BBC Sports Personality of the Year

[stereoman]

Stan James are taking the Joe Calzaghe gamble with a fair amount of seriousness probably anticipating that Joe will win tonight's fight and the possible money going on Calzaghe after the fight's over.

[stereoman]

Hmmm. Yesterday's Bettingzone Market Moves:

1100: Zara Phillips has been cut from 3/1 to 9/4 to win the Sports Personality of the Year award, according to Ladbrokes.

The 25-year-old has been the main beneficiary of Joe Calzaghe's unimpressive win over Sakio Bika on Saturday night and rumours that Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke does not wish to be considered for the gong.

Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: "Support for Zara Phillips is almost by default. The rumours surrounding Clarke's position on Saturday led to Calzaghe being backed from 12/1 through 7/1 and 6/1 into 5/1."

"But after an uninspiring victory against an albeit awkward Bika, Calzaghe's price has gone for a wander out to 7/1. And Zara Phillips has picked up the pieces."

Darren Clarke remains the 8/13 (from 2/5) favourite to win the award, while it's 16/1 about tennis star Andrew Murray and 20/1 that England's new spin king Monty Panesar gets the vote.

[Pie-chucker]

Don't fully understand the fixing of the voting system. A fisherman keeps getting votes or something?

Clarke has everything to win this. In the bag. There's only one small danger and that is Monty (Panesar, you goofs ). He'll be playing in Adelaide 2nd Test in the week of this prog -- possible spinner's wicket -- and if picks up serious wickets and there's (more) Ashes momentum he could be a dark horse.

He's a turbaned, loveable chap, England multi-culturalism and all that. Retiring chap except when he takes a wicket and he's wide-eyed in wonder of the thrill of it all and could get front-page pics.

Against him most certainly is cricket repeat (Fred last year), and link-up acceptance (Fred last year).

but am no expert on these TV vote things. At all.

[Swooperman]

Cant see it Pie. The Ashes away never makes an impact on this award unless someones scored 6 tons on the bounce & then gets runs in the opening tests. Cant see how Monty can get it off 1 test anyway, but I can beleive Clarke wants no part of it tbh, as its a death that puts him in line for it.

[stereoman]

News ro me that Darren Clarke wants no part of SPotY.

[stereoman]

Bluff? Counter-bluff? What the fuck? Today's Bettingzone Market Moves:

1100: Darren Clarke continues to attract support for the Sports Personality of the Year award, according to Ladbrokes, despite uncertainty as to whether he wishes to be considered for the gong.

The Ulsterman has been backed from 8/13 through 1/2 into 1/3.

Whilst Zara Phillips, who began to build momentum over the weekend, has gone in the opposite direction.

The 25- year-old, who briefly flirted with a 5/4 quote on Tuesday, is now a 7/4 chance.

Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: "Punters initially appeared very wary of backing Clarke given the confusion surrounding his position.

"But his backers have got behind their man, whilst Zara Phillips is on the drift."

WBO and IBF supermiddleweight world champion Joe Calzaghe, 16/1, is friendless in the market.

Weinberg added: "After the Welshman's far from convincing performance on Saturday, we've taken a total of 60 pence on him to win the award."

[stereoman]

Hmmm. The Sun says these are the final ten that the BBC will allow to be up for the award:

* Jenson Button
* Joe Calzaghe
* Darren Clarke
* Nicole Cooke
* Ricky Hatton
* Andrew Murray
* Monty Panesar
* Zara Phillips
* Phil Taylor
* Beth Tweddle

Eh. Plausible. The Sun are moaning that there are no footballers on the list and whether or not they deserved to be on the list anyway.

[stereoman]

Hmmm. Yesterday's Bettingzone Market Updates:

0940: Three-day eventer Zara Phillips has been clipped in the betting for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

A shortlist of 10 will be revealed next Monday (December 4) before a phone vote on the night itself (December 10) decides the eventual winner.

And with odds-on favourite Darren Clarke drifting slightly after his recent comments, it's no surprise to see a little support for Phillips.

