SPOTY Dogs

The ten names of the nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of The Year (SPOTY) are out. Incidentally can you think of any women who should have been included in this testosterone-filled list?

They are in betting order:

Mark Cavendish 1/2 Favourite

Won the green jersey in the Tour De France as well as becoming world road race champion. A contender but odds-on seems a bit skinny and I’d oppose him.

Darren Clarke 7/2

Charming golfer from Northern Ireland who won the Open this year. Would have a better chance if McIlroy hadn’t also won a major this year but seems a likeable character whose major success has come late on in his career.

Rory McIlroy 9/1

Charming golfer from Northern Ireland who won the US Open this year (sounds familiar). The fact that he came back from his Masters meltdown will count for him but might be one to win it in later years.

Mo Farah 10/1

Won 5000m gold at the World Championships – no chance until wins Olympics.

Luke Donald 33/1

World’s number 1 golfer but still not won a major, so no chance in a field of 2 major winners.

Alistair Cook 40/1

Key part of the team that won the Ashes in Australia but captained the 1 day team to a 5-0 series drubbing in India so probably won’t win this.

Andrew Strauss 100/1

Captain of Ashes-winning team: outside chance.

Dai Greene 125/1

400m Hurdles gold at the World Athletic Championships – no chance until wins Olympics.

Amir Khan 150/1

Lost titles to Lamont Peterson after nominees announced – no chance.

Andy Murray 200/1

Starts off favourite for this every year and then fails to win a major – no chance!

Supposedly awarded for sporting achievement in the current year, this award has recently appeared to be awarded for lifetime achievements. Did Ryan Giggs deserve it in 2009 for his achievements in that year? Although he did regularly score away from home that year… I’m going to oppose the favourite Cavendish at such short odds and might have a little tickle on a couple of the dogs, namely Clarke and McIlroy and hope they don’t trip each other up. So sit down with a cup of tea on Thursday 22nd December and watch the review of the sporting year whilst wishing all the time you’d bought your Christmas presents already.