BBC Sports Personality of the year - the shortlist

[NorthernLurker]

Announced yesterday - 10 men, 2 women. Now is it me or is that a woefully poor number of women on the shortlist? Last year there were 5. In 2011 there was a fuss about the all male list and a BBC statement said "The current system was introduced in 2006 and at least two women have always previously been shortlisted for the main award" So the system was changed and this year, the second year it's been in operation two women have been shortlisted.....is that the minimum they reckon they can get away with

From memort I think the women's cricket team had a successful ashes too - but no nomination for one of the team there. Who would you want to have see nominated?

[CuntyBunty]

No; I am not into watching sport, whether male or female, but that is just my point, Rose, it is less likely that the general populace would be able to name the female Wimbledon champion, than the male counter part. Does that make sense? I couldn't name either, as I am not a sports watcher though.

[CaptChaos]

Current women's champ Wimbledon 2013, Marion Bartoli

She got all kinds of shit from such delights as John Inverdale for being ugly and not sexy, because female sportspeople are supposed to be good at sport and eye candy, whereas men just have to be good at their chosen sport.

There shouldn't be more women on the list just to make it equal, there should be more women on the list because there are more than 2 outstanding female sportspeople this year.

[CuntyBunty]

Fair play Capt. I remember JI being an absolute wankshaft about that. It was fucking outrageous that he kept his job.

[ivykaty44]

One of the reason I admire Laura trot - she was asked along to the sexiest woman in the world some such show - she turned them down apparently as she said she is a cyclist and thats what she wants to do - cycle competitively

[snowshepherd]

I don't get why Ben Ainsley is nominated. Is the Americas cup really a big deal? He was part of a team of about 20.

[MillyMollyMama]

I don't get Ian Bell, Halfpenny or Rose. No massive achievements from any of them in comparison to Mo Farrah or Andy Murray. I would be sorry to see Mo not get it again, but I bet Andy wins.

As for women, they have to achieve on a world stage to get included. Women's cricket, football, netball are just not big enough sports. I am afraid I find women's football like lowly non league mens football in quality. That is the problem. It is not good enough to be watched. We all watch our best female athletes, rowers, equestrian sports women and cyclists though as they are at the top of their game, are exciting and win. I like sport to be high quality and that is why the best should be on tv. It is not just about women vs men, it is about high class sport that people actually want to watch. Perhaps someone should start a women only sport channel? And, iron women sports go on for hours, and hours and hours. Not good to watch so Chrissy Wellington was always in a minority, American based, sport. It would be a bit like voting for a female NASCAR driver!

[Charlesroi]

JumpingJackSprat I agree Charlotte Dujardin should have been on there - I don't know what else she's got to do! Horse sports hardly ever get a look in unless it Zara or her mum (not their fault) or AP.(who should win, but won't) Ironic as it's one of the few sports where men and women compete against each other.

[Panzee]

snowshepherd the team were losing badly till Ainsley turned up, and turned them around, IIRC.

[NorthernLurker]

Oooh just seen this is on discussions of the day .

I think there should be more female nominees in general and the fact that there aren't shows that women's sport is gereally lower profile. Specifically this year there are women - as nominated on this thread - who have excelled to a similar degree to the men who have been nominated. And yet the nominations still break down men - 10 and women 2.

Regarding personality I thought Andy showed a lot of personality on that documentary. He loves his dogs, he's very driven and when asked about the most horrible, awful thing to happen to his friends and home town he became incapable of speech. Sure when totally knackered after winning the top grand slam in the world and fulfilling a nation's expectations he was a bit punch drunk but basically yes he's a nice bloke.

[Floralnomad]

Northern I agree totally about Andy ,and why should he hug his mum anyway he has got a girlfriend and a dad and numerous other people who support him as well ,it's hardly his fault that the only person in his entourage that the general public 'know' is his very pushy ,attention seeking mother !

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Well, maybe we should be more accepting of individual differences and not judge people so much on their personalities, but if so why call it "Sports Personality of the Year"?

[Biggedybiggedybongsoitis]

I wonder if the 'personality' attribute comes from the days when British athletes achieved less on a world stage? They couldn't refer to actual achievements as much back in the day, maybe?

[Metebelis3]

Laura Trott should be nominated. She should have been nominated - and should have won - last year. It's outrageous she has been overlooked.

But - and I follow a huge amount of sport - I can't think of any other woman who has performed particularly outstandingly on the world stage this year.

[Metebelis3]

The Americas cup is a HUGE deal and Ainslie arguably deserves to win. But he won't because Murray (who would have been a more deserving winner last year than this) will win.

[posheroo]

I like sport but BBC is overloaded with it, Men on top presumably

[posheroo]

I think Murray mint will win the vote easily

[snowshepherd]

Top three should be Murray, rose, froome.

[Slimchance]

It's got to be AP surely? The obscure genius.

Agree with Jumpingjacksprat and Charlesroi too!

[snowshepherd]

You could argue for AP but you need to get the correct rides. It's not a level playing field. You must admire his hard work and sacrifice to make weight but personally I think sports like motor racing and horse racing rely too much on the horse or car.

[Biggedybiggedybongsoitis]

What about bravery? It takes huge guts to race a car or a horse flat out - far mores than seining a tennis bat or kicking a ball, or even running round a track.

[snowshepherd]

I don't think they judge on bravery. I'm not sure how many jockeys died last year, I know it's a lot less than horses. They are rewarded well for their choice of sport. It would be interesting how many would do it with out the payment.
You could argue that many paralympians are more brave.

[Panzee]

I don't even consider horse racing a sport.

:o

[Metebelis3]

Tennis is one of mentally toughest sports there is. Racing? Isn't. Not for the riders anyway. Also, tennis isn't cruel. And shouldn't be banned. Racing is and should.

[Biggedybiggedybongsoitis]

Horse riding scared the shit out of me