"It's been an incredible year" said a breathless Sue Barker at the start of the two-hour broadcast marathon that is the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year. Clearly not "incredible" enough for some, as the schedulers daren't go up against ITV's X Factor and as such we find it here - delayed by two weeks and conveniently right before the finale of the Beeb's most successful show The Apprentice. Given the new obsession with sob story over sporting substance (where was Mo Farah on the short-list?) some of the VTs for the individual contenders would have been more at home on Simon Cowell's ratings monopoliser.
And so as we went through the short-list, the viewing public were told about Tom Daley's sick father, AP McCoy's injuries and falls (which can't come as surprise to a jump jockey), Jessica Ennis' "heartbreak" at missing the Olympics (2 years ago) and Mark Cavendish's dreadful crash earlier in the year. David Haye clearly decided that beating people up was never going to win the public's adoration and as such steered clear, citing a bout of flu. Ironic that the Heavyweight Champion of the World can "make hay" of anyone but cannot handle the icy weather.
But in this supposed year of "incredible" sporting achievement, where was surely one of the most incredible achievers of the lot? Mo Farah has this year broken the men's 5,000m British Record and won two European titles. Let us compare that to Phil 'the Power' Taylor who has seemingly just thrown some darts at a wall with a particular degree of accuracy. To suggest that the public decide this award is a fallacy - in reality a room full of sporting journalists and producers sit down and discuss who will make the best telly. Unfortunately for Mo, his passage has been a little bit heartbreak free and getting married means that his private life is far too happy to warrant inclusion.
But that is just the problem with SPOTY now. The real sporting achievements get overlooked owing to a lack of understanding of what the sport is all about or because the athlete focusses more on the sport than on working on their persona. And so in an excruciating exchange between the evergreen Gary Liniker and Mark Cavendish, jug ears seemed more interested in the sprint king's chess credentials than his cycling ones. Of course, that conveniently teed up the Walkers Crisps man to wonder whether Cavendish will get "check mate" tonight. All richly comic.
The same can be said of Amy Williams (you know, the Winter Olympics girl) who whilst others had solid sporting backers, was oddly supported by er, Jeremy Clarkson. Now surely there was a British speaking bob-sleigher out there who could have added some weight to this pathetic link? It did leave the door open for Sue Barker to comment that Jeremy Clarkson is "a difficult man to impress". Wow, able to win Olympic Gold AND impress Jezzer - surely worth a vote.
In the end, it was nice to see AP McCoy recognised for falling off a horse a lot. Good night too for David Beckham (lifetime achievement award) who added a little glitz to the evening - as if it needed any - but left many wondering how he finds time to play football these days. Tom Daley was consoled on missing out on the grown up award by a third victory as the Young Sports Personality of the Year - although how he managed to outbid the double World Junior Champion and seemingly unbeatable Jodie Williams is beyond anyone. It would, perhaps, have been nice to see Daley and Williams engage in a sing off and Cavendish go for a dance off with Jess Ennis. Just as long as it wasn't a 'sport off' - that doesn't seem to matter any more.
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Showing posts with label Taylor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taylor. Show all posts
Sunday, 19 December 2010
Sunday, 23 May 2010
LOUGHBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL NEWS.....
'LONG TRACK' DENIES DASAOLOU SUB-10
Echo favourite, James Dasaolu has said that he is "well furious" this evening after improving his lifetime best over 100m to 10.06 seconds (wind assisted). The Loughborough based star argued with officials for over 20 minutes before the start of the race as felt that he was being started "at least half a metre" behind where he should have been. LSAC insiders have denied speculation that the GB International was about to be expelled from the race. Speaking from a press conference, Dasaolu hailed what he called a "moral sub-10" and revealed that he would be appealing to the IAAF. "The way I see it," said the Croydon star, "I have just set the world record for 100.5 metres. It's a great honour." There was much excitement before the race that Loughborough might to be about to witness its first ever sub-10 second 100m. Furious spectators are now demanding a full refund after it failed to materialise. It is rumoured that male observers were also upset that "the females were not looking their best".
LOUGHBOROUGH ATHLETES COMPETE IN LOUGHBOROUGH EVENT OUTCRY
George Gandy is being forced to respond to furious accusations of favouritism this evening, after it was revealed that some Loughborough based athletes were allowed to take part as guests in the Loughborough International. Angry posters on popular running forum eightlane.com have called on the LSAC and UKA chief to resign. One poster, who didn't give his real name, said that it was "unfair" that "[poor] athletes were allowed to compete." The anonymous poster who may or may not be any good at running also slammed Gandy's decision to drop the men's steeplechase accusing the guru of having an attitude that "Loughborogh [sic] do not have any chasers so we will not put that event on the schedule". Another courageously anonymous poster said that "surely questions should be asked." A spokesman for the Fairness in Athletic Inclusion, Regulation, Interest and Emotional Support (FAIRIES) said, "we have had enough of this now. The other day, I was at a meeting in St. Mary's and it was full of St. Mary's athletes. That isn't fair. We've had reports of similar situations at Birmingham and Bath as well."
The Echo can also reveal that Mr. Gandy may well be in hot water over claims that Loughborough athletes are being allowed a "disproportionate" amount of time on their home track. It is likely that he is going to have to explain to Government chiefs why some distance athletes are allowed to train on the track "as often as three times a week." The source at FAIRIES went on, "it means that the African Violets are always at an advantage. I think they should be restricted in their ability to train."
