SPOTY NOT TO BACK HIM

Hendry: Rocket’s worthy of crown

Stephen Hendry says it would have been “scandalous” had Ronnie O’Sullivan not been in the running for tonight’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is the bookies’ favourite, with jockey Hollie Doyle and Liverpool player Jordan Henderson also on the six-strong shortlist.

But Hendry is backing the Rocket after his old sparring partner followed in his footsteps.

The Scot was the last snooker player to be shortlisted for the gong and finished runner-up to Paul Gascoigne in 1990.

Seven-time world champion Hendry, who twice won the Scottish SPOTY version, said: “I’m pleased for him.

“It’s long, long overdue. It would have been scandalous if he hadn’t been nominated.

“I do think he’s got a great chance of winning – we all know how popular Ronnie is.

“People love watching him because you never know what’s going to happen next.

“He crosses the boundaries of all sports. He’ll speak to people in the street but I don’t know many snooker players who do that these days.

“When you look at other sports there are people who stand out – and Ronnie stands out in snooker..

“Otherr players watch him.m. I supposee in footballll you havee Lionel Messi, he’s’s p robabl y watched by other footballers. He just stands always been a snobbery towards out in respect of his talent. it. Snooker and probably darts

“And Ronnie does that in as well, we’re not seen as being snooker. It was special being big enough to get to the table. nominated and I still think it’s “When I was nominated there a big deal now.” were a few remarks that I had no

Six- time world champion personality there, it was just O’Sullivan has all of snooker’s based on what I’d won. major records except eclipsing “But with Ronnie, he’s the full Hendry’s record Crucible haul. package. It gives someone who

Five- time world champion deserves to be recognised, like Steve Davis is the only player to Ronnie, a long-awaited honour.” pocket the SPOTY award, in Hendry announced a shock 1988, while being in the top three comeback in September, eight on three occasions. Hendry years after retiring. added; But he’s waiting for fans to “Snooker return before he plays again. i s st i l l The 51-year-old said: “People v iewed have got to remember it’s not a in the full-time comeback. sameway, “I realised most tournaments it always were going to be in Milton Keynes has been. with no crowd and that’s not why The T r e ’ s I came back to play.”

CUE AN UPSET Hendry and O’Sullivan