Time Out by Simon_Doyle

Just looking at the range of views in our forum regarding Ryan Giggs being named Sports Personality of the Year, I must admit I share the same surprise that he's been given it now.

Before anyone starts accusing me of some anti-Man United bias (as if I would ever allow such predjudice to cloud my judgement!), I would say Giggs has been a model pro, unlike some of his contemporaries, but you can't help thinking that it's all to do with giving him a nice pat on the back before his career comes to a close. (Yes, I know he's going to sign a one-year extension)

The same thing occurred when last April when Giggs was named PFA Player of the Year when he wasn't exactly a permanent fixture in the United side. There were better form players that season, but his fellow pros thought his longevity needed recognising.

Maybe that the problem with such awards - sentiment rather than just current sporting success comes into consideration - and you'd have to say that Giggs would perhaps have been deserving of a lifetime achievement award, but that was already earmarked for brave old Seve.

It would have made more sense to give him the award back in 1998-99 season when he was scoring one of the best goals you'll ever see and United were picking up the treble, but sometimes we don't seem to recognise brilliance until it's too late. 

Most of us, bookies included, had Jenson Button as the surefire winner of the SPOTY award, and only those in the know would have been able to capitalise on it when Giggs was a 100-1 outsider for the award.

So if you fancy a punt on who's going to win it next year, remember it's World Cup year, and Murray will again be gunning for Wimbledon. Latest odds include Andy Murray 6-1, Lewis Hamilton 8-1, David Beckham 8-1, Wayne Rooney 10-1, Jenson Button 12-1, David Haye 14-1, or how about Bradley Wiggins to pull off success in Le Tour and claim the award at 50-1. I'd say it was odds on that I'm going to kop some abuse from the Giggs appreciation society.