Jeff Stelling, sports presenter of the year for the FIFTH year running, and well deserved too!

Well done Jeff.

Congratulations, Jeff.

I think him and the Prince of Darkness get their freedom of the borough this week don't they?

This Thursday, I think I read in the Echo this morning.

Well deserved IMHO.

Well done Jeff.
How long before it's SIR Jeff.

I wouldn't totally write off the possibility of him being an MBE in the next few years.

Mind you, the length of time Bruce Forsyth has gone without being knighted.

Honoured for what? He's a TV presenter and does very well at it thank you very much. He has a big house and a big bank account, his career has been for his own and his families benefit - now't wrong with that whatsoever.

But FFS lets not go saying that he's deserving of honouring! neither him, Bruce fecking Forsyth, Jimmy Tarbuck or any of the others deserve honouring. That is exactly why the honours system is such a farce. Honours should be reserved for selfless community acts or outstanding bravery. The underlying principle should be that whatever it is that you're being honoured for was not done for your own benefit.

Same story as the freedom of the town. Just plain daft.

But doesn't the town 'benefit' from his fame - admittedly it's intangible - but at least it gets the town noticed at a national level.

I'd imagine that those you name do a large amount for charity, using their name can help raise good money for good causes.

I'm not sure how it benefits. Sure it raises the profile slightly amongst those who watch skysports but even then its done in a self depricating way and it still smacks of little 'ol 'artlepool.

You have an argument on the others but my cynical mind can't help thinking that celebrities who do things for charity do it in the main to further their careers. Take live aid, a load of singers most of whom were on the way down. Their careers were given a new lease of life by that record and concert.

Everyone down here and I mean everyone when asking me who I support replies to me saying Hartlepool with, oh like that fella from Sky Sports. People love his banter and his love for Pools and the game, when he isnt on sky during mid-week matches its rubbish.

My point would be that under the CURRENT criteria used to select people for honours, Jeff Stelling is as good as the rest of the people in the entertainment business and therefore should be considered.
However, if we follow Mr I's example and use the honours system to recognise the contribution made by lots of unsung heroes and volunteers who spend their lives acting in the public interest without gain for themselves, then so be it.
Unfortunately " celebrities " and TV " personalities " are held in such high esteem by the public which, in turn, influences the people dishing out the gongs.
Personally I would follow Mr I's example and reward these unsung heroes with the recognition their efforts deserves.
It won't happen though, apart from the odd exception.

No argument there but the current system does stink.

Spot on mr derwent.

Jeff's very good at what he does, never gets caught out, when someone in the premier league scores, he can roll out a stat, when someone in the conference scores, he rolls out a stat, what i like about him is that he is very fair.

Whenever people at work ask where we are based, the first thing they normally say is ahhh that jeff stelling bloke is from there isnt he.

It's very true that Jeff has put the town on the map like NO-ONE else ever did before. I wear my shirt sometimes in the summer and when I tell people what the badge is, in one in five cases they'll say 'Sterring??'

The other four are Chinese like.....never heard of the gadgie.

Following the same logic, Arthur Hutchinson should at least get an OBE for services to Dalton Piercy and John Darwin made a Baron for putting Seaton on the map..

I think Panama will win the race for the Darwins services on release. Before them I thought it was either a cigar or a television documentary programme.

Dalton Piercy should get anything it wants.

that was panorama dopey

Was it??

Well coat me in chocolate and call me Eliza.....

Is that cos you doo very little

It would seem that whatever I do, playing with words included, someone doesn't appreciate it.