BoxRec

lvlarc_uk wrote:

states wrote:Calzaghe won't win it. The last non-heavyweight boxer to win it was McGuigan, FFS. What exposure has Joe had? 2 in the morning. On ITV.

All it's going to take is one decent performance in the Ryder Cup, or the Pakistan series. At this point in time Kevin Pietersen is a better bet than Calzaghe. And if, say, Mongomerie wins the Open, then it's all over.

But still, the last golfer to win was in 1989..Pieterson winning would be a joke. I thought Hatton deserved the prize last year, but no of course the guy who won the ashes all on his own got it Can you tell I have no interest in cricket. I also think USA will beat us this time in Ryder so it's no foregone conclusion...only 5 months to wait...

Yes, but Montgomerie would be a popular winner. Football normally overshadows the other sports, unless there's a truly popular figure, such as Damon Hill. Football has suffered this year, no doubt. But boxing still isn't on the radar, as it were. If Monty breaks his run of not winning a major, he'll piss it. And Pietersen is much, much better known than Calzaghe, that's why I think he's a better bet.

Don't write off Gerard, or even John Terry as we start qualifying games for Euro 2008 in a few weeks. Personally i'd love to see any fighter win it, but the beeb would need to change it's mind set for that to happen. As far as I remember the last fighter to win it was Lennox in 2000 and it was hard for them to ignore him then as he was undisputed Heavy King.

Without getting even more downcast, I was thinking - is Calzaghe beating Lacy better than Hatton beating zoo? Ok, it was a total schooling and expert display by JC, but on the other hand he was already arguably the #1 in the division, simply unifying another title. Hatton beat the #1 champ from more of an underdog's position. Did he even get a top 3 position last year? Granted he'd have got no chance against Flintoff :(

jomothepure wrote:Without getting even more downcast, I was thinking - is Calzaghe beating Lacy better than Hatton beating zoo? Ok, it was a total schooling and expert display by JC, but on the other hand he was already arguably the #1 in the division, simply unifying another title. Hatton beat the #1 champ from more of an underdog's position. Did he even get a top 3 position last year? Granted he'd have got no chance against Flintoff :(

No Hatton wasn't in the top 3. Ellen MacArthur was 2nd and Steven Gerrard was 3rd. Hatton was in the top 6.

Lennox Lewis won it in 1999 think he was in the top 3 the year he beat Tyson. Cause I'm sure two boxers made the top 6 that year - Lewis and Audley.

Sorry i stand corrected it was 1999 cos Ali got the special award for the century and Lennox talked about him in his speech.

Betfair has David Walliams at 8/1

Now I truly respect what he did, but c'mon your havin' a laugh!

Was thinking Hatton has a chance, the year he left ITV/Warren, he unifies a title, and wins another at 147 (though we know better ) Nice kick in the balls to Warren that would be.

Who exactly votes/decides on winner for this then?

What the fornicate does David Walliams have to do with sport? Please enlighten me. I can't wait for this!

Its a public vote.

So the public send their slips in to decide the final entrants then it goes to a public phone vote? If so then I can Walliams in with a fair chance.

I think its done online these days, used to be a postal vote back in the day. There used to be a form in the Radio Times. :P

Still think postal is an option, its also online (not up yet). You can mention anyone at the early stage then for the final stage it gets wittled to the top 6 most "popular" - apparently, but I know there were huge internet campaigns for Andy Fordham and Peter Crouch in the last few years but they were not included in the 6 - think the Beeb threw away those votes.

Was that after Fordham collapsed mintues into that PPV event against Taylor?

I remember a huge internet campaign to get Justin Fashanu voted the winner when I was at University. Must have been '96 or '97. I think that was one of the early years of online voting. They must have had joke campaigns every year since they started the online option.

states wrote:I remember a huge internet campaign to get Justin Fashanu voted the winner when I was at University. Must have been '96 or '97. I think that was one of the early years of online voting. They must have had joke campaigns every year since they started the online option.

