SPOTY AWARD

axisus

Dontgiveupyourdayjob said:

My vote would be 100% for Lewis Hamilton. 5 x World Champion, 

I can see that as a great achievement, and he appears to be the best driver of his generation, but my opinion is coloured by the fact that he is usually in the best car, and generally the best car wins. It is the single sport with the most un-level playing field. It's a bit like the Jockey who wins the Grand National, it IS a great achievement but lets be honest, the horse does the 'donkey work'.

Hattigol

Geraint Thomas should definitely get the 'Bradley Wiggins Award for Best Doping Concealer' for his efforts this year.
And I hope he remembers to give a special thanks to his medical team in his speech.

crunchman

Hattigol said:

Geraint Thomas should definitely get the 'Bradley Wiggins Award for Best Doping Concealer' for his efforts this year.
And I hope he remembers to give a special thanks to his medical team in his speech.

Bring back facepalms

Hattigol

crunchman said:

Hattigol said:

Geraint Thomas should definitely get the 'Bradley Wiggins Award for Best Doping Concealer' for his efforts this year.
And I hope he remembers to give a special thanks to his medical team in his speech.

Bring back facepalms

And maybe a 'naivety' button for anyone who doesn't think that professional cyclists only win when they take performance-enhancing drugs.

Mark_R

Hattigol said:

Geraint Thomas should definitely get the 'Bradley Wiggins Award for Best Doping Concealer' for his efforts this year.
And I hope he remembers to give a special thanks to his medical team in his speech.

Don't be naive, all professional sport involves drugs.  All athletes take anti inflammatory and pain killers. typically by injection into the prone area.  Motorsport is one of the biggest offenders.  No driver ever walks away unhurt from a smash, there is always bruised ribs from the restraints, internal bruising/bleeding from massive deceleration.

This is doping, you are boosting your performance through hiding the pain.  You try cycling 1,800 miles in three weeks without the odd injury, or driving a car with the safety harness squashing your bruised lungs and keeping concentration.....

Hattigol

Mark_R said:

Hattigol said:

Geraint Thomas should definitely get the 'Bradley Wiggins Award for Best Doping Concealer' for his efforts this year.
And I hope he remembers to give a special thanks to his medical team in his speech.

Don't be naive, all professional sport involves drugs.  All athletes take anti inflammatory and pain killers. typically by injection into the prone area.  Motorsport is one of the biggest offenders.  No driver ever walks away unhurt from a smash, there is always bruised ribs from the restraints, internal bruising/bleeding from massive deceleration.

This is doping, you are boosting your performance through hiding the pain.  You try cycling 1,800 miles in three weeks without the odd injury, or driving a car with the safety harness squashing your bruised lungs and keeping concentration.....

I'm being called naive for suggesting that professional cyclists are dopers?

Philly_Q

She won't win, but I'd vote for Dina Asher-Smith. 

Fantastic achievements in 2018 and she also seems like a very intelligent, modest, likeable person - it is called sports personality, after all.

crunchman

Philly_Q said:

She won't win, but I'd vote for Dina Asher-Smith. 

Fantastic achievements in 2018 and she also seems like a very intelligent, modest, likeable person - it is called sports personality, after all.

Not sure I'd put her ahead of Thomas, but definitely in the top 3 or 4.

At least the BBC will be putting her on the shortlist for the right reasons, rather than the usual token women so they don't get complaints in the Grauniad about an all male short list.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

axisus said:

Dontgiveupyourdayjob said:

My vote would be 100% for Lewis Hamilton. 5 x World Champion, 

I can see that as a great achievement, and he appears to be the best driver of his generation, but my opinion is coloured by the fact that he is usually in the best car, and generally the best car wins. It is the single sport with the most un-level playing field. It's a bit like the Jockey who wins the Grand National, it IS a great achievement but lets be honest, the horse does the 'donkey work'.

In some seasons that criticism would indeed be true, but this season the Mercedes was NOT definitively the best car. It chopped and changed from race to race, but for much of the season the Ferrari was stronger.

The fact that his team mate Bottas didn't win a single race (Hamilton won 11), got just one pole position (Hamilton got 11), and came 5th in overall standings (161pts behind LH) proves just how impressive Lewis was this season. Easily his best yet IMO.

Philly_Q

Gosh, why did they have to subject us to George Ezra at the end?  I'm only here to watch The Apprentice....

Deadman

Hamilton's get up. LOL.

mudslide73

Syrup?

Deadman

mudslide73 said:

Syrup?

I reckon so. Also into bullfighting.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Philly_Q said:

Gosh, why did they have to subject us to George Ezra at the end?  I'm only here to watch The Apprentice....

That was super awkward to watch! The winners were just kind of stood milling about on the stage wondering what the hell to do with themselves! V strange decision by the producers to end like that and not with the winner's speech being the closing note of the event.

Personally I think Lewis should have won for his Michael Jackson-esque outfit alone! 

Fretwired

Hattigol said:

I'm being called naive for suggesting that professional cyclists are dopers?

Thomas did appear on a 'likely' dopers list but you're innocent until proven guilty.

guitars4you

Nice to see the netball girls win 2 awards - I Have a wife + daughter who play on a regular basis in various leagues, but in the main stream media and sports channels it is very low key - So good for them to pick up such awards

rsvmark

guitars4you said:

So less than a week to go for the SPOTY award

A short list to be made available on the night and voted for live during the show

Surely Geraint is going to win it - I can see Lewis getting in the top 3, but surely Gee will win - Hope so

Interesting vote options for the Greatest Moment of the Year - I favour the netball girls for this

Coach award to G Southgate
Team award to the Netball team
World Vote and I can't get excited by either options

Life Time Achievment award - is it to early to give it to A Cook

Not a bad attempt Mark. Can you select my lottery numbers please?

nanoman

I missed it but did Rachel Atherton get a mention? Downhill mountain biking a bit too niche for a big prize but what she has achieved is incredible.

guitars4you

nanoman said:

I missed it but did Rachel Atherton get a mention? Downhill mountain biking a bit too niche for a big prize but what she has achieved is incredible.

They did mention one or two champions from 'niche' sports, but can't recall a mention for Rachel

guitars4you

rsvmark said:

guitars4you said:

So less than a week to go for the SPOTY award

A short list to be made available on the night and voted for live during the show

Surely Geraint is going to win it - I can see Lewis getting in the top 3, but surely Gee will win - Hope so

Interesting vote options for the Greatest Moment of the Year - I favour the netball girls for this

Coach award to G Southgate
Team award to the Netball team
World Vote and I can't get excited by either options

Life Time Achievement award - is it to early to give it to A Cook

Not a bad attempt Mark. Can you select my lottery numbers please?

As though I'd want to split 50/50 such a prize !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually picked the memorable moment as well, so nearly a full house - Went with the USA gymnast for overseas award following a tip of from my daughter, but my head was for Molinari - so nearly a full house

Good call for Billie Jean to take the life time achievement award