Ambushed by awards

As if the ambush of annual sporting awards at this time of the year isn't bad enough, announcements of the "athletes of the century" are now pouring in on a daily basis.

Just this week we heard that Pele was voted footballer of the century by an international panel, Carl Lewis received Texas Athlete of the Century to add to his IAAF award, and Juan Carlos Zabala was named Argentinean Athlete of the Century for his 1932 Olympic marathon success.

Sir Donald Bradman was also named Australia's male sport star of the century for his success in cricket, and they also announced the more novel sporting moment of the century for mile runner John Landy. He stopped to help his Australian rival Ron Clarke to his feet in the 1956 national mile championship before rejoining the race and coming from behind to win.