That’s why I was delighted when asked by the BBC to join with 26 other sports editors from various newspapers and magazines to help compile a 10-strong short-list for the highly prestigious Sports Personality of the Year awards.
Thanks in the main to Twitter – outraged members of the public and highly successful women athletes are biting back after the final 10 were announced. Now we the judges are being judged . . . and sadly some of my highly-respected colleagues are turning on each other.
I was surprised to find myself being publicly ticked off by our sister publication the Daily Mirror and one of my favourite papers the Daily Mail. I’m thinking people in glass houses etc!
What have I done apart from compile a list of 10 people I truly believe deserve nomination?
It took me a day or so to reflect on the sporting year before I got down to penning my names which I readily admit – although don’t apologise for – has a regional flavour.
Within hours I was disappointed to learn from the BBC that Sir Alex Ferguson couldn’t be included on my list - even though he’d just completed a remarkable 25 years at Old Trafford during which he has won 26 trophies.
This had nothing to do, I was reassured, with him having had a well-publicised long-running spat with the BBC, which has now been settled. The top award was for someone who had played the sport during the calendar year.
I also double checked that foreign stars could be included, so long as they live and compete in Britain.
I wanted to recognise United’s 19th top-flight title, City’s long-awaited silverware, Lancashire’s amazing feat of winning the County Championship outright for the first time in 77 years and Wigan getting their hands back on the Challenge Cup.
Only Sam Tomkins, the Warriors’ young superstar, came to mind when I thought about Wigan’s success. I thought he’s sure to get nominated in later years when he reaches his peak, so I concentrated mainly on our other three success stories.
My list included three foreigners which, bizarrely, seems to have upset some people. And I only named one woman, swimmer Keri-anne Payne.
When all the votes from the other sports editors were collated, no woman made the final 10, which is believed to be a disappointing first.
Why is that? It is absurd to imply women in sport don’t get their share of publicity.
I look for balance, not tokenism, and any person who excels in sport makes column inches. You only just have to look at the publicity stars like Jessica Ennis, Rebecca Adlington, Victoria Pendleton and Tanni Grey-Thompson have had in recent years when they have been successful.
As a sports editor, one of the factors I consider when judging the worth of a story is the interest levels in the sport concerned. And it is an absolute fact that any
journalists worthy of the name are there to give their readers, listeners or viewers what they want, not what we think they should have.
I’m not totally convinced about the final list, with boxer Amir Khan and tennis ace Andy Murray getting the nod ahead of Payne, taekwondo world champion Sarah Stevenson or Crewe-based cyclist Shanaze Reade. But that was the result of a process that has rightly brought the BBC criticism because it included the votes from representatives of magazines Zoo and Nuts – and the Beeb has now promised to review it.
Tuesday was the day nominations were published ... and Twitter went bonkers. I found myself ‘trending’, which was an unusual experience to say the least!
It wasn’t as daunting as going on Woman’s Hour on Radio 4 though! Just an aside, if the BBC are so concerned about being politically correct and have female presenters criticising the all-male list, why does the corporation spend so much of our money securing the broadcasting rights for male-dominated Premier League football and Formula One?
For what it’s worth, and so people can comment fairly on my reasoning, here are my nominations and why I chose them.
James Anderson: The stats prove he was the best Test bowler in the world this year and played a key role in England winning the Ashes in Australia and becoming the No 1 side in the world. The Lancashire ace never seems to get as much recognition as he deserves.
Dimitar Berbatov: People seem to forget he was joint top scorer in the Premier League last season to help United knock Liverpool off their perch with a 19th title. I knew this nomination would raise eyebrows but the Bulgarian remains a class act and continues to give United a different attacking option which Sir Alex himself acknowledged just recently.
Glen Chapple: The Lancashire captain led the county he has served with distinction for 21 years to glory after such an incredibly long wait. Played through injury during the dramatic last match of the season to help claim the title.
Darren Clarke: He just had to be in. The popular Open champion is the bookies’ favourite and they are rarely wrong.
Rory McIlroy: The new kid on the block won the US Open in June in such style. He is the future of the game.
Keri-Anne Payne: The Stockport Metro swimmer was the first to be picked for the GB team for London 2012 after her open water world triumph – that says it all.
Paul Scholes: A superb servant at United hailed not just in Manchester and England but around the world as one of the best to have played the game. Winning the award would have been a fitting tribute to his genius.
Andrew Strauss: The England cricket captain is an obvious choice having led the team to Ashes victory and now to being ranked the No 1 Test team on the planet.
Yaya Toure: I wanted to recognise the Blues’ FA Cup triumph but it was difficult to pick an individual. He, of course, scored the key Wembley goals against United in the semi-final and then to beat Stoke in the final.
Patrick Vieira: From the reaction I’ve had, probably my most controversial choice. I stick by it because of his amazing career at the then all-conquering Arsenal and his now influential ambassadorial role at City.
A recognition of his lifetime achievements.
Remember, it is all about opinions and I’m not saying my nominations are right. What I would say is it is tougher than you think to come up with just 10 names, male or female. Give it a try and post your 10 at manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Let the debate go on.
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Comments
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Nice deflection Peter. Big picture of Keri Anne, a poll and showing incredulity about the absence of three females despite the fact two of them you yourself hadn't thought worthy of a place. Not really what you were accused of though is it?
This makes your newspaper look both insular and parochial. You clearly have listed 2 City players to appease the native audience having already picked Berbatov and Scholes. That Giggs was awarded it last year was a mistake, there is already an award for lifetime achievement award. If Scholes was judged on this calendar year's performance (in which he has been retired for the majority of), he wouldn't be anywhere near a nomination.
Peter, I wouldn't expect to be asked again. You've managed to embarrass both your newspaper and the area you claim to represent.
Keri-Anne is fit!
Yeah Mike, he did. Realised that a couple of minutes after posting. Should have remembered as I did actually vote for him. Ah well, thanks for pointing it out ; )
This compliant about lack of women is all about tokenism. I challenge anyone to name 25 A list women sports stars. Whereas we can all name 100's of male stars. More people watch Berbatov, Yaya each week than watch Kerri-anne whatsit, in a lifetime.
If there have been no stand out women this year then there should not be any on the list. The blunt truth is, there have been no stand out women athletes. I cannot even think of one who has achieved anything this past year.
i would judge the comments off the above person on his ability to be a fair character himself as when he referees a game on a saturday and someone complains about his performance he insults them and assaults them knowing they can not say anything in return as they will be banned and heavily fined and he hides behind that fact is he a good judge off character ?? I DONT THINK SO !!
i do feel it is a big shame that when you have some one commenting on a persons view on celeb etc you have a gentleman ( term loosley) who speaks about his opinion etc , yet when on a sat he refs a game and places his hand on a Mgr who complains about a decision that even the opposite team are bemused about !! then screams in his face and snatches the flag out off his hand . If this was the other way round i would have a couple off hundred pound fine and long ban but it is ok for him to man handle me !! and he has an opinion on other people - GLASS HOUSES ??