posted Dec 15, 2008

Being a cycling fan I'm realy please with all the awards that the Cyclists recieved, they have had a fantastic year and not just at the Olympics.

I also thought Eleanor Simmmons worthy and felt it would have been a mis-justice for her not to win.

Maybe I nodded off for a second or two but I don't recall Mark Cavendish getting a mention, 4 wins in the Tour De France and not a bean of recognition!

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posted Dec 15, 2008

krautbeckerfan- So there are only 22 Racing drivers in the world then? What about the hundreds of racing drivers that haven't made it to F1? As for those that say F1 isn't a sport, they have no idea what they are on about. Imaging being in an f1 cockpit that is 60degrees, wearing thick fireproof overalls, whilst being subjected to G-force that makes you 5 times heavier, for 2 hours. You have to be incredibly fit be an F1 driver.

This years SPOTY award could have been won by anyone. You can argue a case for almost all the final contenders.
PS- English League and European Cup champions don't win team of the year? EH? WTF?

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posted Dec 15, 2008

Where is Mark Cavendish? First British rider to win four stages at the Tour de France and part of the British Cycling Team. When people who do not follow professional cycling like I do say to you "Strange not to see Mark Cavendish last night" something must be wrong. All that cycling success and he is missed. Shame on the BBC!

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posted Dec 15, 2008

Cavendish was mentioned during the show. Perhaps he wasn't there because he couldn't be? I noticed several other people missing including Olympic Gold medalists.

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posted Dec 15, 2008

I think the award's emphasis is on "personality" which translates to more popular sports (meaning those that have media coverage) so it is difficult for the athletes in some obscure sports to get recognition let alone be nominated, however worthy or good they are at their chosen sports.

The cyclists probably wouldn't even get a mention had it not been an olympic year and Rebecca Adlington and Nicole Cooke are included in that category. They were probably only well known by a small circle of their sports' followers and their family and friends.

And you can't give awards to everyone who's worthy ---- there's only one winner and the winner is the one who got voted by the public, so that's the way it is.

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posted Dec 15, 2008

When I see a young woman like Eleanor Simmonds claiming two gold medals and being recognized for it brings tears to my eyes.I remember growing up in the UK immediately after the war and people with challenges were kept out of the public eye and patronized as capable of contributing nothing. How things have changed and we have seen how special people can and do achieve greatness in all walks of life. Wonderful story. Congratulations Eleanor. 

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posted Dec 15, 2008

Whilst I applaud the obvious success of the GB cycling team, would it not have been more fitting to give the team trophy to the whole Team GB. This would recognise the brilliance of many athletes, Olympic and Paralympic in many different sports. To me, many of these athletes have not been nationally recognised for the amazing feat they put them through earlier this year. If it weren't for Ellie, Paralympic athletes would not have had a mention, yet 'we' won more Gold medals in the Para's than Olmpic medals combined and with a fraction of the funding.

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posted Dec 16, 2008

I did not say that at all. Read again, carefully this time. I have never seen more than 22 in an F1 race. And to be honest, I could not name more than the current crop of 22 F1 drivers. I used to enjoy F1 in the days of Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark, and even James "Hunt the Shunt", before technology took over. But it has been a boring procession for years.
It does not matter. On the night, just about any of the top 4 or 5, or even 10, probably would have been worthy winners.

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posted Dec 17, 2008

Adlington should have won. Hoy should have come second. still when you let the public vote that's the chance you take. all the other awards went to the right people.

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posted Dec 17, 2008

have to say Pendleton should have been nominated. If she had 3 events like Hoy, she would have won the lot too. If that had been the case she could have even won the big one.

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