More than 14 million people tuned in to the BBC's Sports Personality Of The Year on Sunday night. It was a celebration of a fantastic summer of Olympic and Paralympic achievement. We once again applauded the athletes who had given us so much to enjoy through their achievements on the track, in the pool, in the velodrome, on the water and on the road.
Who could possibly have an unkind word to say about these heroes to many?
Liz Jones, of course, the Daily Mail's very own twisted knot of hatred who had clearly sharpened her witches-piss-flavoured pencil of spite especially for the women who attended the event.
Jones, clearly incensed that women have had the audacity to achieve something more lauded than pouring self-loathing-scented bile onto the pages of a tabloid newspaper, began:
"There's no doubt that athletes' bodies look spectacular in teeny Lycra shorts and bra tops, but unfortunately drape them in anything remotely 'fashion' ...and it just doesn't do them justice... From the over-developed shoulders to the muscular thighs, it tends to look slightly butch and uncomfortable.
"Take Rebecca Adlington, who in a swimsuit is as sleek as an otter, and who last night wore a black plunging gown. She probably has zero body fat, but still managed to look chunky..."
Throughout this piece, Jones tries to hide her snide asides behind all sorts of hollow caveats. She tells us these women are "wonderful" and "pretty". She reminds us how hopeless she would be at the sports at which they excel. But at no point does she explain why "wonderful" people deserve to have their bodies and their clothes rubbished - or even judged.
"...the women look completely out of their comfort zone when dressing up, perhaps not surprising when they often spend seven hours a day sweating, or immersed in water. They are used to trainers, not heels."
How magnanimous.
"...I always dreamed of a rower's body, but Katherine Grainger looked rather apologetic in a monochrome day dress with hideous shoes...
"[Jessica Ennis's] red gown showed off breasts we never knew she had on the running track, although her waist was a little boxy..."
"...Victoria Pendleton played it safe in a black dress that was more something you would wear to the office, not an awards do... and the shoes were just awful!
The most ridiculous caveat of all is...
"But ultimately, who cares if they don't look like they've stepped off the pages of Vogue...
Liz Jones does. Hence the spiteful article. Though the rest of us are left guessing as to why.
Of course, nobody has to appear in Vogue to prove their worth. But just to prove Jones is not only nasty and irrational but also fundamentally wrong, here is Victoria Pendleton on the pages of Vogue... and again. And Jess Ennis.
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