SPOTY showing its age with lack of personalities – give cursed award to Haaland
One of the BBC's flagship shows celebrates a special birthday this year – ' Sports Personality of the Year' will be 70.
And one quick glance at the lack of 'personalities' in the frame to scoop the gong in 2023, leaves the show both looking and feeling its age.
The Beeb sent out an email plugging the event, which will take place in Salford on December 19. The nominees will be announced 'in due course'.
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But the fact the memo highlighted Team GB's success at the World Athletic Championships in Budapest and the UCI Cycling World Championships, suggests we could be in for a shortlist that's, well, short on sparkle and superstardom. With respect to athletics and cycling, neither spring to mind when people consider mainstream sports.
In recent times, legends of sport including Mo Farah, Ben Stokes, Andy Murray and Lewis Hamilton have taken the top prize. The last two winners have been Beth Mead and Emma Raducanu, who both then vanished without trace due to a combination of injuries and loss of form. Perhaps it has become cursed?
Do you think Erling Haaland should be included as an option for the award? Let us know in the comments section.
Director of BBC Sport, Barbara Slater, said: "I'm so proud of the crucial role BBC Sport has played in bringing audiences a wonderful and thrilling year of sport on TV, radio and online. There will be so much to celebrate on the evening." Like what?
Losing the women's World Cup final when the Lionesses should have won it? Failing to regain the Ashes on home soil, perhaps? Reaching the semi finals of the Rugby World Cup, before crashing out in glorious failure, maybe?
Not one British golfer won a Major in 2023. The last one to do this was Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick in 2022 when he took the US Open – and didn't even see him shortlisted.
Nothing significant has happened in tennis, horse racing, snooker, Formula One or Rugby League. Even boxing has felt like a big disappointment. Tyson Fury has been largely quiet (which is deserving of some sort of award), considering his only scrap in 2023 was a non-title fight against Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
The England football team, meanwhile, ploughed through what felt like a load of meaningless Euro qualifiers. Team Europe won the Ryder Cup in a thrilling clash in Rome, but good luck singling out a hero from that. Rory McIlroy was the talisman once again, and also went on to claim the ' Race to Dubai' title, so perhaps he will make the shortlist.
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Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best footballers on the planet, and is now the new King of Spain following his remarkable exploits with Real Madrid. Could he make the shortlist?
But unless I've missed someone while scratching around at the bottom of the barrel, wouldn't it make sense just to crown Erling Haaland the 2023 SPOTY winner?
The winners has to be from Great Britain & Ireland, but why? And Haaland was born in Leeds. Perhaps a corporation obsessed with being inclusive should widen its net.
Haaland scored an astonishing 53 goals for Manchester City last season to help them win a historic Treble haul of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. He did something special, something we might never see again, unless the man himself decides to supersede his own feats.
Haaland stands out like a beacon from the rest of the mediocrity, so give it to him to save the Beeb's birthday shin dig from falling flat on its backside.
Owen Farrell's break highlights problem
When someone like Owen Farrell is taking a break from sport to safeguard his mental wellbeing, there is a genuine problem. Farrell came across as being tough as teak, both on and off the field. A hard man who led from the front as England captain in a hard game.
But his decision to step aside from international rugby, proves beyond doubt just how brutal the pressures of top level sport can be.
Farrell got pelters on social media in the build up to the recent World Cup in France. In the end he led England to within a whisker of beating eventual winners South Africa and a place in the final.
He came home with his head held high, but it looks like the damage had been done. People like Farrell have a lot to deal with when it comes to being in the public spotlight. And he deserves credit for having the courage to do what he thinks is right for him and his family.
It's a sobering reminder that no matter how unflinching and tough some people come across, under the surface they are always vulnerable too.
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