Campaign against Tyson Fury being on BBC SPOTY shortlist

BBC being questioned about nomination and Fury being questioned on hate speech. Good.

Agreed Helmet - I would be very happy to support the contest being disbanded. It seems so surreal - these are sports people who have all spent most of the year winning, they wouldn't be in contention otherwise. So having already won prizes we have to award them a prize for winning prizes? Eh? It's not the Oscars, Meryl Streep doesn't get a prize at the end of the film just for finishing it in record time or whatever! (Although clearly she should).

Well said Clive. It really does take men make to call this out.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/08/bbc-presenter-calls-boxer-tyson-fury-dickhead-on-live-tv

Well, remember the year not one woman had a single sporting achievement? (Despite many women doing rather well) Or perhaps it meant no woman had a ...er sports personality? That was lousy selection. I see they've changed their selection process for the better - as they should.

I wouldn't block him though. Give the guy enough rope, etc, etc.

I would play down the importance of this contest. Like, what was it? Glamours women of the year: this sort of thing is meaningless, self-promoting pap.

It's the word 'personality' that makes it seem as thought there should be more than just sporting achievements involved.

He is a vile creature, spouting off and antagonising so many people and then hiding behind his uncle and a book. Not very brave for a pugilist!

If he wins, he wins. But he will still be the kind of man we read about every day... sees nothing wrong with the domestic subjugation of women and equates non traditional masculinity with weakness and deviancy.

The selection is based on sporting achievements, not opinions, or should be. 40 years ago, the internet would be having a discussion about whether a gay athlete should be on the list, now we discuss whether one is homophobic.
They should go on the list for sporting achievement and then the public decide depending on their own criteria.

Carol, I'd be very surprised if the BBC would have endorsed eg a white sports star in this way (by short listing him) if they'd said, for example, "black runners are fast because they trained by running away from crime scenes"

This isn't a "public" vote in the way that a council election is; the Bbc are preselecting the short list and this selection is misguided.

Ds wants to vote for Lucy Bronze

I've never heard of him.

I have however heard of Jessica Ennis-Hill which says a lot.

Should the contenders for a public vote be censored due to political views? Where does it end and who decides what is wrong enough to be taken off the list?
If the public disagree with his views, they will not vote for him, if they do, they do - banning him will not change the voters minds or opinions.

I've signed. I doubt it will actually do anything, but i want to be counted amongst those who think this is Not On. Thanks for the link, i'd been meaning to look for it when i saw it on the news

As a random side question, does change.org think that anyone else is spanish, or just me?

OneMoreCasualty, yes Lucy Bronze is on the shortlist, quite rightly so.

He won't win anyway thankfully. Murray is a cert this year

I've met him. He's a creature. (as I said before)

Interesting blog about the language he uses here

Don't know how true this is but there was a thread on another forum about meeting celebs and his name came up alot.

His public persona seems to be just an act as loads of people said how nice he was irl and was nothing like he portrays himself in public.

But I also read on a sports forum that he was a late replacement in the awards due to winning the title. His spot was originally for Joe root

On the Victoria Derbyshire show this morning is Tyson Fury's uncle presumably defending his nephew. Also of interest is an interview Tara Hudson.

Bugger, just saw, next trial date is April

Sadly some of the comments on the Victoria Derbyshire, BBC2 now, don't seem to agree that he is a pillock.

One man quoted as saying he is a breath of fresh air...

Oscar Pistorious at the moment, got bail, will be home for Christmas...

Going on the shortlist implies he's one of the top 12, it's an accolade on itself

Personality does imply something beyond achievement though eg supporting youth teams etc. It's a Miss World for sports!

Are any of the third placed World Cup squad on the list? That was a great achievement.

Love your name helmet!

Mm, I guess they want him removed from the shortlist to avoid the danger of him winning...

Yes, sporting person/achiever/achievement of the year would be a better title.

I actually don't think he should be removed from the shortlist. I have faith that the vast majority of people have no time for such blatant homophobic /misogynist shite and I'd like to think this will show when people vote for their favourite, without Fury being able to act hard done by for being removed for his 'beliefs'.
I'm usually a bit more cynical than this though. I think one too many Christmas movies has given me a temporarily optimistic view of society.

I wonder why it's not sports person of the year, instead of personality?

I've always thought Sports personality of the year was crap.

You could say they court controversy...

I just think sports and personality just don't work well together. EG. Andy Murray is fantastic but personality of the year, in any field, he really isn't...

Oh can't vote yet. Have consoled myself with a vote for Serena on overseas personality.

Urgh, what a prick. Off to vote for JEH, who deserves it for her sport, her Ched Evans stance and her all round awesomeness.