SPOTY

tut · Post by **tut** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 7:37 pm

Seems that it is all over.

Andy Murray 1/20
AP McCoy 30/1

tut

jason · Post by **jason** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:45 pm

If you look at the short list, it's been a sparse year for televised success/personality-ism.

Can't see anyone other than Murray getting it, or deserving it as much as him this year... unless the horse racer fans vote lots like the boxer fans seem to??

Claws · Post by **Claws** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 2:42 am

Murray lacks a vital credential off his SPOTY CV though...

...the P

greido · Post by **greido** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 3:36 am

Totally disagree with the 'P' comment above, yes, he's very serious when interviewed about tennis but to get to where he has, he's had to be 100% focused on the job in hand.
I don't know him personally but have seen him many times on tv programmes such as 'Soccer AM' and 'They think it's all over' and he's come across as funny, humerous, humble and a genuine nice guy so to say he lacks personality is a bit of a cheap shot, especially since the award he's been nominated for has absolutely nothing to do with this, despite the name.
Given his achievements, He'd be a very worthy winner and Until Murray came along Scotland hadn't had a truly world class athlete in a mainstream sport during my lifetime so I think he should be applauded and not nit picked against. (I don't consider cycling in a volodrome to be a mainstream sport, no matter how good Chris Hoy's career was).

Claws · Post by **Claws** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:43 am

It's not a cheap shot though, it's the truth. The guy is as dull as dishwater when being interviewed about tennis, that is his sporting environment though. It doesn't have to be all jazzhands and cracking outright jokes, take Kimi as an example.
It's not Sportsperson That Seems Quite Nice When They Are Not Playing sport Of The Year.

Not detracting from his achievements, but he does lack personality in the sporting arena, this is a fact.

ETA, the fact he is Scottish should have no bearing on this

flyingscot68 · Post by **flyingscot68** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:05 am

I've seen him on a few shows and he came across very well. I was also of the opinion that he had no personality but I changed my mind when I watched a documentary about him after he won Wimbledon. Seems as much a character as the next guy.
He'd get my vote for sure.

Post by **Shug** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:33 am

The fact is he's painfully shy in front of a camera - don't confuse that with a lack of personality, like the majority of the lazy press commentators. Scottish is neither here nor there.

Plus, the "Personality" thing, every year, is hauled out and misquoted. They aren't being given an award for being bubbly and fun, they are given an award for sporting excellence. The title comes from the classic use of the word Personality, meaning a recognised person of note - not a chat-show couch regular

j2 lot · Post by **j2 lot** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:55 am

100% agree with Shug ,Kenny and Greido. Just because he isnt a barrel of laughs and gushing about himself all the time it doesnt mean he hasnt got a personality.
He is an 'old school' personality rather than a 'reality tv' personality. Sportsman first and foremost rather than using the sport to achieve fame.
It will be a travest if he doesnt get it IMHO.

Claws · Post by **Claws** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 12:18 pm

He couldn't be further from the old school if he tried, your men like Hill, Hunt, McRae, Ronnie O etc are of the old school. All top of their game, but had personality, you felt their highs and lows, you could see them getting annoyed, slightly cocky at times but sincere and relatable like real people. Murray just seems far too clean cut and media trained, not like the nonchalant attitude shown by many, he just seems bored like he is going through the motions. He just needs to turn up the realism a bit and stop conforming to 'the man' Doing this has greatly improved my opinion of Lewis Hamilton, for example.

The personality bit may be slightly misquoted, but should still play a part, otherwise it should be renamed as Person Who Won The Most.

Sport is entertaining, people support their team or sportsperson for many reasons other than them being the best at what they do, they invest in the whole package, which in a single player sport includes their personality. Yes he cried when he won Wimbledon, but when he plays Jonny Noname on a Tuesday afternoon in a generic match he just assumes his cardboard cutout self in the interview afterwards, whether he won or lost. I would struggle to support him or anyone with that attitude

hendeg · Post by **hendeg** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 12:51 pm

The people that are up for this award should be the type that youngsters aspire to be like. In current times where the celeb culture has taken over I think Andy is a perfect example of what can be achieved with traditional values. You can't underestimate the amount of work he's put in to achieve what he has and how much he's still putting in. He had a clear vision for what he wanted to achieve and he made it happen for himself - nobody came along and made it easy for him. He took a brave decision to leave school and move to Barcelona because he felt that the LTA wasn't going to be able to provide him with the right support.

Yes, he's not the most inspiring during interviews but he isn't an arse. As others have said, he comes across much better in more relaxed settings. It's maybe even something that's just become his trademark.

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:10 pm

hendeg wrote:The people that are up for this award should be the type that youngsters aspire to be like. In current times where the celeb culture has taken over I think Andy is a perfect example of what can be achieved with traditional values. You can't underestimate the amount of work he's put in to achieve what he has and how much he's still putting in. He had a clear vision for what he wanted to achieve and he made it happen for himself - nobody came along and made it easy for him. He took a brave decision to leave school and move to Barcelona because he felt that the LTA wasn't going to be able to provide him with the right support.

Yes, he's not the most inspiring during interviews but he isn't an arse. As others have said, he comes across much better in more relaxed settings. It's maybe even something that's just become his trademark.

Hear, hear. That's exactly who kids should be looking up to.

I've also seen him on the likes of Jonathan Ross and he comes over very well, just normal and yes quite shy.

Post by **campbell** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:16 am

More importantly, was the SPOTY programme itself not a real let down?

Was travelling to Leeds last night - not for SPOTY, sadly! - and annoyed I was going to miss the programme.

Have sat through it upon my return tonight (not avail for iplayer download for the train, sadly) and really bored. The production is also very awkward, with uncomfortable former winners, cabaret singing to welcome Sir Fergie, and an insnsitive handling of an award related to Hillsborougb victims and campaigners.

The event is being dressed up like the MTV Awards. It's a sports awards show. It should be more intimate. A 12,000 arena audience is a joke.

Yours disappointed of West Lothian.

tut · Post by **tut** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:39 am

Recorded it but did not bother watching.

tut

flyingscot68 · Post by **flyingscot68** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:50 am

I just watched the end to see who won.
Glad it was Andy, he deserved it.
Good to hear him tell everyone that he was excited but that he just has a boring voice

so they'd just need to put up with that.
A worthy winner in my opinion.

tut · Post by **tut** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 4:13 pm

I thought he would have been there to receive it.

tut

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