Yes, I know. Quite why anyone would start that campaign is beyond me.

According to William Hill - Calzaghe is now 3rd favourite. With similar odds either 11 or 10 - 1.

JOINT FAVOURITE now Steven Gerrard and DAVID WALLIAMS (no joke).

It really is pitiful. I cannot feasibly see how Gerrard could get it. Walliams - well smeg it maybe he has done the most deserving sporting deed this year - although surely he cannot be given it. If he is, red faces all round.

Who does that leave? Calzaghe, who any other year would not get a look in - ie. achievement imo is no more than Hatton's last year.

2nd half of the year anyone going to make a claim? I don't think a cricketer will, even if they do exceedingly well. Most recognisable face in the form of Flintoff is out.

Golf? Unless someone wins the last major of the year. Ryder Cup can't single you out, as you're only playing a couple of rounds each. Team effort in other words. Unless you're seriously suggesting woosie gets it.

Tennis. Can only be Murray, but he surely cannot be in contention barring at least a final spot at flushing Meadows, which is doubtful.

So, Walliams it is then.

Walliams is not a sportsman in any shape or form. He did a swim for charity well done but if he wins that makes a mockery of the award.

nickd wrote:Walliams is not a sportsman in any shape or form. He did a swim for charity well done but if he wins that makes a mockery of the award.

did they pubicise his swim heavily on BBC? If so he's a strong contender.......

Walliams favourite on betfair.Hatton is ahead of sicknote in the betting

Here's the link to the relevant page on the Oddschecker site..... I can;t see who I'd back at this stage with any degree of hope....

http://www.oddschecker.com/betting/mode ... sid/786700

J

Been a crap year for British sport hasnt it? Calzaghe has probably accomplished more than any other British sportsman so far in 2006 by beating Jeff Lacy so comprehensively. Gerard shouldnt get it cos he was crap in midfield in the world cup. I heard that David Walliams was being considered after his cross-channel swim. Id vote for Owen Hargreaves after all the crap he got before the world cup and his performances during the matches. I think everyone hated him because he was usually used as a negative sub e.g. drag Owen or Rooney off when we are 1-0 up and bring Hargreaves on, never popular. That wasnt his fault, the guy really showed he could play in the World Cup and looked at times as if he was the only England player that wanted to win.

Odds from Stan James. Walliams is nailed onto win it IMO

Walliams, David 3/1
Gerrard, Steven 4/1
Hatton, Ricky 9/1
Macarthur, Ellen 10/1
Panesar, Monty 10/1
Montgomerie, Colin 12/1
Calzaghe, Joe 12/1
Murray, Andy 14/1
Flintoff, Andrew 20/1
Pietersen, Kevin 20/1
Khan, Amir 25/1
Howell, David 28/1
Macey, Dean 28/1
Rooney, Wayne 33/1
Clarke, Darren 33/1
Donald, Luke 40/1
Beckham, David 40/1
Terry, John 40/1
Radcliffe, Paula 40/1
Phillips, Zara 40/1
Westmead Hawk 40/1
Cole, Joe 50/1
Harmison, Stephen 50/1
Casey, Paul 50/1
Lampard, Frank 66/1
Taylor, Phil 66/1
Mccoy, A.P 66/1
Dott, Graeme 80/1
Crouch, Peter 80/1
Williams, Danny 100/1
Button, Jensen 100/1
Johnson, Richard 100/1

Yep Walliams will get it, I do admire what he done and why he done it BUT it does not earn him sportsmen of the year and I think even he would admit that if he was honest!

If I was a real sportsmen I would be pissed!!

HH

I can't see Williams getting it, if so it will make a complete mockery of the award. Surely his link with BBC won't be that influential?

If we win the Ryder Cup it will be a golfer, and probably Montgomery if he does as well as last time.

Don't count out Monty Panesar either. We've 2 more home tests against Pakistan, plus the Ashes will be well underway by the time the votes have been counted. He's a huge cult figure already, and a couple more great bowling performances should see a lot of votes coming his way.