BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015

Even without the extra baggage I wouldn't have Fury anywhere near the top. Beating an ageing rival in a boxing category far from its glorious days... Not a patch on Peaty, Ennis-Hill, Froome, Whitlock or Armitstead.

I'm kind of guessing many don't know who the last two are. :wenger:
 
Amir said:
Even without the extra baggage I wouldn't have Fury anywhere near the top. Beating an ageing rival in a boxing category far from its glorious days... Not a patch on Peaty, Ennis-Hill, Froome, Whitlock or Armitstead.

I'm kind of guessing many don't know who the last two are. :wenger:
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Beating someone who's held the belts for ten years, in their "home" stadium, in a fight no-one gave you a chance in is a pretty big deal if you ask me.

And I think you'll find I do know who Whitlock is. I actually do know, but I can't bring myself to care.


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Tommy said:
Beating someone who's held the belts for ten years, in their "home" stadium, in a fight no-one gave you a chance in is a pretty big deal if you ask me.
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The fact that beating someone in their own place is considered special in boxing just shows the sports is a little twisted.

It may be a big deal. I just don't think it matches Peaty's achievements this year, and not just in the World Championships, Ennis coming back after giving birth and winning gold in the World Championships, Froome beating the best cyclists for the Tour de France or Whitlock's success in the Gymnastics World Championships. Farah too has done brilliantly again, though the competition in 5000 and 10,000 isn't what it used to.

I think those are just better sporting achievements, though some of those sports may not have the same visibility as a one-off big boxing fight.
 
I'll be honest, I watched Farah, Froome, & Ennis, but not Peaty or Whitlock.

It's not just about beating someone in their own place, though. Sure, it's a pretty big deal, because lets be honest, boxing judges are often corrupt as hell, but that's not the big deal here. It's like... Dave Chisnall soundly beating a prime Phil Taylor (albeit with an average of 85 :lol:).
 
Amir said:
The fact that beating someone in their own place is considered special in boxing just shows the sports is a little twisted.

It may be a big deal. I just don't think it matches Peaty's achievements this year, and not just in the World Championships, Ennis coming back after giving birth and winning gold in the World Championships, Froome beating the best cyclists for the Tour de France or Whitlock's success in the Gymnastics World Championships. Farah too has done brilliantly again, though the competition in 5000 and 10,000 isn't what it used to.

I think those are just better sporting achievements, though some of those sports may not have the same visibility as a one-off big boxing fight.
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How? People view beating United at Old Trafford as a bigger achievement than away from home. That's always the way things go. There's controversial decisions in any sport with regards to "home advantage." United always had the argument they got decisions in their favour at home for example. I'm not a fan of Fury as is evident in the boxing thread but I'll give him credit it was a perfectly executed performance.
 
Fury for an astonishing achievement against the odds.

Otherwise, I'd love to see Lizzie Armistead win. Reigning world champ and winner of the overall UCI Road World Cup. I've always enjoy watching her race.
 
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Oggmonster said:
How? People view beating United at Old Trafford as a bigger achievement than away from home. That's always the way things go. There's controversial decisions in any sport with regards to "home advantage." United always had the argument they got decisions in their favour at home for example. I'm not a fan of Fury as is evident in the boxing thread but I'll give him credit it was a perfectly executed performance.
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Home and away in football is far more than just a refereeing thing. I don't think boxing is like that, it's mostly about the judges, and it shouldn't be like that.

Yes, it was a fine performance., I wouldn't take anything away from Fury. I just wouldn't rate it - or his year - as bigger than what the other names I mentioned have done. He's done well, they've done better.
 
Amir said:
Home and away in football is far more than just a refereeing thing. I don't think boxing is like that, it's mostly about the judges, and it shouldn't be like that.

Yes, it was a fine performance., I wouldn't take anything away from Fury. I just wouldn't rate it - or his year - as bigger than what the other names I mentioned have done. He's done well, they've done better.
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I don't think you can say one achievement is better than another. It's all subjective and comparing achievements in different sports etc is fraught with difficulties. All would be worthy winners for a variety of reasons and so I'd have no issues whichver one of the contenders for the prize triumphs.