Clarke, who played a key role in Europe's Ryder Cup victory just six weeks after his wife Heather died of cancer, told the BBC's Radio Five Live: "If people are voting for me because my wife passed away and they feel sorry for me, I don't feel comfortable with that.

"If I'd won a major this year, then I'd have no issues with it whatsoever."

He's 2/5 from 1/3 with Blue Square while Phillips is 9/4 from 5/2.

1700: William Hill have slashed the price of Joe Calzaghe winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year from 25/1 to 16/1 following a flurry of bets for the Welsh boxer.

"The Calzaghe vs Lacy fight was without doubt the match of the year and it is not surprising that we are seeing money for him. One thing that is for certain is he is no average Joe," said Hills spokesman Rupert Adams.

Despite the fact that Darren Clarke also thinks Calzaghe should win the title, the Ulsterman remains Hill's 1/4 favourite, with Zara Phillips 7/2 second best.

The European Ryder Cup team are the 1/40 favourites to win the BBC Team of the Year.

William Hill BBC Sports Personality Of The Year: 1/4 D Clarke, 7/2 Zara Phillips, 16/1 J Calzaghe, 25/1 A Murray, 33/1 R Hatton, 33/1 M Panesar, 33/1 B Tweddle, 40/1 N Cooke, 66/1 P Taylor, 80/1 J Button.

William Hill Sports Personality Team Of The Year: 1/40 Ryder cup, 12/1 St Helens, 16/1 Sussex Cricket Team.

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...the Joe Calzaghe and Zara Phillips gambles continue eh? Very weird stuff this year. Darren doesn't want to win it but you've got the likes of Colin Montgomerie backing him to win SPotY.

[all_funkt_up]

I heard a debate on Monday night in 5 Live. Kathryn Merry, Frank Clarke, AP McCoy and some Rugby twat were debating the Sports Personality. On achievement alone, Calzaghe stands head and shoulders above the rest. Undefeated in 9 years and a true world champion. Darren Clarke's is a romantic story (to be sure to be sure) but is it worthy of an award that goes to individual achievement? I am getting twitchy on this one and have already layed part of my bet off.

Hmmmmm

[stereoman]

Not much change and The Sun got the list right. Yesterday's bettingzone Market Moves:

1430: With a week to go, Darren Clarke is the 2/7 favourite with Coral to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Zara Phillips is the 7/2 second favourite with Joe Calzaghe 16/1 third best on the eve of the announcement of the ten contenders for the title.

"It has been a pretty poor year for British sportsmen and women, as evidenced by the fact that David Walliams was at one stage favourite for the award after swimming the Channel for charity," said Simon Clare, Coral spokesman.

"However, Darren Clarke's performance in the Ryder Cup against the backdrop of such personal tragedy saw him leap to favouritism back in September and he now looks certain to lift the trophy."

Coral Betting on BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2/7 Darren Clarke, 7/2 Zara Phillips, 16/1 Joe Calzaghe, 25/1 Monty Panesar, 33/1 Andrew Murray, 50/1 Beth Tweddle, Nicole Cook, 66/1 Phil Taylor, 100/1 Jenson Button, Ricky Hatton.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Shows just how bad a year its been imo when you have Button 6th favourite for finishing 6th in the F1 championship.

Agree with AFU, Calzaghe is the outstanding candidate for me here and his record speaks for itself so maybe worth a few quid.

I know fuck all about Zara Philips but i read shes only the 3rd person in history to hold the two titles she does so that must be impressive in its own right even if i dont know a thing about it.

[stereoman]

Today's Bettingzone Market Updates:

1040: Blue Square have updated their prices for the BBC Sports Personality award following the confirmation of the shortlist of ten contenders.

Darren Clarke is the 1/4 favourite to lift the prestigious trophy in Birmingham on 10th December.

Kate Miller, Blue Square’s PR, said: "Betting on this year’s BBC Sports Personality has been as popular as ever, even though Darren has been a strong favourite for the last few months.

"We have taken money for no less than 22 different sportsmen and women – and David Walliams(!) since we opened our book.

