David Beckham, who made the shortlist of five in the final voting for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year but didn't make the top three, would certainly not begrudge his new pal Jonny Wilkinson the honour of claiming the title the England skipper himself won a couple of years ago.
There was only ever going to be one winner, wasn't there, and Becks will be delighted that the man whose last-gasp drop kick won the Rugby World Cup for England was hailed by fellow sportsman and BBC viewers alike as the undisputed star of 2003.
Although Becks could not be at last night's glittering, star-studded ceremony in London, as he was on club duty with Real Madrid who claimed a 2-1 victory against Deportivo, there was no keeping him out of the spotlight as he gave a pre-recorded interview for the programme.
He gave an interesting insight into his life in Spain too, admitting that he was as happy as he'd been for a long time, living in Madrid and gracing the white of Real. "It's an honour to be taking the field with so many wonderful, world class stars and I've loved every minute," he said.
"People have said that, looking at me playing for Real Madrid, they have never seen me so happy and it's true that I am really enjoying my time over here. But then I am always happy when I'm on the football field, whether it's playing for Real or representing my country."
Another wonderful sportsman in line for a top award is Thierry Henry who we all expect to today be named FIFA Footballer of the Year today - teammate Dennis Bergkamp certainly thinks that the player he describes as 'the best in the world right now' should be duly honoured.
With Henry continually linked with a move to Real Madrid, and at a time when Chelsea are said to have tabled a £40-50m bid for the French striker, Bergkamp goes along with the view of everyone at Highbury that the jewel in the Arsenal crown should not be sold off at any price.
The Dutchman declared: "The club has said he's not for sale and that's fantastic for the players as well as the fans. There haven't been many players like him in 100 years of football, with all the qualities and skills that he has.
"We know how important he is for us. He's the best in the world right now so we don't want to get rid of that. I don't think you can buy a player now who is similar to him. You'd have to start all over again with a younger player, which would take you three or four years. Why should we do that?"
Staying at Highbury, with confirmation of the fact that the funding for Arsenal's £400m new stadium at Ashburton Grove is now in place, Arsene Wenger has committed his future to the club and even declared that this could be his last job in management.
"I do not feel that I have to move in a couple of years, " said the Gunners chief. "At Arsenal, with a new stadium, I believe I can help this club become one of the top three or four clubs in the world.
For me that would be fantastic.
"I will continue here as long as I feel I can be successful. A manager must push a club forward. I want a new training ground and stadium. I think the finance is in place for the stadium - it is 90 per cent.
"We have a fantastic youth set-up with players coming through, I want to be part of pushing this club higher and, as a manager, this could be my last job."
Fellow Frenchman Gerard Houllier, meanwhile, is coming under increasing pressure at Anfield following Liverpool's latest setback at the weekend, with the likes of Tommy Smith and Ian St John queuing up to have a pop at the beleaguered boss.
Let's get the views of the much-decorated Smith first of all as he says: "This is Liverpool, not just an ordinary team. It is the history of what is on Merseyside and this team are just not good enough. Some of the players at Liverpool just should not be there.
"We get beaten at home by the likes of Southampton and Bolton. And we cannot scuff a win at Newcastle. Something is drastically wrong. You look at his players and you have to say they have not improved over the last couple of years."
Whilst Smith is not exactly suggesting Houllier should go, St John disagrees and says: "He came with a five-year plan, that five years is up and we are no nearer winning the championship, never mind getting back to European champions status.
"He has had a go at it, failed to do it and I think he has to stand aside and let someone else take over," added the former Liverpool striker who even suggested, on Five Live yesterday, that Houllier's heart problems have clouded his judgement. Poppycock!
