BBC sports personality of the year?

This annual event seems to have become just about as much of an institution as the BBC itself. I sort of want to make excuses for it, but this last two years at least have been a farce. I'd be embarrassed but I'm nothing to do with it...apart from the British bit, which is hidden in acronym anyway. I'm not here to say who should have won it. I do have an opinion, but I'll get trumped by the democracy card. I could have voted, right? And I didn't, so I shouldn't be complaining about the result.
So, Ryan Giggs - a great football player with a distinguished career at the top level. That's my opinion, and I'm not alone there by a long way. But the 2009 sports personality of the year surely needs more than a distinguished, what...15 year career? He's become a bit player. He's nearly at the end of that distinguished career. He's nearly extinguished that distinguished career. There have been many better sporting years for Giggs than 2009. Why not those years? If you (one) are (is) actually voting to celebrate his distinguished career, surely this is the wrong forum? Isn't there a lifetime achievement award? What has he done more this year than any other? Or is it that the competition was weaker than other years?
A motor racing world champion in a début team for example?
The world's best female heptathlete perhaps?
Or is the vote genuinely about personality? Is he the most interesting? the most charitable? the best example to kids?
More so than the others? More so than other years?
Again, I certainly don't want to take away from his achievements. Indeed, I can't and I wouldn't try....but Ryan Giggs, BBC sports personality of the year?
Maybe in '99...