The 2014 SI Sportsman of the Year

I think that this year, when no one candidate really jumped out from the field, the fact that Bumgarner is such a good story as a personality might have swayed the decision. That is, he was someone who would create enjoyable reading. An editor's choice if you will.

 

At least we don't have regional Sportsman of the Year covers yet.

 

Regarding that earlier talk about McIlroy (was that you, Gee?) ... he is pissing off sponsors! You never piss off sponsors!

(No seriously, he is accused in a lawsuit of dumping data off his phone that would have hurt him.)

http://www.foxsports.com/golf/story/rory-mcilroy-lawsuit-erased-smartphone-data-claim-horizon-management-120914

Also on McIlroy, wasn't it still within this year that he left Wozniacki at the altar? That isn't very sportsmanlike.

 

Moderator: Does Sports Illustrated have any criteria for the award? I notice that BumGarner won for being a key player on a team that won 3 of 5 world championships. The Yankees won 4 of 5 titles from 1996-2000 and no one from the team was recognized.

Hypothetical question. If Jeter had come out as gay (he isn't, but play along with me here) would he have earned consideration for Sportsman of the Year?

 

I am in complete support of Gay Jeets as Sportsman of the Year.

 

Moddy said Jetes was rejected because his stats weren't great (the award is for accomplishments in 2014 only). But if so that is a recent change. Don Shula, Arthur Ashe, and Brett Favre have all won the award well past their primes. So Jeter in his final season is a totally defensible pick for Sportsman of the Year.

 

LOL. Arthur Ashe fucking died that year. So yes, you could say he was past his prime.

 

Didn't Jetes win the award just a few years ago?

 

If they don't allow repeat winners then why not just say that?

 

OK, I will let it go.

What is the most regrettable choice for Sportsman of the Year? Brett Favre? OJ Simpson? Joe Paterno? Lance Armstrong? Mike Tyson?

 

When Favre won it in 2007, he had one of the best seasons of his career and led his team to a 13-3 record and to the NFC Championship game. In the previous two seasons the Packers had finished 4-12 and 8-8 (and needed to win their last four to do that). He didn't hit .256 on a huge-payroll team that barely finished above .500.