Carl Frampton has questioned whether the BBCs Sports Personality of the Year is anti-Northern Ireland after he and other stars from the country were omitted from the awards shortlist.The Belfast boxer, who in 2016 unified super bantamweight world titles before moving up a division to win the WBA world featherweight title, claimed he would have been selected on the 16-strong list if he was English.Framptons remarks came as Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley vowed to raise concerns around the absence of Northern Ireland nominees at Westminster.As well as a regional basis, Frampton suggested the selection was also potentially anti-boxing.He also asked why two-time world Superbike champion Jonathan Rea from County Antrim and Team GBs most decorated Paralympian at Rio, Bethany Firth, were also omitted.Paralympians who won fewer medals in Brazil than the County Down swimmers haul of three golds and a silver did make the 16.I feel like I should have got on but Johnny Rea also had a shout, Bethany Firth as well also had a shout, said Frampton. And I think maybe what it looks to me is anti-boxing, maybe anti-Northern Ireland, who knows?But listen, I am not going to cry about it and Ill get on with my career.Frampton became the first boxer from Northern Ireland to win world titles at two different weights when he beat previously undefeated Mexican Leo Santa Cruz in New York in the summer.That featherweight victory came after he defeated Englands Scott Quigg in Manchester in February to unify two super bantamweight world titles.In an interview with BBC Radio Ulster, Frampton said he believed Andy Murray, who won nine titles in 2016 and became world number one for the first time, would be the clear winner of the award, but he said he still deserved to be among the nominees.I am slightly disappointed, I think, especially as they extended the list and there was no space for me, he said. I unified a title and I moved up and beat a three weight world champion -- both fights on the road as well.But Im not going to complain about that. I didnt get picked for whatever reason. I feel there are people on that list that I deserve to be on in front of.North Antrim MP Paisley has tabled an early day motion on the issue in the Commons.In response to the furore, a BBC spokeswoman said: In what has been an extraordinary year of sport, many contenders were considered and debated by an expert industry panel, who by consensus agreed on the shortlist.The issue was also raised on the floor of the Stormont Assembly.When asked for her thoughts concerning the lack of Northern Irish-born sports stars on the shortlist, the regions First Minister Arlene Foster replied: She is not amused.Foster also said Executive colleagues intended to challenge BBC management, adding that she believed there was a problem with the judging panel.Foster said: I think it is absolutely scandalous that someone of Carl Framptons ability, and indeed a double world champion, should be excluded.Another man who should have been thought of as well is Jonathan Rea, who again is a double world champion. What about Bethany Firth?And, indeed what about Michael McGovern, that man from Fermanagh who did sterling work for the Northern Ireland team during the Euros.I think there is a huge hole in relation to the Sports Personality of the Year, despite the fact that they have increased from 12 to 16, they have managed to leave out some of the very special sporting stars from Northern Ireland. Wholesale Air Max 720 NZ For Sale .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Air Max 720 NZ Outlet . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. http://www.airmax720cheapnz.com/ .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. 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Top prospects Nathan MacKinnon and Seth Jones insist they are both in the dark about whose name will be called first at the Prudential Centre in Newark., N.J. But the Avalanche are not shy about saying that they are leaning towards MacKinnon, a forward, with their first overall pick. Jones, a defenceman from the Portland Winterhawks, is the top-ranked North American skater on the NHL Central Scouting list. But Rick Pracey, Colorados director of amateur scouting, says their research shows that picking an elite forward at the top of the draft pays dividends. Pracey notes that four of the top five scorers this season were No. 1 overall picks in the draft (Steven Stamkos, Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane). The exception was the undrafted Martin St. Louis. And over the last five years, some 48 to 50 per cent of the top 20 scorers were selected in the top five of the draft. So the Avs -- who ranked 27th in scoring this season with 116 goals -- are looking to a forward. "Were leaning towards Nathan MacKinnon," Pracey told The Canadian Press, adding his voice to that of Avs executive vice-president of hockey operations Joe Sakic and new coach Patrick