before her come-back. Choking on the important moments that matter like a final of a Grand Slam. And if memory serves me correctly, Djokovic was injured.

 

[sublimit]

That's all nice and all, but he reminds me of Kim Clijsters before her come-back. Choking on the important moments that matter like a final of a Grand Slam. And if memory serves me correctly, Djokovic was injured.

Perhaps, I'm not sure he choked as such but the fact he hasn't won a set in a grand slam final suggests that.

Djokovic retired early in the second set in Murrays win over him this year so yes.

 

[supercameron]

this award can be sometimes rigged. I know in the past there have been campaigns in Australia for everybody to vote for Tim Henman so that Jonny Wilkinson wouldn't win. Even though this wasnt successful in this case, it could have been done like this in other years. I think they stopped this from happening now because its no longer an online poll

 

[richtea]

That's all nice and all, but he reminds me of Kim Clijsters before her come-back. Choking on the important moments that matter like a final of a Grand Slam. And if memory serves me correctly, Djokovic was injured.

I don't disagree with what you are saying about Murray. However, Djokovic has priors for retiring when he is losing. If you need convincing the Djokovic doesn't have completely have the measure of Murray, you could always go back to the last time they met before the 2011 AO, when Murray beat him easily in the final of Miami 09 - another prestigious tournament.

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't disagree with what you are saying about Murray. However, Djokovic has priors for retiring when he is losing. If you need convincing the Djokovic doesn't have completely have the measure of Murray, you could always go back to the last time they met before the 2011 AO, when Murray beat him easily in the final of Miami 09 - another prestigious tournament.

Djokovic is on a whole other level since 2009 though.

 

[Andy99]

Cav receiving his MBE today...

 

[The Hitch]

Djokovic is on a whole other level since 2009 though.

Pistolero broad unresearched statements come again.

Murray was equal to or maybe even better than Djokovic in 2009.

Novak had just changed his racket due to a new sponsorship deal with Head and was struggling.

Djokivic won Paris Masters and got to semis of US Open, but then Murray won Miami (beating Djokovic) and made semis of Wimbledon.

Djokovic showed great form only on clay, especially in the greatest match ever at Madrid Masters sf where he outclassed Nadal but still lost. ( it was the match that killed Nadal for the rest of the season).

But he definately was not on a different level in 2009. Hell even in 2010 only towards the end did we see Novak edge clear as he made the final of US (Murray had made final of AO) and the new Djokovic was confirmed only in 2011 when he beat Murray in straight sets at the AO.

 

[El Pistolero]

Pistolero broad unresearched statements come again.

Murray was equal to or maybe even better than Djokovic in 2009.

Novak had just changed his racket due to a new sponsorship deal with Head and was struggling.

Djokivic won Paris Masters and got to semis of US Open, but then Murray won Miami (beating Djokovic) and made semis of Wimbledon.

Djokovic showed great form only on clay, especially in the greatest match ever at Madrid Masters sf where he outclassed Nadal but still lost. ( it was the match that killed Nadal for the rest of the season).

But he definately was not on a different level in 2009. Hell even in 2010 only towards the end did we see Novak edge clear as he made the final of US (Murray had made final of AO) and the new Djokovic was confirmed only in 2011 when he beat Murray in straight sets at the AO.

I meant that Djokovic nowadays is on a whole different level from his 2009 days. Accidently forgot to put in the "nowadays". Just look at the "Is Nadal doping?" thread in the clinic where I'm talking about how weird it is Djokovic is all of a sudden so much better than he was before 2011.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=678883&postcount=389

Thanks for the lecture I never asked for and already long knew though.

 

[The Hitch]

Thanks for the lecture I never asked for and already long knew though.

So its my fault you said something you didnt mean

 

[mb2612]

Cav has been going all out for this, he's been in the press with interviews a lot in the past couple of weeks, and I think he knows it's probably his best ever chance.

After this year he will always be a former world champ, and so people won't vote for him, as it won't be his best ever year.

So if he doesn't win this year I can't see him ever winning it, unless Britain have a really poor year, or he wins the next flat worlds (in 2016???)

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Cav has been going all out for this, he's been in the press with interviews a lot in the past couple of weeks, and I think he knows it's probably his best ever chance.

After this year he will always be a former world champ, and so people won't vote for him, as it won't be his best ever year.

So if he doesn't win this year I can't see him ever winning it, unless Britain have a really poor year, or he wins the next flat worlds (in 2016???)

Or he wins the first gold medal of the home Olympics.

 

[richtea]

especially in the greatest match ever at Madrid Masters sf where he outclassed Nadal but still lost.

One of the most over-rated tennis matches in my opinion, the reasons it went on so long include the surface, perpetual low risk moonballing from both players, and their protracted serving habits. They should ditch clay, bring back carpet, and maybe we could say goodbye to these dull baseline marathons.

 

[richtea]

I'm talking about how weird it is Djokovic is all of a sudden so much better than he was before 2011.

I refuse to accept it. Everyone else must have just got worse. Good to see him back to normal at the WTFs though.

 

[The Hitch]

One of the most over-rated tennis matches in my opinion, the reasons it went on so long include the surface, perpetual low risk moonballing from both players, and their protracted serving habits. They should ditch clay, bring back carpet, and maybe we could say goodbye to these dull baseline marathons.

Djokovic was not behind at any time in the match right up untill the moment Nadal got a match point. Even when it was level Djokovic in all his service games always won the first point and if Nadal got back to 15-15 or 30-30 or even Deuce, Djokovic would always win the next point hence not be behind.

And he still lost.

It really was some stat.

Anyway, lets move this to another thread.

For someone who has one of those mod passes that I am lacking, here - http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?p=736401#post736401

 

[Thomsena]

Or he wins the first gold medal of the home Olympics.

He wont be the only brit to win gold at the olympics though.

 

[AngusW]

Congratulations to Cav on receiving his MBE. I'm not sure exactly how much it meant to him because despite dressing in a suit and brushing/gel-ing his hair he couldn't be bothered having a shave. It's not like he was told at the last moment "Hey, Cav, get up, you've won an MBE, you've got 5 minutes to get your *** down to Buck House!'" "Crikey! Where's me suit? Oh ****e, no time to shave. How does me hair look?"

I've always thought that the wording of the MBE rationale "for services to the sport of <insert sport name>" was somewhat misleading. For me, the ones who actually do a real service to the sport are the unpaid, often unthanked, volunteers at club level (and higher) who spend heaps of their time (and money too, often) organising events for the athletes themselves simply for the love of the sport and a sense of community. Cav, while winning cycle races, is actually doing a service for himself, rather than the sport of cycling, by getting bonuses and increasing his market value.

I'm not knocking Cav for winning races or being awarded an MBE. It's in his job description to win bike races as often as possible and he may be performing a service to the sport in getting heaps of young people inspired enough to take up the sport of cycling. I'm just saying that perhaps it's time to change the wording of why the MBE is awarded to top sportsmen/women. Something like "...for being really, really good in the sport of <insert>"?