"At various times Zara Phillips, David Walliams, Andy Murray as well as Darren Clarke have been favourite for the title and the customer who took 66/1 about Darren in August must be very pleased with his bet now!"

Latest Blue Square odds: 1/4 Darren Clarke, 3/1 Zara Phillips, 20/1 Joe Calzaghe, 33/1 Andy Murray, 33/1 Monty Panesar, 40/1 Phil Taylor, 66/1 Beth Tweddle, 100/1 Ricky Hatton, 100/1 Nicole Cooke, 100/1 Jenson Button.

1230: William Hill have opened a book on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year without Darren Clarke and Zara Phillips.

Without the top two, Hills rate Joe Calzaghe as their 6/4 favourite and offer 2/1 Andy Murray, 7/1 Monty Panesar and Beth Tweddle with Ricky Hatton 10/1.

"The Calzaghe vs Lacy fight is the best I have ever seen and in my view he is a genuine contender to win the award. Without the top two in the betting he looks amazing value at 6/4," said Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.

William Hill Sports Personality 2006 Without Clarke & Phillips: 6/4 J Calzaghe, 2/1 A Murray, 7/1 M Panesar, 7/1 B Tweddle, 10/1 R Hatton, 12/1 N Cooke, 14/1 J Button, 20/1 P Taylor.

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I expect that 6/4 will be nibbled at.

[traeth]

Joe won the BBC Wales Sports personality last night , so he will have support from Wales.[ he did not have much to beat... Joe Calzaghe was named the 2001 BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year , when less well known outside Wales ]. Cannot find the equivalent for BBC Scotland and N.I.

World boxing champion Joe Calzaghe has been crowned BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year for 2006.
Undefeated Calzaghe, 34, added the IBF world super middleweight belt to his WBO belt this year and was named the British Boxer of the Year.
He beat Nicole Cooke, Ryan Giggs, Bradley Dredge, David Davies and Michaela Breeze in a public vote.

full report from http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/6157171.stm

[stereoman]

The Joe Calzaghe gamble continues...today's Bettingzone Market Updates:

1115: Joe Calzaghe has been backed into 10/1, from 16/1, to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, report Ladbrokes.

The current WBO super middleweight world champion has been the target of a nationwide gamble, with Welsh shops, especially, reporting a brisk trade.

Ladbrokes spokesman, Nick Weinberg, said: "Calzaghe's credentials are impeccable. His destruction of Jeff Lacy and undefeated record speak for themselves. After winning the BBC Wales version of the prize, support for the 34-year-old has gone into overdrive."

Darren Clarke remains the odds-on 1/5 favourite to scoop the gong.

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Joe Calzaghe into evens without Clarke and Phillips over at William Hill.

J Calzaghe 1/1
A Murray 5/2
M Panesar 8/1
B Tweddle 8/1
N Cooke 12/1
J Button 14/1
R Hatton 16/1
P Taylor 16/1

Fook it. I'm gonna put £50 at 'evens' on Joe Calzaghe over at William Hill.

[stereoman]

Local punt on Phil Taylor over here...today's Bettingzone Market Moves:

1055: Stoke-based bet365 have been forced to cut their price on local legend Phil Taylor lifting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday.

Spokesman Steve Freeth said: "We’ve always tried to keep Phil Taylor on our side because of the Stoke on Trent connection, but unfortunately weight of money, particularly from the Potteries area, has forced us to cut him from 50/1 to 33/1.

"There has been a local campaign for Phil to be crowned Sports Personality and we have to be wary of a public vote.

"Admittedly, it’s about time that a man who has dominated the sport for so long should get recognition for his achievements, although we must be the only people in Stoke hoping he doesn’t lift the trophy on Sunday night!"

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Meanwhile, Joe Calzaghe's cut to 2/5 from 'evens' to win without Clarke and Phillips over at William Hill.

J Calzaghe 2/5
A Murray 7/2
P Taylor 14/1
M Panesar 14/1
B Tweddle 14/1
N Cooke 16/1
J Button 25/1
R Hatton 33/1

Hmmm. Looks like I'm kinda on-side with bet365 then as I'm gonna be right pissed-off if Joe Calzaghe loses.