'PATHETIC' PACEMAKING FRUSTRATES TAYLOR
Johnny Taylor has hit out at what he calls the "most ridiculous pacemaking performance of all time" after failing to win the Match race of the 1500m. Taylor has said that the pacemaker, Ben Green, clearly "bowed to pressure from the crowd". Speaking after the race, the Teesider said "I heard somebody shout to him to slow down. He was only 50m clear of the pack and so I can't understand why he did. It ruined my race, I was going to catch him." Taylor revealed that the reason he chose not to go with the pace was that it was "very windy in [his] lane." Taylor went on, "everyone knows that it is the start that counts and I was badly disadvantaged by being right in the wind. The first 45m was really tough". Meanwhile, Frank Baddick blamed a change in milk for his below par performance. The Newham and Essex Beagle said "I have just switched to the orange top stuff from Sainos [Sainsbury's] and that probably upset the calcium-fat balance in my blood and so explains the bad run. I'm completely, totally, 110% relaxed about it".
POLLEN COUNT CAUSES CHAOS
The Loughborough International ran several minutes behind schedule after officials had to make no fewer than ten "airborne pollen inspections" over the course of the afternoon. The checks were enforced after several athletes, including 100m Olympian Mark Lewis-Francis, called the pollen count "dangerously high." Indeed, Lewis-Francis called for the meeting to be cancelled just minutes before his event as the roof of his mouth was "very itchy." After being convinced to compete, the sprint ace revealed how he "wouldn't be bothering" with the event again. "Let's face it, I am better than this," said the former Olympic (relay) Champion, "it's just that I have been injured and so can't go anywhere else. I looked around at the start and thought, 'gee is this how bad things have got?' I guess things can only get better now."
Echo favourite, James Dasaolu has said that he is "well furious" this evening after improving his lifetime best over 100m to 10.06 seconds (wind assisted). The Loughborough based star argued with officials for over 20 minutes before the start of the race as felt that he was being started "at least half a metre" behind where he should have been. LSAC insiders have denied speculation that the GB International was about to be expelled from the race. Speaking from a press conference, Dasaolu hailed what he called a "moral sub-10" and revealed that he would be appealing to the IAAF. "The way I see it," said the Croydon star, "I have just set the world record for 100.5 metres. It's a great honour." There was much excitement before the race that Loughborough might to be about to witness its first ever sub-10 second 100m. Furious spectators are now demanding a full refund after it failed to materialise. It is rumoured that male observers were also upset that "the females were not looking their best".
LOUGHBOROUGH ATHLETES COMPETE IN LOUGHBOROUGH EVENT OUTCRY
George Gandy is being forced to respond to furious accusations of favouritism this evening, after it was revealed that some Loughborough based athletes were allowed to take part as guests in the Loughborough International. Angry posters on popular running forum eightlane.com have called on the LSAC and UKA chief to resign. One poster, who didn't give his real name, said that it was "unfair" that "[poor] athletes were allowed to compete." The anonymous poster who may or may not be any good at running also slammed Gandy's decision to drop the men's steeplechase accusing the guru of having an attitude that "Loughborogh [sic] do not have any chasers so we will not put that event on the schedule". Another courageously anonymous poster said that "surely questions should be asked." A spokesman for the Fairness in Athletic Inclusion, Regulation, Interest and Emotional Support (FAIRIES) said, "we have had enough of this now. The other day, I was at a meeting in St. Mary's and it was full of St. Mary's athletes. That isn't fair. We've had reports of similar situations at Birmingham and Bath as well."
The Echo can also reveal that Mr. Gandy may well be in hot water over claims that Loughborough athletes are being allowed a "disproportionate" amount of time on their home track. It is likely that he is going to have to explain to Government chiefs why some distance athletes are allowed to train on the track "as often as three times a week." The source at FAIRIES went on, "it means that the African Violets are always at an advantage. I think they should be restricted in their ability to train."
'PATHETIC' PACEMAKING FRUSTRATES TAYLOR
Johnny Taylor has hit out at what he calls the "most ridiculous pacemaking performance of all time" after failing to win the Match race of the 1500m. Taylor has said that the pacemaker, Ben Green, clearly "bowed to pressure from the crowd". Speaking after the race, the Teesider said "I heard somebody shout to him to slow down. He was only 50m clear of the pack and so I can't understand why he did. It ruined my race, I was going to catch him." Taylor revealed that the reason he chose not to go with the pace was that it was "very windy in [his] lane." Taylor went on, "everyone knows that it is the start that counts and I was badly disadvantaged by being right in the wind. The first 45m was really tough". Meanwhile, Frank Baddick blamed a change in milk for his below par performance. The Newham and Essex Beagle said "I have just switched to the orange top stuff from Sainos [Sainsbury's] and that probably upset the calcium-fat balance in my blood and so explains the bad run. I'm completely, totally, 110% relaxed about it".
POLLEN COUNT CAUSES CHAOS
The Loughborough International ran several minutes behind schedule after officials had to make no fewer than ten "airborne pollen inspections" over the course of the afternoon. The checks were enforced after several athletes, including 100m Olympian Mark Lewis-Francis, called the pollen count "dangerously high." Indeed, Lewis-Francis called for the meeting to be cancelled just minutes before his event as the roof of his mouth was "very itchy." After being convinced to compete, the sprint ace revealed how he "wouldn't be bothering" with the event again. "Let's face it, I am better than this," said the former Olympic (relay) Champion, "it's just that I have been injured and so can't go anywhere else. I looked around at the start and thought, 'gee is this how bad things have got?' I guess things can only get better now."
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