Sports Personality of they Year: Hoy’s the Boy

Here’s a quiz question for you; Which ‘personality’ has figured in the top three of Sports Personality of the Year most often? When I tell you the answer you’ll understand why the the title of the award is a bit of a misnomer. Whilst 2008’s crop of sporting achievers is as impressive as it is diverse, if it’s personalities you’re after you’d be more entertained watching re-runs of Carly Zucker’s ‘best-bits’ on I’m a Celebrity. They are that dull.

But, I must admit I was very surprised when I looked at the betting market. I’d have thought it would be straight shoot-out between our top two speedsters, Lewis Hamilton and Chris Hoy. But it seems that Nottinghamshire lass, Rebecca Adlington, is about to gatecrash the SPOTY party. She’s been backed in to a best price of 8/11 (Boylesports, SkyBet) to pick up the famous old silver camera and join the list of Olympic medal winners who go on to be crowned the best of British by the public.

But wait, didn’t she ‘only’ win 2 gold medals in China during the Summer? I say ‘only’ because Chris Hoy managed a triple haul of gold medals in Beijing and the last time I looked 3 was greater than 2. So why the antipathy towards Hoy? What’s going on in the mindset of the public that places a girl whom 99% of us had never heard of this time last year ahead of one of our greatest ever Olympians? Who knows, but he certainly shouldn’t be the 4/1 (Bet365, Coral, SkyBet, Totesport, William Hill) outsider of three.

And what of the chicane-swerving, tax-dodging Lewis Hamilton? Runner-up in 2007’s F1 Championship was only good enough for second place in last year’s Sports Personality of the Year – and rightly so – so surely it follows that he should be in pole position to take the crown this time around after securing his first Driver’s Championship? Apparently not if you believe the betting. Perhaps if he had a personality he’d be shorter in the betting than the 10/3 on offer at Boylesports.

Of the other sporting also-rans, last year’s winner Joe Calzaghe is a massive 80/1 (Bet365) despite having yet another tremendous year in the ring. And you’ve have to think that Osama bin Laden has a greater chance of winning votes from little Englanders for his services to Hide and Seek than Andy Murray has, despite having the most successful season of a British male tennis player since time began (well almost).

As for me, my money is on Hoy. Not because I think he will win but because I think he should.

Oh yes, and the sports ‘personality’ with the most top three appearances? Steve ‘bundle of fun’ Davis of course!

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