SI Sportsman of the Year

I would argue that what Spieth did at 22 against the likes of Day, Johnson and McIlroy is more impressive than Serena beating up on a pretty weak field she has been dominating for years.

 

Plus, Spieth's narrative includes him becoming the new face of golf, leading the sport into its brave new post-Tiger world. He's viewed as the next man in the Jones-Hogan-Palmer-Nicklaus-Woods line of dominant players.

On the other hand, Serena could be in line for one of those lifetime achievement awards in addition to her three majors this year.

 

Serena ranks up there with being a major ass though. I would hope the SI nod is based a bit on sportsmanship too, and not just accomplishment.

 

Vombatus, I give you 1975 Sportsman of the Year -- Pete Rose

 

Or child molestation enabler Joe Paterno (1986).

Or doper and liar Lance Armstrong (2002).

Or superdouches the Boston Red Sox (2004).

Or sex addict and raging asshole Tiger Woods (1996, 2000).

Etc. Etc.

 

Sure you can. I like Curry tons, but what separates him from any other NBA MVP who played on a title team? Magic and Bird never won it.

As for non-American candidates? Forget it. There have been only five single winners from other nations --- none since 1982 --- and only one from a non-English speaking country.

 

What kind of attitude does the horse have? Do we know how the horse treated it's people?

 

JC, don't you remember all those stories about how AP was a mellow horse who liked his fans and people in general (which most thoroughbreds don't)? They were a standard feature during the Triple Crown run.

 

Things to consider about Rousey:
- She's fighting this weekend. If it does a huge number and she wins in impressive fashion, as she tends to do, it could sway things.
- She was SI cover girl a few issues ago. Would they do two covers on her in one year? How well did that cover sell?

 

I quite disagree. I hate it when SI decides it's gonna pass moral judgment as part of the equation. You're a sports magazine, it should be about sports.

The reason Serena should not win it is because she folded like a cheap suit against a low ranked nobody in her biggest moment this year. Whether some writer thinks she's a nice person or not shouldn't be part of the equation. If Serena had sealed the deal on the Grand Slam she'd be the deserving choice and get my vote, but she came up woefully short when the most eyes were on her in the US Open. Sorry, Serena, close but no cigar.

The winner, imo, should be Steph Curry. Starting from him leading Team USA to the world cup gold last summer, and then leading his team to its first ever NBA title, winning the League MVP Award, and now starting this season in absolutely breathtaking fashion, the guy has just been astounding for at least 15 straight months with no disappointing letdowns in between. And even more astounding when you consider that he's dominating the sport for physical freaks with quite meager physical gifts. And bonus points for helping change the way the game is played and crushing the once conventional belief that small ball can't win NBA championships.

 

Curry would be a safe bet. Everybody loves this kid. He's awesome.
Speith, Not the strongest case, but I wouldn't complain either. He's a super nice kid who's very good at golf (at old white man sport).
Rousey? Why not. If not Curry, how about Ronda. Plus Moddy wouldn't have to worry about getting armbarred into submission.
Serena ... I thought she was a lock until she lost the US Open. Now? No. A solid NO. And, she's not helped by the fact she's an ass.
Wildcard: Jeff Gordon if he wins The Chase. I think he's a longshot, but he's made this far.
A horse? Why not any horse? No one would know the difference. The idea of a horse is ridiculous. Why not the Royals - there's as faceless and as well-known as the horse?

 

The Royals are the most baffling of the dark horses (no AP pun intended).

Baseball team wins World Series. Yeah, so? Perhaps a year ago, when they came out of nowhere. But I see nothing extraordinary about their story in the narrow context of 2015.