Re: New Year Honours list : Sat Dec 29, 2012 11:34 pm  

A good friend who served 26 years in the navy was 'offered' the MBE for his service (it traditionally goes to senior warrant officers), but he declined. The navy was not 'amused', he left shortly afterwards. I asked him why he knocked it back as it would look great on his CV for work in civvy life, he said that he had only ever known 'ar$holes' who had received it and didn't want to be in that club.

Re: New Year Honours list : Sun Dec 30, 2012 1:23 am  

How come Martin Offiah is only OBE, he should be Knight, Emperor and Imperial Magister of the Commonwealth with all the tries he ran in. Is riding a bike really more of an achievement than what Offiah did over his career, taking his sport to new levels.

Re: New Year Honours list : Sun Dec 30, 2012 2:06 am  

sally cinnamon wrote:

Is riding a bike really more of an achievement than what Offiah did over his career, taking his sport to new levels.

It depends if you think riding a bike (something you have to learn to do) is less important than being able to run (something we naturally are capable of) and fall over with a ball in your hand.

Re: New Year Honours list : Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:28 am  

Offiah: Iffy tackler. Terrible passer. Never saw him kick. Sh*thouse and drama queen at times. Outstanding world-beating runner. Great showman.

Does that make him a great rugby league player? The jury is out, but he was a phenomenon and a Wigan legend. Still love him, the attention-seeking geek.

Either way, cinnamon is trolling as usual.

Wiggins: well deserved.

Re: New Year Honours list : Sun Dec 30, 2012 1:11 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

How come Martin Offiah is only OBE, he should be Knight, Emperor and Imperial Magister of the Commonwealth with all the tries he ran in. Is riding a bike really more of an achievement than what Offiah did over his career, taking his sport to new levels.

He should have got the CDM (Crap Defence Medal)

Re: New Year Honours list : Sun Dec 30, 2012 1:48 pm  

The paralympians have noticed the disparity

The paralympians have noticed the disparity

Re: New Year Honours list : Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:15 pm  

Chris28 wrote:

It is, but 4 golds normally = K (see Chris Hoy).

I guess the problem is that there were effectively multiple Hoys at London 2012 across both comps. Where to draw the line? In some cases the decision has been justified by saying that certain Para/Olympians still have time in their careers to add to their achievements. I suppose had we not had such a glut of gold medals at a home Games then maybe more would have been knighted? I don't know, but it could be a reason.

And love him or loathe him, Murray should have got a CBE. First British male Wimbledon finalist for years, gold medallist and first British Grand Slam winner for over 75 years.

I don't think so. I think Murray was pitched correctly at OBE. Those above him in the structure had achieved more IMO. I would have placed Christiansen in the CBE slot myself given her double achievement in a field we have consistently failed at bearing in mind her disability makes it God knows how many times more difficult to control a horse at the most basic level never mind in a dressage ring.

Re: New Year Honours list : Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:25 pm  

cod'ead wrote: The paralympians have noticed the disparity David Weir has tweeted following the quoted element of his comments in your link, clarifying that his only point was that he thought Sarah Storey should have been awarded her damehood earlier than she has been, and I think he is right. But Pearson is just a whinger. He will whinge about everything and IMO is embarrassing the Paralympians.

cod'ead wrote: The paralympians have noticed the disparity David Weir has tweeted following the quoted element of his comments in your link, clarifying that his only point was that he thought Sarah Storey should have been awarded her damehood earlier than she has been, and I think he is right. But Pearson is just a whinger. He will whinge about everything and IMO is embarrassing the Paralympians.

Re: New Year Honours list : Sun Dec 30, 2012 4:29 pm  

JerryChicken wrote:

I love the story of how he declined both flavours of government five times in thirteen years, each offer being increased until he finally declined a knighthood in 1968 stating that he wished "to remain unchanged", Harold Wilson must have thought "WTF can we offer this bloke now ?"

I've never knowingly spoken to a "Sir" but if I did then I wouldn't address him as such, nor would I if I were ever to write to one other than the normal "Dear Sir" that everyone gets.

I once stood next to Lord Harewood in a queue for a cash machine if that counts ?

Didn't talk to him though.

I remember, years ago, waiting at a bus stop when the bloke waiting beside me announced out of the blue that he was a "Sir", I'm not entirely sure he appreciated my utter lack of falling to my knees in awe, or indeed the passing of any comment concerning this revelation.

Re: New Year Honours list : Sun Dec 30, 2012 4:35 pm  

Is 10 Paralympic golds easier to achieve than 4 olympic golds, maybe this is taken into account when deciding. Can you ever imagine seeing a single athlete competing at 400, 800, 1500 & marathon. Sarah Storey deserves her award for more than the golds she has won, she is fantastic role model for all not just disabled people and was my sports personality of the year.

I don't think you can equate the two areas equally any more than you can female and ale boxers or footballers, they are different not equal any awards should reflect this