With Fury, His achievement is that he's gone and done what no one thought he could do, or what no one has been able to do in the last 10+ years and be the first British person since Lennox Lewis to be heavyweight champion of the world (2004). Froome has performed incredible feats, and being the cycling obsessive that I am, I'd love to see a cyclist win but maybe it's less surprising that he won given that SKY are a formidable team and victories in the TdF are never a solo effort. Andy Murray as great a tennis player he undoubtedly is, didn't win a grand slam this year although performed heroics as part of the Davis Cup team.

I think people can have all sorts of reasons why they would pick one over the rest. I wonder which achievement has captured the imagination of the voting public. It will be interesting to find out.....
 
It's obviously about opinions. I might actually give it to Whitlock, winning a Gold and Silver individually in the Gymnastics world champs and also leading Britain to Silver in the team competition. It's huge - and certainly not something Britain is used to.

I guess the likes of Ennis, Farah or Froome might pay a price for being brilliant for a while. Another World title or Tour title don't excite the public quite as much after you've already done that.

I don't think Fury will get it, though. I'd bet on the far more likable Ennis. It's got nothing to do with sports, but it will make a difference. The fact Fury's achievement is the more recent might play a part as well, I guess.
 
Fury won't win it. It's a public voted award, isn't it? The media will make sure he's nowhere near winning it.
 
sewey89 said:
Fury won't win it. It's a public voted award, isn't it? The media will make sure he's nowhere near winning it.
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Why "the media"? Do you not think most people would have a problem with voting for someone so obviously obnoxious anyway? Hardly the media's fault for reporting stuff he actually said.
 
sullydnl said:
Why "the media"? Do you not think most people would have a problem with voting for someone so obviously obnoxious anyway? Hardly the media's fault for reporting stuff he actually said.
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I think it's voted for by the media. Not the public.
 
sullydnl said:
Why "the media"? Do you not think most people would have a problem with voting for someone so obviously obnoxious anyway? Hardly the media's fault for reporting stuff he actually said.
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I meant the media, more so for the voters, I don't get the impression that the average SPOTY voter is an avid boxing fan so therefore, they'll only know Fury from how he's portrayed in the media.. Which is a class clown and a homophobe.

I'm not saying he isn't either of those things, I'm not a fan of his at all, but if it was a boxing award, he'd win it on merit, where as his achievements will be shadowed by his antics, I feel.
 
Joe Root should be on this list

Part of winning Ashes side
Top English run scorer in the series
Scored 1288 test runs in 2015 at an average of 61.33
Currently ranked #1 batsman int he world

not too mention the 723 runs at an average of 42.52 in ODIs
 
sewey89 said:
I meant the media, more so for the voters, I don't get the impression that the average SPOTY voter is an avid boxing fan so therefore, they'll only know Fury from how he's portrayed in the media.. Which is a class clown and a homophobe.

I'm not saying he isn't either of those things, I'm not a fan of his at all, but if it was a boxing award, he'd win it on merit, where as his achievements will be shadowed by his antics, I feel.
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But being the unified HW champ of the world is almost always been an iconic status, don't think it can be underestimated.
 
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I'd put some cash on Fury. Boxing fans are known to back their men when it comes to this award and the backlash against him will only increase their desire to vote in droves.
 
:lol: .His views on women belong in the dark ages.But there is no doubt he is a personality.
 
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Is it bad that I don't know most of the people?
 
Tommy said:
Beating someone who's held the belts for ten years, in their "home" stadium, in a fight no-one gave you a chance in is a pretty big deal if you ask me.

And I think you'll find I do know who Whitlock is. I actually do know, but I can't bring myself to care.


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Looks like a younger version, before starting a life of crime.

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Some people in this thread seem to be mistaking "having a personality" with "being a fecking moron".
 
If a footballer said the stuff Fury has about women or gay people, they'd be banned and fined.

Becoming the world heavyweight champ is is a fantastic achievement (even in this age of shitty heavyweights) but he is a moron. I don't think he should be banned from the voting but it saddens me that anyone would vote for him.
 
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