S.P.O.T.Y.

[land_of_bo]

Should have been Cav.

[michael]

Cav's sprint to take the Champs Elysees stage win in Le Tour was utterly incredible. First man to ever win that stage two years running.

Bizarre that the BBC chose not to highlight his green jersey win in the Vuelta.

[donkey]

Beckham Lifetime Achievement. He's not even fucking retired from football yet.

Edit: and stop cocking applauding.

I thought Stalin had finished a speech.

[Summerof69]

Bizarre that the BBC chose not to highlight his green jersey win in the Vuelta.

Probably due to the fact that the BBC don't own the TV rights.

[LucienSanchez]

I'd have given it to Amy Williams... and the award, way ohhhhhh

[Plumstead Red]

Rant alert:

SPOTY used to be one of my favourite programmes growing up as a kid. That was when they used to review what had gone on in each sport during the year (in fact, was it called Sports Review of the Year before?). There was no sense at all this year of the drama that takes place in any sport - the Premiership, the World Cup story, the tennis slams, the Six Nations, the cricket Tests. Just a couple of seconds shot of a dramatic goal, a good putt, a winning shot. So there is no sense of narrative at all. We don't even see of the nominees how good their year has been, it's often instead some gushing tributes from their friends and family about how good all round blokes and lasses they are, about how early they get up to train, how they are last to finish training once all their competitors have gone home, and other tedious platitudes that you would assume if people were talented and dedicated sportsmen and women. The only hint this year of a narrative was a few clips from the Ryder Cup, but sport ebbs and flows, and there was no sense whatsoever of a story arc about the dramas of sport in 2010 for the two hours of this programme.

The Personality thing used to be an add on. I suppose they have to milk every last vote out of it now, but the bookies have it sown up anyway with who is going to win. I think AP McCoy was a worthy winner, particularly given the career he has had.

A lifetime achievement award to Becks? Please! The award given earlier in the evening to Frank Williams would have been much more fitting. The most moving tribute I can remember was given to Sir Bobby Robson three years ago, that is truly a "lifetime achievement award". That was the last time this programme impressed me.

Fitting 12,000 people into an arena with fireworks, stage smoke, getting Catherine Jenkins on to sing during the obituaries tribute when they should just put a CD on - so much razzamatazz but when you look at what the programme offered, for me it was a real disappointment.

I'll probably watch it next year though, just because a) there's nothing else on and b) to see whether it improves.

[Ardiles]

Good post.  I'll always watch it, I must admit.  But there were several occasions this year where I nearly threw a shoe in Sue Barker's general direction.  Questions such as...

Tell us how important your parents have been in supporting you over the years?

Can you remember what you were you feeling immediately before the final putt?

should trigger an automatic refund of the licence fee.  Shoddy, banal and boring.