Clarke doesn't want sympathy award
Monday, 27 November 2006 10:28Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke believes super-middleweight boxing world champion Joe Calzaghe deserves to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Ulsterman Clarke is among the favourites to win after helping Europe to victory over America this year less than two months after the death of his wife, Heather, from cancer.
But the father of two believes winning the award would be a 'sympathy vote' and claims there are others more deserving of the award.
'A large part of it doesn't feel right,' he told The Times.
'I haven't won a major or anything like that. It is not as if I beat Tiger [Woods] down the stretch at the Open.
'Part of me thinks it is very flattering that people would vote for me. I can't say no to that. But as I say, a large part of it doesn't feel right.
'I'd be getting it for Heather and I don't want that. That's the sympathy vote.
'I think Joe Calzaghe should get it because he is a world champion. He is a proper sportsman.
'I don't want to stand up there and receive the trophy and burst into tears. That would be wrong.'
