Humphrey Appleby Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Farah is a strange case. He is possibly the greatest male athlete to ever represent GB & NI, seems very popular amongst athletics fans and portrays a wholesome family man image. Whether the Salazar case and the wider drug implications within the sport have had an effect or whether he is not seen as truly British due to his being born in Somalia and having part of his family left behind there, I don't know. Maybe people are just fed up with the 'Mo-Bot',,,? I've nothing against athletics, but it's just not of much interest to the average member of public most of the time, and long distance track is especially dull. Unfortunately, there's also the widespread doping that does go on, which casts suspicion on every athlete. Is the 'born overseas, lives overseas', viewpoint a reason why Froome does not appear as popular as recent winners from the sport of cycling? That and the sport's continuing association with drugs. Froome is just riding under a flag of convenience. Not born in Britain, didn't grow up in Britain, and seemingly hardly ever comes to Britain. Plus cycling is full of drug cheats. At least Mo Farah grew up in Britain, even though he apparently doesn't spent much time here anymore for tax reasons. Similarly, Kevin Sinfield would appear to have received a Rugby League Vote this year. Would say the guy is hardly known outside the sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY69 Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Farah is a strange case. He is possibly the greatest male athlete to ever represent GB & NI, seems very popular amongst athletics fans and portrays a wholesome family man image. Whether the Salazar case and the wider drug implications within the sport have had an effect or whether he is not seen as truly British due to his being born in Somalia and having part of his family left behind there, I don't know. Maybe people are just fed up with the 'Mo-Bot',,,? Is the 'born overseas, lives overseas', viewpoint a reason why Froome does not appear as popular as recent winners from the sport of cycling? That and the sport's continuing association with drugs. Jess Ennis has now featured four times in the top three and is as good and popular as any previous female athlete, but will she ever win one now? Maybe athletics simply isn't as popular as it once was during the days of Thompson, Foster, Ovett, Coe, Cram, etc. No doubt Murray would've been the recipient of a 'Scottish Vote', but he did - almost single-handedly, win the Davis Cup back for Britain and appears to be a very proud, sporting Brit and respectful of the National Anthem. The way he broke away from the team's celebrations in Belgium to console his opponent and the Belgium team, was admirable. Similarly, Kevin Sinfield would appear to have received a Rugby League Vote this year. Hamilton, I can understand why he and F1 are not as popular this year as last. Fury probably blotted his own copybook before the voting. It is amazing to think that speedway, in the shape of Barry Briggs, managed two runners up spots in the '60's and that in itself is a sign of how the sport's popularity has waned since then. People have mentioned the work that Tai does for GOSH, but it shouldn't be forgotten that Murray and others do similar charity work, possibly not quite as heralded as Tai's as well. Even if the the unlikely was to happen and a speedway rider found himself on the nominated list, it would still take a huge number of votes to obtain a podium place, let alone a win, and I don't know if the speedway family is big enough to achieve that these days. Not for me. He is a great middle distance runner but that doesn't compare to an athlete that excels as several events such as Daley T or Jess E. I agree with that even if shortlisted, Woffinden would get nowhere near enough votes to trouble the scorer. Kevin Sinfield - who's he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Not for me. He is a great middle distance runner but that doesn't compare to an athlete that excels as several events such as Daley T or Jess E. I agree with that even if shortlisted, Woffinden would get nowhere near enough votes to trouble the scorer. Kevin Sinfield - who's he? I know where you are coming from. But it's a judgement call. Being from an athletics background, I'd say the most competitive events are the 100m, 1500m and 10,000m. Jess and Daley are all-time greats and the best of their eras at multi-eventing. I think Jess would be a worthy winner this year given she has come back from pregnancy, has nothing to prove, but still does the business at the top level. However - and its a very small 'however' - not everyone in the world has access to a javelin, hurdles or a long jump pit. But we all have legs and - at some point in life - we have all ran and raced. Mo is the best in the world at running at running a long way. He's the best at something millions and millions of people have done and continue to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endeavour Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 I know where you are coming from. But it's a judgement call. Being from an athletics background, I'd say the most competitive events are the 100m, 1500m and 10,000m. Jess and Daley are all-time greats and the best of their eras at multi-eventing. I think Jess would be a worthy winner this year given she has come back from pregnancy, has nothing to prove, but still does the business at the top level. However - and its a very small 'however' - not everyone in the world has access to a javelin, hurdles or a long jump pit. But we all have legs and - at some point in life - we have all ran and raced. Mo is the best in the world at running at running a long way. He's the best at something millions and millions of people have done and continue to do. The athletics vote was split 3 ways which didn't help Jess. I coach swimming and you could argue Adam merited top 3. World champion and world record holder. Swimming only really has any profile at all in Commonwealth and Olympic year. I still think Murray was one of the few along with Ennis and Peaty who would have merited it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 What Mo Farah has achieved and goes onto achieve is incredible. We have waited 30 years for a world-class male distance runner. Now we have an absolute all-time great and I think he's rather taken for granted. Don't want to sound like a t0sser, but here goes..I used to be the media manager for Team GB and I've worked with a few of these people. Mo, in particular, is a very nice fella. Macca sum it up there can be no doubt that not being Born in the uk has been a huge part of him not winning it ..to me he should it won it for the last two years as like you said what he has achieve is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Yes, but the Davis Cup on the BBC... Without wishing to knock the achievement of the team, Andy Murray was involved in 11 of the 12 rubbers that Great Britain won during the David Cup campaign. In fact, he won 8 of the 12 single handedly. The Davis Cup seems to be more of a Best Pairs than team competition. yes, bit like greg in world cup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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