Triggerhappytel
Member
It's a pretty inspirational story though, to come back from a broken neck and win an Olympic gold at 58 years of age.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Why do the Brits never vote for Mo Farah in SPOTY?
- Thread starter CrazyHorse
- Start date
- Status
It's a pretty inspirational story though, to come back from a broken neck and win an Olympic gold at 58 years of age.
Exactly. Bloke should be used to finishing 4th
Why is this a racial thing? Everything these days is pointed towards race and it's really jarring.
Just drop the whole racial thing. The athletes are measured on their successes alone, simple.
Mo Farah is a fantastic athlete and a great role model for future generations, just because he didn't with SPOTY doesn't affect that.
Andy Murray has had a brilliant year in tennis and I can't see many people dispute the fact he won the award.
milanbaros
Member?
I would put Murray above all of those listed, yes.
archangelmorph
Member
As much as I don't think anyone on here can conclusively say whether or not Mo's race or ethnic background came into the picture when the votes were cast (seriously, you're ignorant of your lack of evidence if you think you can authoritatively claim it has "nothing" to do with racism), I think the biggest uphill battle you're going to fight on this board OP, is convincing any number of us brits (or europeans for that matter) that we have a problem with racism.
As fucked as US race relations are, I think alot of white europeans seem to remain of the opinion that racism really isn't a major thing over here (it's not true but good luck trying to convince them of that).
As fucked as US race relations are, I think alot of white europeans seem to remain of the opinion that racism really isn't a major thing over here (it's not true but good luck trying to convince them of that).
nekkid
It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our plan.
Mo is a great athlete and does well to keep himself in the public eye, which can be hard when success in track and field is only really celebrated by the wider public around the Olympics.
The other problem is that his votes were probably diluted by the fact we had such great success in Rio across a wide range of sports.
However, he did deserve to be above Brownlee who was riding on that one single (and frankly awkward-looking) moment with his brother across the line.
autumnleaf
Member
I wouldn't give the title to anyone from Cycling or Rowing given how much money we throw at it. It's not a surprise we dominate it.
Murray has achieved what he has off the back of his own talent, sacrifices and dedication and nothing more. He's up there with any other British athlete ever.
And quorn is the best you're right.
MarkMclovin
Member
Have you just completely wiped off all of the previous black winners OP?
Why are you trying really hard to make this out to be a racial thing?
I lol'd
secondspace
Member
As long as the BBC has the rights to Wimbledon, you can expect the best British tennis player to have massive amounts of media exposure. Athletics now is really only in the public eye during the Olympics for most people and that exposure is shared between a lot more sports than it used to be..
Brexit was this year and pretty much everyone here except for a few Leave voters agreed it was hugely based on racism and xenophobia.
I don't think saying it had nothing to do with racism is fair, but claiming it's the only reason he doesn't win the award is just as ridiculous.
His win at the olympics this year was ranked 2nd most memorable british tv moment of 2016 btw, above Murray's OG win and Leicester City's title to name a couple.
There are plenty of legitimate reasons why Mo wouldn't be higher ranked overall, but if people think his immigrant background and tendency to visibly practice Islam post-win don't factor in to that, they're kidding themselves about this country.
Even members of my row club raised eyebrows over his low rank a few years ago, especially given the fact Mo gives us someone to cheer once the track and field events start - a place where we generally underachieve.
OP has said multiple times he's not disputing Andy's win (I don't think any sane person could), but Mo's overall ranking across many years.
Even members of my row club raised eyebrows over his low rank a few years ago, especially given the fact Mo gives us someone to cheer once the track and field events start - a place where we generally underachieve.
OP has said multiple times he's not disputing Andy's win (I don't think any sane person could), but Mo's overall ranking across many years.
More Fun To Compute
Member
Never really heard of Mo Farah but Andy Murray is talked about a lot. I don't really follow sports. Perhaps he is really famous if you follow that sport. For some reason Britain is lousy with successful Olympians and if you don't care so much it's impossible to keep track of them.
Charles Brandon
Member
You've never heardof Mo Farah? Really?
Fair enough then.
More Fun To Compute
Member
I haven't heard of a lot of people you would probably be shocked. I only recently learned who kim kardashian was.
How is that possible? Even if you don't have a tv you obviously have internet.
Jezbollah
Member
Let's be honest, he's no Phil "The Power" Taylor, is he?
SPOTY is a joke, show's been a joke ever since they went from Review to Personality. It's just a big circle jerk on how amazing the BBC thinks it is at covering the last shreds of sport it has rights for.
He hasn't been found guilty of indecent assault, so no.
More Fun To Compute
Member
I dunno. I don't read pop culture blogs or use things like twitter and facebook.
Do you visit news sites? The guardian etc not tmz.
archangelmorph
Member
Totally agree with you here...
Personally I'd similarly put it down to the fact that he's not the most memorable sports personality (he is quite boring and so is his sport) and then maybe there's some internal psychology at play here, where most brits' top pick would be someone they can personally identify more with, and maybe that's no Mo, given that he's clearly not so close in terms of identity, to the average brit (our population is like 87.2% ethnic white); which in itself is not racism per say...
