Even before the tour, wiggins also won 3 big early season races in europe - the likes of which are seldom if ever won by british riders

and don't forget the swearing live on air at a press conference during the tour

So swearing live on tv justifies being sport personality of the year then?

Looking at the records on wikipedia and no RL player has ever made the top 3. There's a clear and natural bias against team sports for the main award (football is well behind athletics) and GB/England's lack of consistent success won't have helped, but I'm still a tiny bit surprised - especially looking at some the relatively minor sports that have had recognition.

Saints won the team award a few years ago, of course.

After Saturday all bets will be off as the BBC award everything to the England Rah Rah's. They did it a few years ago, when England drew with NZ at Twickenham in a friendly thanks to four Rob Andrew penalties (Wow!). John Inverdale couldn't contain himself, making out that it was the greatest team performance in the history of sport. It was around the same time that Wigan had just won their 6th or 7th Challenge Cup Final on he trot.

End of thread folks, Sir Kev is nailed on!

absolutely - when you consider the context of the question that was put to him about drug use, and right at the end of a gruelling stage when he was tested in the hills. rather than trot out the usual response he spoke from the heart about people who have nothing better to do than spread rumours on twitter etc. granted it might have been a bit strong for daytime tv but it shows his passion for what he does and sets him apart from the crowd - exactly the personality you need to win things. for too long britain has had a bunch of sportspeople who are nice guys but never win anything significant (henman, bruno, radcliffe et al). now the new breed are putting it right

i think wigan have also won the team award in the past too

Wigan will have bought the award

Yep - 1994.

Knocking a golf ball around justifies being "sports personality" does it?

David Beckham won it one year - such a great personality....

I suppose its hard to single out a sole player for a whole sport but if we were to have a RL player nominated would have to be the Man Of Steel wouldn't it? besides with so many gold medal winners at the Olympics this year they were bound to dominate this years shortlist

Becks is a great guy, who's done a great deal for international football and British sport as a whole. Great sporting personality, IMO.

Perhaps `personality` is the wrong phrase for the winner of this award. Straightforward `Sports person` would be better. At the end of the day its the persons effort at his/her sport that gets judged so who gives a toss if Murray or Beckham are like they are, they have brought untold pleasure to millions.

Whole heartedly agree one of footballs better role characters

I'll see your Beckham and raise you a Nigel Mansell

'nuff said he had all the personality of a doorstop