Secondly, Glasgow staged arguably the greatest ever Commonwealth
Games, at which Scotland won a record-breaking 19 gold medals and 53
medals overall.
Thirdly, Sports Personality of the Year is being held in Scotland for the
first time in its history.
Lastly, the chair of Sportscotland, Louise Martin, was on the nominations
panel.
Those who failed to make the cut included: Commonwealth swimming champion Ross
Murdoch, who famously beat Olympic silver medallist Michael Jamieson in the
200 metres breaststroke; and Commonwealth and European athletics medallists
Eilidh Child and Lynsey Sharp, both of whom produced performances arguably
equal to those of ‘Supermum’ Pavey.
Rory McIlroy won the British Open in July
The last time no Scots appeared on the shortlist was in 2010, when the country
had the consolation of Ryder
Cup captain Colin Montgomerie being named Coach of the Year.
That was also the only year until now in which last year’s winner, Andy
Murray, failed to secure a nomination since he burst onto the scene in 2005.
However, a BBC spokesperson said: “The nominees are selected on merit; their
sporting achievements in the last 12 months having surpassed those of their
peers. Every potential nominee is debated, at length, by the panel. The
panel does not come to a decision on the shortlist based on their
nationality.”
Of the 10 nominees, four were women, the highest proportion since 2008.
Why Rory McIlroy should win BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2014
Voting takes place on the night of the live show, which comes from the SSE
Hydro Arena in Glasgow on December 14.
And it will have a distinctly Scottish theme, with performances from Simple
Minds, and Nicola Benedetti and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Murray said: “It has been a sensational year for sport in Scotland with the
Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup amongst lots of other major events that
have taken place there, and as a proud Scot it’s wonderful that we have been
in the position to be able to host so many key events in the sporting
calendar.
“Scotland did such a superb job of hosting the Commonwealths and the Ryder
Cup, and I’m sure it will be no different for Sports Personality of the
Year.
“It’ll be a special night for the whole of Scotland and the UK, celebrating
some of our best sportsmen and women.”
The BBC admitted in September that it would review whether Scotland’s sports
stars should be allowed to win the Sports Personality of the Year Award if
the country voted for independence.
Numbers game: How the two favourites measure up
Lewis Hamilton
11: The number of races Hamilton won in 2014.
3: Other British drivers to win two world championships.
33: Hamilton’s tally of career wins, one of many British records he
holds.
2.47m: Hamilton’s army of followers on Twitter.
43: The number of years since a British driver last became a double
world champion.
18: Number of years since F1’s last winner of Sports Personality of the
Year, Damon Hill.
2: Number of drivers who have won Sports Personality despite not being
world champion – Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill.
59: The number of years since a driver won the world championship with
Mercedes-Benz.
Rory McIlroy
2: The number of majors he lifted this year, the Open and the USPGA,
which he won back to back.
4: Titles in the season. As well as the majors, there was his first WGC
title in Akron and the PGA Championship at Wentworth.
24: Number of years since a male from the UK won two majors in a season
– Sir Nick Faldo in 1990.
5: The number of players who have won the career grand slam in the
game’s history. In April at the Masters, McIlroy could become the sixth, at
the age of 25.
15: Top-10 finishes in his 23 tournaments in 2014. As well as the four
wins, McIlroy came second five times, including in his last three events.
183: Under par in 22 strokeplay tournaments in 2014. That is an average
of more than two-under for every round played.