ContinueThere have been years when the BBC's SPOTY has been, frankly, a joke. Not for the show, nor the presentation, but for the contenders.
No offence to Greg Rusedski, who is one of life's good guys, but when he won in 1997 for losing the US Open final the whole idea behind the show reached an all-time low. This year, it is safe to say, there will be no such problems.
Indeed, it is a complete contrast. It is not about finding ten sports personalities worthy of making the shortlist, but working out who can be left out.
As a humble offering this is my view. Please note, unlike last year, there is no excuse for not including plenty of sportswomen.
1: Bradley Wiggins: The Modfather just edges it due to his historic Tour de France win coupled with a time trial Olympic gold medal, his fourth gold and seventh medal in total.
2: Mo Farah: Provided the British highlight of the Games, certainly on the track, and arguably in the whole, glittering team. By claiming the 5K, 10K double he made British sporting history and created the MoBot, the craze of the summer.
3: Andy Murray: At last the British public have grown to love him for his tears of despair after losing the Wimbledon men's final to Federer (and hugging the little boy)and then winning the Olympic gold by this time beating Federer. If the wins the US Open, thus becoming the first British majors winner since Fred Perry in 1936, then he will edge Mo and push Wiggo hard.
4: Sir Chris Hoy: Another two gold medals, making it six in total and thus, statistically, Britain's greatest Olympian at the ripe old age of 36, and yet he can't even make the top 3. That's how good this sporting year has been.
5: Ben Ainslie: This is ridiculous. Big Bad Ben makes it four gold medals in successive Games to become the most successful Olympic sailor ever and he's only 5th! His silver in 1996 means Ainslie's medal haul stands at 5.
6: Laura Trott: The new Queen of the track and a breath of fresh air, the double gold medallist promises to be a serial winner inside the velodromes of the world for the next ten years and more.
7: Jess Ennis: One of the faces of the Olympics, and on the back of two defeats in the world indoor and outdoor championships a year ago, Jess overcame all the expectation to smash the heptathlon. Think Cathy Freeman and this was not far behind.
8: Katherine Grainger: The gold greeted with more happiness than any other, the three-time Olympic silver medallist finally cracks it in partnership with Anna Watkins, and a nation rejoiced.
9: Victoria Pendleton: The Queen of the track abdicates with a keirin gold and a sprint silver. She deserves recognition for a stellar Olympic career.
10: Charlotte Dujardin: Not sure she will make the official top 10 but she makes mine because how can we ignore a double gold medallist in the team and individual dressage, doing more than her bit to help make London glow with gold.
Honourable mentions:
Jason Kenny: two gold medals in the velodrone and he doesn't make the top 10? Ridiculous.
Nicola Adams: wins the first ever women's boxing gold medal in Olympic history sporting the biggest smile at the Games.
Jade Jones: precocious teenager wins taekwondo gold and launches one of the best celebrations. Her helmet is currently orbiting Mars.
Pete Reed and Andrew Triggs Hodge: Successive gold medals in the men's coxless fours.
Rory McIlroy - the one non-Olympian to make it after claiming the US PGA title.
Other awards:
Team of the Year? Team GB. Enough said.
Coach of the Year: Dave Brailsford - hands down.
International Star of the Year? - Come on! Usain. (Special mention for David Rudisha too, though).
Brothers of the Year - the fabulous Brownlee boys.
Tears of the Year - a tough one, but Chris Hoy edges it.
Sports Broadcaster of the Year - Claire Balding, by a mile.
