Andy Murray - SPOTY

Drew · Nov 2, 2008

RE: Andy Murray - SPOTY

steven · Tennis legend

Even as a non-Scot, I agree with Drew - Hoy provides his own power, and he has achieved something spectacular that you can only do at most once every four years. It's a great achievement for Hamilton, for sure, but he wouldn't be in the position of having a chance of winning the title if he wasn't in one of the teams with the best cars.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I'd rather it went to one of the Olympic medal winners. My husband is an avid F1 fan so I follow it too - but winning is so definitely affected by which car you drive. As with eventing etc being affected by how good a horse you are rich/lucky enough to have.

I think sports personality awards should be awarded to the type of sports where person beats person(s). And while I would love Andy to have it, I'll happily wait for the GS win. Rusedski was just lucky there wasn't much competition the year he won SPOTY.

Edit - oops, I started replying without seeing there was another page, so I have said pretty much what Steven said. That's the trouble with being without internet for a few days and having so much catching-up to do!

-- Edited by Madeline at 22:01, 2008-11-02

indiana · Tennis legend

freerider wrote:

lucky or not today he still got to the position to win the championship so i think he deserves SPOTY

I fear that Lewis may well win SPOTY.

But re Formula One, looked at logically Massa was in many ways the driver of the year. He had much more bad liuck re mechanical failures and the recent farce with the refuelling rig when he was winning a Grand Prix and ended with nothing.

I am aware that there have been one or two strange FIA decisions, penalising Lewis and not penalising Massa, but I think overall Massa has suffered much more from bad luck.

But still great acheivement at such a young age to be second best driver of the year and to manage to sneak the title.

Murray or Hoy would be my SPOTY ( and I honestly don't think that is national biasedness ), but I suspect it will be Hamilton or Adlington.

wolf · Tennis legend

I think alll the Scots voting for Hoy might swing the percentages.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, maybe, but it is in a more worth cause than the crap singers we keep helping to win reality shows biggrin

Drew · Nov 3, 2008

Andy has 'backed' LH to win...oh dear !

Source : BBC

jamatthews · Strong Club Player

Officiallly nominated...

indiana · Tennis legend

I have just seen the final voting figures on the BBC Sport Website.

As expected, there were only ever 3 folk seriously in with a chance. I was glad of these three that Chris Hoy won, and surprised by quite his margin of victory.

I think the cycling world had nade it fairly clear they wanted Chris to win, so the cycling vote wasn't really split, and anyway the others just naturally suffer by direct comparison of achievement in the same sport. So, in many ways, the other three cyclists are a bit unfortunate. Wiggins wins two golds and Romero wins Olympic cycling gold after a silver medal four years ago in rowing, and they end up the bottom two on the shortlist But anyway, it looks like Chris was by far the popular overall choice.

Andy came 6th.

Vote result:

Chris Hoy 283,630 votes
Lewis Hamilton 163,864
Rebecca Adlington 145,924
Ben Ainslie 35,472
Joe Calzaghe 34,077
Andy Murray 19,415
Nicole Cooke 18,256
Christine Ohuruogu 7,677
Bradley Wiggins 5,633
Rebecca Romero 4,526

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh, and to echo Gary's earlier thoughts, she may not have been on the shortlist ( because she wasn't given a chance to win all the Olympic golds she very likely would have, if all her world events were included ! )

But just how gorgeous was Victoria Pembleton sounding and looking !!!!

Her acceptance speech for the team of the year award err got my attention biggrin

-- Edited by indiana at 14:14, 2008-12-15

Count Zero · Tennis legend

it was a tough year. with such a great performance in the olympics it was going to be hard on thew otehr serious contenders. as we know greg won it in a year he achieved less than Andy (although most would agree Greg comes across as more likeable from a TV perspective). Also for Lewis again winning a WDC, and being the youngest ever to do so (not even mentioning the colour of his skin) was outstanding and again almost certainly a winner in any other year.

Still Lewis and Andy can pull a Harry Enfield on the Olympians and point out 'We are considerably richer than yow' :)

Count Zero · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:

But just how gorgeous was Victoria Pembleton sounding and looking !!!!

yeah, for a professional athlete she is very hot.

helki · Futures qualifying

I wanted Ben Ainslie to win, but knew he wouldn't, so I'm pleased he reached as high as 4th. That aside, I have no quarrel with Chris Hoy winning. He appears to be a most personable man. I would have liked Rebecca to have finished as runner-up, she had no help from machines of any description in winning two golds, and that I find admirable.

Drew · Dec 15, 2008

The Beeb were trailing it all day on the radio 'Adlington' the favourite....???

Well done Chris !!!

(Andy back in 6th not bad when you look at the good year for the olympic team)

James · Satellite level

The right winner overall I think.

I don't agree with Heiki's comment about machines though, the fitness and dedication levels that have been achieved by Chris Hoy and Lewis Hamilton will no doubt replicate those of Rebecca Adlington, so what difference does it make if there were machines involved; their competitors had the same equipment.

-- Edited by James at 00:37, 2008-12-16