Marp Earps was crowned the winner of Spoty, ahead of Stuart Broad and Katarina Johnson-Thompson in the public vote. Photo: PA/David Davis
Seventy years later, Pete Tong has been named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. A bold decision to open the award with Essential Mix and the rhyming slang tus, given the associations with his name and the constantly tense status of this competition. Once Spoty was the uncontroversial choice for a cozy Sunday afternoon in front of the TV, now it's midweek and everyone seems to be just upset about it.
Much of the copious ire this innocuous program is generating is due to branding. The word “personality” is problematic in the context of achievement, as in other areas. Who was more memorable: Chris Martin or Shane MacGowan? It's not a competition, but who has done better? Who would you like to see in the decathlon?
In our increasingly segmented world, it would be difficult to explain the concept of a universal intersport award to an American, let alone a foreigner. Everything has to be covered for two hours, which inevitably infuriates sports fans or athletes who get less screen time. The year-in-review montages feel particularly redundant, with the Super Bowl segueing into gymnastics into Matt Weston's unforgettable skeleton world title. What do you mean you forgot about the skeleton world title?
As for 2023, the word “year” also seems to cause confusion. Two of the nominees – Stuart Broad and Frankie Dettori – got there on the basis of their lifetime achievements rather than their outstanding years. Clare Balding happily supported Dettori's segment and the SD footage of his early days was enjoyable. It's a shame he could only join via video, speaking fluent English but with a strong accent, making it feel like Italy was announcing its Eurovision vote.
Frankie Dettori has been shortlisted for the second time, having previously finished third in 1996. Photo: PA/David Davies
Zero points for Gabby Logan's opening reference to World Cup footage that left her disconnected, like a throwback to Zooms blocking. Former winners Barry McGuigan and Paula Radcliffe being interviewed in the audience while everyone else looked at the big screen rather than the conversations going on next door was jarring, but perhaps it was a commentary on how distracted we are from live sport. every second. screens. Danny Dyer Danny Dyer broke into football this year and pronounced Jude Bellingham's last name only with its first and last consonant.
Rory McIlroy didn't even appear in the video after the mildly disturbing depiction of his Ryder Cup heroics. instead he sent in stunt double Tommy Fleetwood. A harrowing night for young putting fans who were allowed to stay up late in the hope of seeing their hero trade tepid banter with Gary Lineker.
Isa Guha and Greg James then upped the humor level in their Ashes resume. You can see both moving into Lineker/Balding status in the coming years and you hope they can keep the sparkle in their eyes. The emotional high brought awards to unsung hero Desmond Smith, chairman of the Sheffield Caribbean Sports Club, as well as well-deserved recognition for Fatima Whitbread and Kenny Dalglish.
Kenny Dalglish was joined by family members and former Liverpool players as he received his lifetime achievement award. Photo: PA/David Davis
Despite a well-executed montage, the Women's World Cup in England never delivered the happy ending we craved. Logan and Alex Scott then spoke out with steel about Luis Rubiales' rude behavior after Spain won the final. Lovely words, but hard to get away from in tone, which did the Mary Earps section little favor.
Anyway, Earps took the trophy as expected and greeted with delight Lineker's father's “I knew it” joke that you won't drop him” with a sarcastic air drum roll, and then responded in kind, promising to leave the stage before she “gets the boot from Gary Lineker.”
This year the show seemed more sophisticated, less burdened with platitudes, uninteresting but enjoyable. Could it develop along the same path as A Question of Sports? Unlikely, given that it is one of the few properties adjacent to sports venues that the BBC can lay claim to. Most tellingly, it still seems to irritate people. If it mattered as little as the critics claim, they would not be angry, but would remain silent.
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