It’s that time of year where everyone takes stock, looks back at the sporting year, hands out awards (some more meaningless than others), and then waits for the inevitable criticism of those who picked up the gongs. It’s as much part of December as hangovers and family arguments.
This year is no different. Though, where BBC Sports Personality of the Year is concerned, due to the rather underwhelming list of nominees we can expect a bit more criticism than usual. In fact the jibes have already started being thrown. Hey ho, as I said, it’s tradition…
The six contenders are Mary Earps, Stuart Broad, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Frankie Dettori, Alfie Hewett, Rory McIlroy and Josh Kerr. Oh, hang on, Kerr, who won 1500m World Championship gold this summer did not, for some unknown, remarkable, only a JFK-style-conspiracy-theory-can-explain-it reason make the list of six nominees. There is an absence of grassy knolls at the BBC’s Media City in Salford (where tonight’s shindig takes place) but the viewing public are left to once again question the validity of an award that leaves a key contender out of the list of six possible winners.
But that is sort of the point isn’t it? The thing about sport is that there is a truth and democracy about it. The fastest man or woman wins the gold; the team that scores more goals wins the match; the side that takes 20 wickets wins the Test. When it comes to awards such as this it becomes all about personal opinion and moves into the realm of a popularity contest.
I personally think awards should be for those 18 or younger, once you’re a full-blown adult they are simply for those narcissistic or needy enough to demand the adulation another gong gives you. Those who really love an award and think they are hugely important, over and above the medals deservedly won on the sporting field, are the equivalent of your annoying friends always posting on social media – a bit too attention seeking.
Anyway, people do love an award and tonight’s always throws up debating points (though mostly about the output of the BBC and BBC Sport than the actual winner…) and we’ll have all the action and winners coming up at the annual look back at the sporting year.
