Thursday 10 December 2009

TTS Relaunched - Game On

It's back!

Over eight months have passed and plenty of top-class sport has occurred, but finally, TTS has returned to the fold to stir up a frenzy of sporting debates.

Since my last blog, I have gained a masters degree in Multi-Media Journalism, which took up a lot of my time. My eyes however, haven't strayed from the world's sporting arenas.

I thought I would use this opportunity as a sports catch-up session, to refresh the memories of the highs and lows that have taken place since TTS went into hibernation. This posting will also act as a build-up to the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year 2009 award (see the poll on the left of the TTS homepage to make your prediction of the winner).

So here goes. Below is a list, in no particular order, of some of the major sporting achievements over the last eight or so months, which have been caught in the media spotlight:

Usain Bolt's incredible new world records set in the 100m (9.58s) and 200m (19.19s) at the World Championships in Berlin.

Roger Federer winning The French Open for the first time and Wimbledon for the sixth time.
Juan Martin del Potro beating Federer to win the US Open.

Jenson Button clinching the Formula One World Championship.

England defeating Australia to regain The Ashes.

Ireland winning the Six Nations, and their first Grand Slam since 1948.

Angel Cabrera presented with the green jacket after winning The Masters.
Stewart Cink beating Tom Watson in a playoff to win The Open.
Yang Yong-eun outplaying Tiger Woods to win the U.S. PGA.
Lucas Glover winning the U.S. Open.

England winning nine out of ten qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup.

David Haye defeating the giant Nikolay Valuev to become the WBA Heavyweight champion.

These are just some of the many great achievements in sport over the past eight months, but with regard to British success, who will be most likely to win the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) award?

The ten people shortlisted for the award were put together by a panel of 26 sports editors from national and regional newspapers and magazines. Darts legend Phil Taylor was nominated various times, but he didn't get enough votes to be included in the shortlist.

Although there are ten contenders, you can rule out quite a few of them to actually win the award. They have all performed superbly well in their sports, but you can't help thinking that one of the more high profile sports stars, who plays a more high profile sport, is more likely to win.

As Lloyd Grossman used to say: "Let's look at the evidence."

Well, Andy Murray hasn't won a major so he has very little chance of winning, and Phillips Idowu is unlikely to be jumping for joy either.

Andrew Strauss may have captained England to Ashes victory, but it's doubtful he will get anywhere near the podium, let alone winning. Compared to when Michael Vaughan captained the Ashes winning side, the coverage of the event was pathetic, which doesn't help Strauss's chances.

Tom Daley, great achievement for such a young lad, but he didn't win at an Olympics, which sends his hopes diving down the drain.

Ryan Giggs, well, as David Brent once said in The Office: "I shouldn't have thought so". Although, Sir Alex Ferguson begs to differ. But then again, he would.

David Haye has a chance of a podium spot after the enormous feat he achieved, but before the fight, he wasn't all that well known and simply hasn't been around at the top for long enough to win.

Jessica Ennis and Beth Tweddle have both had a cracking year in their respective athletic disciplines, but once again, the wins were not at an Olympic Games, and in athletics/gymnastics, that is the pinnacle. They may make the podium, Ennis possibly more likely, but surely neither will win.

This doesn't leave us with many people to choose from. To be precise, two.


Mark Cavendish has the good fortune to excel in a sport which the BBC loves to cover and reward. This is of course cycling. Last year's winner was a cyclist, which doesn't necessarily help Cavendish's chances, but his success over the year has been truly impressive. Still, can't see him winning the trophy, podium finish perhaps.

This leaves Jenson Button; in my view, the favourite to win.

Last year, Lewis Hamilton won the F1 Championship but didn't win the Sports Personality trophy. He had the rotten luck of winning during an Olympic year, which drove his chances of crossing the finish line to dust. Jenson has avoided this clash.

The BBC pumps big time cash into the coverage rights for F1, and historically, F1 drivers have a good record for winning the SPOTY trophy (Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill; the latter two both winning twice).

Surely Button will sew up the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

1 comment:

  1. Button is as hot a favourite as there has ever been, the only thing which can stop him is the fact that the voting will be done on the night when the final of X factor is on the other channel. Could be there will be less people actually watching and voting which gives the opportunity for the supporters of a minority sport to gang up and flood the lines. The less votes there are in total the greater the chance of an upset.

    ReplyDelete

Search TTS