Roy. Colorado likes the 17-year-old MacKinnons history of elevating his game when it counts and his ability to handle pressure. "We think he has elite speed. We like his (hockey) sense, we like his offensive ability and we think he comes to play," Pracey said. "His competitive nature is another factor in his game that were fond of." Halifax Mooseheads winger Jonathan Drouin and Finnish Elite League centre Aleksander Barkov are also on the Avs radar. Scouts say Drouin reminds them of a young Joe Sakic, according to NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr. Barkov, who is coming off a shoulder injury, has been playing against men since he was 16. The three forwards, along with Jones, represent the cream of a crop seen as rich towards the top. Colorado has first crack at the talent, followed by the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes. NHL Central Scouting ranked Jones first ahead of MacKinnon and Drouin among North American skaters. Barkov was rated the top international prospect. Ask MacKinnon and he will tell you Drouin is the most skilled player in the draft. "The things he can do with the puck are pretty cool," he said. "He slows the game down, he kind of controls the tempo." But as to who goes where Sunday, Marr said nothing would surprise him. "Its going to be a difficult choice but its going to be a great one for their franchise," Marr said Friday at a New Jersey media availability overlooking Manhattan. Marr said all four could be NHL-ready. Of course, Colorados open-door policy on its pick could be subterfuge. But Pracey repeated the franchise line, that the Avs wanted to keep their fan base in the loop. That Jones has Denver ties might be a factor in that transparency. The prized defenceman essentially took up the sport in Colorado whhile his NBA-playing father Popeye Jones was with the Nuggets.dddddddddddd By pointing to MacKinnon, the Avs have played down talk of taking the local boy. Still, Pracey had dinner with Jones in Dallas last week. Marr sees Jones as a rare talent built for todays NHL -- smart, a fluid skater with a good passing touch and with a big-game sensibility. Both MacKinnon and Jones are old beyond their years, both on and off the ice. They handled the media with aplomb Friday, having done it all before at the NHL Combine and Stanley Cup final. Although MacKinnons Mooseheads beat Jones Hawks in the Memorial Cup final, the two have become friends and are rooming together here. Asked about what Jones is like away from the ice, MacKinnon mischievously offered that he is always willing to order room service. They both say they are in the dark about who will go where on the draft menu Sunday. MacKinnon says he is not paying attention to draft talk, saying he doesnt want his expectations too high. The Avs have said nothing to them, the two players said when asked. MacKinnon did say he would look forward to working under Roy, who coached Quebec in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season. "It would be an awesome experience," MacKinnon said. "He develops young players very well." Colorado won the opportunity to go first in the draft lottery, dropping Florida to second spot. The Panthers had the worst record in the league in 2012-13 at 15-27-6, finishing three points behind Colorado (16-25-7). The Avalanche, during their days as the Quebec Nordiques, picked first overall three time before. They scooped up some marquee names in Mats Sundin (1989), Owen Nolan (1990), while Eric Lindros (1991) held out and forced a trade to Philadelphia. At No. 6, Calgary holds the highest pick among Canadian teams. The Flames also pick 22nd (St. Louis, via the Jay Bouwmeester deal) and 28th (Pittsburgh, Jarome Iginla trade) in the first round. Edmonton selects seventh followed by Winnipeg at No. 13, Ottawa at No. 17, Toronto at No. 21, Vancouver at No. 24 and Montreal at No. 25. Like Calgary, Columbus has three first round-picks -- its own at No. 14, the Rangers 19th pick (from the Rick Nash trade) and L.A.s 28th pick (from the Jeff Carter deal). Buffalo (eighth and 16th) and Dallas (10th and 19th) have two first-round picks apiece, meaning four teams -- Buffalo, Calgary, Columbus and Dallas -- control one-third of the first round going into the draft. That combined with the decrease in salary cap for next season could lead to deals ahead of Sunday. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenceman Darnell Nurse is also expected to go high. Marr sees him as having a bit of Shea Webber in him. Nurse, the son of former CFL receiver Richard Nurse and nephew to former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, says he has pondered over who might take him. But he added ultimately it doesnt matter. "Id like to play anywhere in the NHL," said Nurse, who grew up a Devils fan. "Thats the honest truth." The goalie crop is seen as thin but not without talent. Marr enthused about Halifaxs Zachary Fucale, citing his mental toughness. ' ' '