More Fun To Compute
Member
Yes, I follow news just not generally celebrity or sports news.
I guess it's possible but even broadsheets websites lead with pop culture shit sometimes.
Brownlee had a huge campaign from his home town to get him votes, that's the only reason he's in the top 3, same reason Shaun Long was in the top 3 too. Sometimes fans of a smaller sport or someones home town will make a campaign that catches on and pushes that person into the top 3. Maybe the running community should have done something similar for Mo if they wanted him up there.
CyclopsRock
Member
That means almost literally nothing.
nekkid
It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our plan.
I feel like you would have to actively try very hard to not know who the people you mention are.
Shadowhelper
Banned
I just find it a little bizarre that anybody who has lived here or knows anything about the UK would attempt to argue against the idea that Mo Farah's SPOTY rankings is obviously a by product of the racism and Islamaphobia that is part of the culture, imo.
Now that SKY news is about to become Fox News, situation should only get worse.
autumnleaf
Member
I live here, I hate Brexit, the Tories, the Daily Mail, Islamaphobia and the rest but this isn't that. Mo Farah is actually really popular he's just unlucky he's competing at the same time as Andy Murray and the British middle-class like their silly rowing and horse sports.
He has finished 3rd once and 4th three times so it's not like he is completely overlooked. Middle-distance running just doesn't get the attention of something like Tennis. If he won the London Marathon he'd probably win SPOTY.
It means a lot of people are very much aware racism/xenophobia is a major thing in Europe too, specially on here.
I'm surprised that you're surprised OP.
Seriously, While I do believe that AM is very deserving (Actually a fan of his, and how he sticks it to the English), there is literally nothing that Mo can do that will get him that award ( I recall him falling during his race, getting back up and winning) apparently not a good enough 'story'. The reasons for which have already been covered in great detail.
One thing is certain, were he a white man, he would have won.
Seriously, While I do believe that AM is very deserving (Actually a fan of his, and how he sticks it to the English), there is literally nothing that Mo can do that will get him that award ( I recall him falling during his race, getting back up and winning) apparently not a good enough 'story'. The reasons for which have already been covered in great detail.
One thing is certain, were he a white man, he would have won.
All depends on the context, some would say Chris Froome would be as winning probably the toughest sporting event in the world 3 times is quite the achievement.
Charles Brandon
Member
Codswallop
This.
It's Roddy Piper/Chris Jericho syndrome. Massively popular and talented but around at times when better people who were more popular dominated.
RedSparrows
Member
Wtf does Trump have to do with a British TV vote? The constant elision of British and American issues is ridiculous. There are similarities but there are massive differences, and if you're going to be thoughtful you can't just say 'yeah Trump is Brexit is Trump', it's useless.
No doubt some Brits hate Farah. I'd warrant the vast majority do not. None of that suggests he MUST win SPOTY and didn't because of his heritage. Non-sequitors galore, let alone ignorning previous non-white winners.
No doubt some Brits hate Farah. I'd warrant the vast majority do not. None of that suggests he MUST win SPOTY and didn't because of his heritage. Non-sequitors galore, let alone ignorning previous non-white winners.
CyclopsRock
Member
The fact GAF largely agrees on something really doesn't make it true.
Charles Brandon
Member
A compelling rejoinder to your completely unqualified statement that if Farah was white then "it is certain" he would have won? And then you have the nerve to have a go at me for making unsupported arguments? LOL
autumnleaf
Member
Setting a World Record or winning the London Marathon could do it. The public here places greater emphasis on certain achievements, so Murray didn't win SPOTY for winning his first Slam the US Open but has both times for winning Wimbledon.
| Praxis |
Banned
Triggerhappytel
Member
Fair enough. I'm not disputing that he deserves to be up there, but I'm not sure I would list him as #1. Is he the most successful British tennis player ever?
I mean, it's entirely possible to have seen the name but not know who the person is. I watch almost no TV and don't follow pop culture at all, so I'm pretty bloody ignorant of celebrities or musicians unless it's someone who specifically fits with my tastes.
If that's true - how did Ore Oduba win Strictly at the weekend?
who's "having a go"
your only response to my post was
Not really an argument of any sort, just a shit-post,
shouldn't have acknowledged it, a mistake on my part.
My statement is my opinion, the fact that athletes who have achieved less have won the award is all the qualification my statement needs.
Done less in years British sport has done worse. Your opinion is not fact and your qualification is flawed.
CyclopsRock
Member
Tbf it's hard to make a significant response to your entirely unsubstantiated assertion though, opinion or no. "Codswallop" is, if not particularly well thought out, a similar assertion of opinion with no evidence to back it up. I mean come on: "One thing is certain, were he a white man, he would have won." It's demonstrably not "certain", so it kinda is codswallop.
Charles Brandon
Member
No. You said that it was certain that, had Farah been white, he would have won. You stated that as if it was objectively a fact and yet you provided absolutely no evidence or qualification for your claim. Why then would you expect me to provide evidence for my rebuttal when you have provided none of your own? Your risible statement deserved nothing more than what it got. If you want to make outlandish claims either support them or don't be surprised when they are dismissed out of hand.
- Status