The votes are in and the people have spoken, and The Gurgler’s 2023 Person of the Year has been jointly won by Channel 7 Weekend Adventure Presenter Paul Burt, and Sporting Mascots from all around the world.
Not a bad combination Paul Burt and Sporting Mascots. Both are full of enthusiasm, love the outdoors, love a TV Camera and usually appear on weekends. They give so much and ask for so little.
Sporting Mascots lace up for their gig knowing that there’s a decent chance they’ll get abused, plus receive punches and kicks from naughty children. But they still soldier on and entertain the crowds and bring some laughs and sunshine into the days. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing funnier at a sporting contest than seeing two or more mascots punching on.
Except for that Sporting Mascot race in the UK.
Almost as dangerous as being a sporting mascot is the weekend weather presenter. But no one does it better than Paul Burt. Sure as soon as the weather is sh!t or really dangerous, you know you’re going to be sent to stand in front of a Palm Tree doing a backbend, but onwards they push to inform and entertain.
Paul Burt in particular is better than all, and this was acknowledged by The Gurgler readers with the annual gong win.
Behind Paul Burt and Sporting Mascots was a lot of sporting stars, some less obscure than others. But the sporting theme should come as no surprise given the amount of sport The Gurgler serves up. All those runner ups can have the chance to go even better in 2024, like Daniel Ricciardo in a full comeback, Mr Maximo has another year of wonderful European Cricket ahead, and Ray Stone from the NRLs Dolphins would still probably hate to be nominated.
But for now we celebrate the most recent year’s winner of The Gurgler’s 2023 Person of the Year.
Results – The Gurgler’s 2023 Person of the Year Voting
Here’s the official poll from voting.
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Results – The Gurgler’s Person of the Year Honour Roll
2018 – SBS WORLD CUP COVERAGE & GREG NORMAN
2017 – FARMER from SHAUN THE SHEEP
No Official 2021 or 2022 Winner – but we’ll say Greg Norman.
FORM GUIDE – The Gurgler’s 2023 Person of the Year Nomination Form Guide
Forgot who was nominated and why? Then here is our 2023 Gurgler Person of the Year Form Guide.
MR MAXIMO & EUROPEAN CRICKET
Vinny Sandhu aka Mr Maximo is the most famous commentator on the fantastic European Cricket Network – a sporting competition we couldn’t get enough of a few months earlier. So much so that we wrote this love letter to European Cricket.
If you missed it or don’t care, it’s your loss truly. Not Jarno Trulli.
Mr Maximo and his European Cricket Championships bring joy to those looking for good, honest sporting enjoyment every September and that joyous month is enough to not only get a nomination for Gurgler 2023 Person of the Year but to lead off the list.
RAY STONE
The Dolphins entered the NRL in 2023 and did a fine job all things considered.
And while there were a lot of great redemption stories, or career breakout moments, nothing caught The Gurgler’s attention like Ray Stone.
Not that Ray Stone seems to like attention. In fact, he’s a footballer in the Dallas Johnson style of looking like he hates everything and everyone on the rugby league field.
Ray Stone certainly lived up to his surname with rock-like defense and rolling boulder-like charges at the opposition in attack.
Normally a player like that would go under the radar, but not for Ray Stone who became a cult hero with Dolphins fans and admirers alike. And of course us.
But don’t make a big deal of it, he’d hate it.
SPORTING MASCOTS
Sporting Mascots give so much yet ask so little. That little is usually “please don’t punch or kick us” which isn’t always obeyed. Especially by children.
Although, two or more sporting mascots punching on is possibly one of the funniest things that happens at a sporting event.
Whether a sporting mascot can do gymnastics, annoy opposition players, or has a kindergarten level of mischief, they are often the real stars of a sporting contest. Or at least a welcome distraction.
So for their generosity it’s only fair to attempt to give them the credit they deserve.
DANIEL RICCIARDO
After leaving McLaren and Formula 1 with his tail between his legs to a degree after one of the worst seasons in recent years, we thought the beaming smile of Daniel Ricciardo was lost forever.
But 2023 saw the Australian stay in the scene as Red Bull reserve driver, and the smile slowly returned.
But then halfway through the season he got the call up to drive the Alpha Tauri and the beaming smile was back.
Sure his broken hand delayed his comeback season, and fellow Australian Oscar Piastri starred, but there’s just something about Daniel Ricciardo that makes him extremely likeable, and a nomination for Gurgler Person of the Year for 2023.
ANGE POSTECOGLOU
Big Ange is a winner. He wins stuff, and people love him.
Of course he arrived at Tottenham with loads of doubters, like he did at Celtic and probably everywhere he coached before, and three Manager of the Months later, and so many eye-catching results he is one of the most talked about people in the Premier League.
A real winner, and a solid nomination for Gurgler 2023 Person of the Year.
PAUL BURT
Paul Burt’s relentless enthusiasm is a real welcome in a world where anyone involved in news seems to be hell-bent or obliged to be negative.
Sure his job of weekend weather person is pretty good, but few do it better. Actually, we’ll say none.
But there’s more to him than just a live cross in front of a bridge, he has his own show, and even earlier this year left a broadcast to help save someone from potentially drowning on a Gold Coast beach. What more do you want from a Gurgler 2023 Person of the Year nomination.
COSTA GEORGIADIS
If Paul Burt is nominated for his enthusiasm for life, then one must include TV’s happiest person in Costa Georgiadis.
Any interview at anytime shows a man who simply loves doing what he does. He looks like he’d do it all for free. And he probably would.
While gardening is a bit like watching grass grow, Costa tries his best to bring the art to many households across Australia, like kids, bored 20 something adults and baby boomers who own those white metal table and chairs that sit in the garden waiting for a cup of tea and no chat.
MARTIN BRUNDLE
Best F1 commentator going around, and his grid walks which mixes awkwardness, entertainment and the odd barge in the way have become a legendary must-watch.
GLENN MAXWELL
The Big Show certainly put on one when he scored 200 on basically one leg v Afghanistan in the Cricket World Cup. That’s after breaking the record for fastest World Cup century earlier in the tournament.
Enough for us, Person of the Year nomination sorted.
IPSWICH TOWN
After so many years of mediocrity, Ipswich Towns fans like us have something to cheer for.
Out of the third division and the promotion to the second tier Championship hasn’t slowed them down. They are second in the Championship now and looking the goods to be a Premier League side next season.
