BBC Sports Personality of the Year

[Winrew]

[ONEDUNME]

I was hoping it was the name of a greyhound to be honest

[Winrew]

Well she is a dog if thats any help

[stereoman]

If Luke Donald at the US PGA last Sunday hadn't emulated Sergio Garcia's effort at the British Open he'd have been the frontrunner for BBC SpotY (even more so if he had fended off Tiger Woods for an unlikely win).

A golfer is unlikely to win it. Paul Lawrie couldn't even get onto the shortlist in 1999.

...as it is, it's fairly 'open'. If Andy Murray reached the semi-finals of the US Open that made just do it for him (hey, it worked for Greg Rusedski back in 1997).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/key...es/spoty.shtml

The main contenders for this year so far is a right ol' mess:

* Jenson Button (finally won a race)
* Steven Gerrard (match-saving performance in the FA Cup, not so good in the World Cup)
* Andy Murray (beat Roger Federer. Once. Does that make Rafael Nadal an automatic shoo-in for Overseas Personality of the Year then?)
* Monty Penesar (good performance against Pakistan in a couple of Tests. Whoo-bloody-hoo. Pakistan are hardly Australia.)

Ricky Hatton tentatively has a title defence against Juan Urango (WHO?!) scheduled on December 9th.
Joe Calzaghe has a title defence against Sakio Bika (WHO!?) on October 14th.

[stereoman]

Zara Phillips win equestrian gold. Oh dear God.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/othe...an/5291100.stm

William Hill adjusts their odds accordingly:

A Murray 2/1
Zara Phillips 3/1
M Panesar 7/2
S Gerrard 8/1
David Walliams 10/1
R Hatton 16/1
J Button 16/1
J Calzaghe 16/1
K Pietersen 25/1
J Terry 25/1
D Clarke 25/1
C Montgomerie 25/1
A Flintoff 25/1
S Harmison 25/1
N Cooke 33/1

[mrmuzeman]

Zara Phillips win equestrian gold. Oh dear God.

Please no

[stereoman]

Today's Bettingzone Market Moves:

1600: It's party time at the K Club where Europe have successfully defended the Ryder Cup against America.

They currently hold an unassailable 16-8 lead with a few matches left out on the course on what has been a glorious day for Ian Woosnam and his team.

Although the betting on this competition is over Darren Clarke is now the odds-on favourite at 5/6 on Betfair to win the Sports Personality of the Year award.

Equestrian world champion Zara Phillips had headed the market recently but she has now been pushed out from 13-8 favourite to 11-4 as money has poured in for Clarke since yesterday.

Clarke, who has just beaten Zach Johnson to complete a fine 100% record at the K Club, has been backed at a high of 249-1 on the Betfair market, with one punter striking a £15 bet at 199-1, and those who took those odds are sitting pretty.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said: "Clarke is the latest favourite on this market and, in my opinion, he is there to stay.

"In betting parlance, he ticks all the right boxes."

==========

If it was Darren Clarke who holed the winning putt and not Henrik Stenson, I would say yes, the BBC uh, I mean the public would be falling over themselves to vote for him.

Garcia did more and I thought Casey's contribution was far more important but hey, it's sentiment that counts.

[Swooperman]

I think Clarke is an absolute racing certainty for the award tbh, & I dont think anybody is close to him.

Through his own ordeal he has become the face of the team, much as Flintoff did in the Ashes last year (minus the ordeal bit ) & I dont think it matters a jot that he didnt hole the winning putt, although it would if it was really close but the fact is that its a hammering so it could have been anyone.
Its an event shown on BBC albeit only in highlight form, so it would be a popular win for the corporation, & the clincher is that its been a poor year in contenders for this award.
The public will give it to Clarke by a massive majority IMO, & lets just be thankful its not a royal win

[all_funkt_up]

Absolutely, it was written in the stars for Clarke. I bought 6 papers over the weekend to see how many column inches he got. Every single paper had a pikky of him crying. Ace.

I know its a bit mean to bet on him purely on the back of the tragedy that occurred but it seemed like a decent punt. It's human nature isnt it....?

This year's competition was wide open and crying out for a public figure to step forward and be the hero.

Should I lay off my bet now at odds on? It would save me waiting til december......

[edinlichtie]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

Should I lay off my bet now at odds on? It would save me waiting til december......

And save anything happening like Murray winning a major or something... (are there any majors left?!)

[stereoman]

No. Murray's got nothing left to play for. Ceremony's Sunday 10th December.

I doubt any cricketers can muster any kind of momentum in the first two Ashes Tests between 23rd-27th November and 1st-5th December.

[Swooperman]

The Ashes away tour never provides contenders for this award as its split over 2 years, so theres no chance there. If somebody had scored, say, 6 tons throughout the year & followed it with another 2 in the 1st 2 tests then that might clinch it I suppose. Bellys 3 on the trot wont do it or even come close, or even be mentioned in the same paragraph.

No, its Clarke I reckon. He'll be the housewives favourite after publicly mourning his wife & showing loyalty....& tbh i wouldnt begrudge the bloke whatever he gets even if its a tragedy that wins it for him if you see what I mean

[stereoman]

A year devoid of any real British sporting achievement (unless it's in minority sports) so it's one of 'em rogue years where personality plays.

Clarke's into 1/2 now...and he'll get even shorter. 25/1 four weeks ago and he was 5/1 a week or two before the Ryder Cup started. Yuck.

[stereoman]

Hmmm. Well despite Joe saying on BBC radio only last Friday about how SPotY rewards losers like Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman, some punters are having a punt on Joe to win it.

1500: Super-middleweight king Joe Calzaghe has been clipped into 12/1 from 16/1 by Ladbrokes for the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year Award.

The WBO and IBF champ, who has revealed that the award isn't high on his list of priorities, faces Sakio Bika on Saturday in the 19th defence of his WBO crown. And punters have begun to back the Welshman in increasing numbers for the accolade.

Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: "Calzaghe has spent the majority of his time fighting on Sky. His move to ITV has exposed him to a wider audience but he's really playing catch up in terms of exposure compared to other sporting stars.

"Not even his twelve-round destruction of Jeff Lacy made much of an impact in the betting but ironically his comments about not being bothered by the award have spurred his backers into action."

Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke remains the 2/5 favourite for the award.

[stereoman]

Yesterday's Bettingzone Market Moves:

1700: Joe Calzaghe has been backed from 20/1 to 10/1 third favourite with William Hill to win the BBC TV Sports Personality of the Year Award on the eve of his title fight against Sakio Bika.

Hills have taken a string of bets for the Welshman, including one of £1000 at 14/1 in a Scottish betting shop.

"Joe's win over Jeff Lacy was arguably the best individual sporting performance of the year and whether you like Joe or not you have to admit he has a strong personality, so he would be a worthy winner of the Award and a positive display against Bika can only enhance his claims," said Hills spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Hills make Calzaghe 1/20 to beat his opponent, who is an 8/1 chance with the draw 25/1.

Calzaghe, who is 9/4 to win on points, is 5/1 for a first round knockout.

===============

I don't understand the Joe Calzaghe gamble. It's the BBC not ITV giving the award. The BBC will almost assuredly give SPotY to Darren Clarke.