FOFC Sportsman of the Year

[oykib]

So who, in your opinion, was the athlete or coach of 2004?

Let's set up a poll. First ten people to be nominated, seconded, and thirded make it into a poll.

Each poster can nominate one figure and either second or third another. So that's two votes per person.

I'll go ahead, myself, and nominate Barry Bonds, who-- even if he was taking something other than his Flintstone chewables last year-- was so far beyod anything I thought I'd ever see as a baseball fan that I have to put him here.

Btw, I'll try to keep a running count of the nominations. Please bold nominations, italicize seconds, and underline thirds.

In(don't vote for them anymore)

1. Roger Federer
2. Peyton Manning
3. Curt Schilling
4. Barry Bonds
5. Michael Phelps
6. Lance Armstrong
7. Michael Schumacher
8. Martin St. Louis
9. Vijay Singh
10. Pat Tillman


Nominations

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Federer
3. Ronaldinho
4. Curt Schilling
5. Peyton Manning
6. Vijay Singh
7. Arjen Robben
8. Lance Armstrong
9. Kelley Holmes
10. Michael Phelps
11. Mia Hamm
12. Pat Tillman
13. Diana Taurasi
14. LeBron James
15. Ron Artest
16. Martin St. Louis
17. Adam Vinatieri
18. Michael Schumacher
19. Bernard Hopkins
20. David Ortiz
21. Maria Sharapova
21. Sebastien Bordais

[BreizhManu]

1.Roger Federer (3 Grand Slams)

others considered : Michael Phelps (8 medals), Lance Armstrong (6 tours), Valentino Rossi (winning on a Yamaha)

[tanglewood]

Nominated: Ronaldinho

Seconded: Roger Federer

[SirFozzie]

Curt Schilling Redefined guts. And was a major proponent in ending the so-called curse.

SECONDED: Barry Bonds Big during baseball season. Big during the off-season (for different reasons, although some would disagree. Figure of the year. note, I do not say sportsman of the year.

[Raiders Army]

Vijay Singh. I hate golf, but...this guy knocked Woods off the top.

Peyton Manning. Broke Marino's record.

[MizzouRah]

Peyton Manning for breaking Dan Marino's TD record of 20 years. I hope the Colts goto the Super Bowl.


Todd

[MIJB#19]

Nomination: Arjen Robben
Thirded: Roger Federer

[oykib]

Raider's Army, you only get two votes. So I'll take Vijay Singh as your nomination and second Peyton Manning.

[albionmoonlight]

Nominate: Lance Armstrong
Third Peyton Manning

[tanglewood]

FOFC Sportsman of the Year

Vijay Singh

:rolleyes:




;)

[MizzouRah]

I second Lance Armstrong.


Todd

[MIJB#19]

Vote for Peyton ManningFirst 10 with 3 votes make the poll, Manning has clinch a spot already.

[sachmo71]

Vote for Peyton Manning

[FBPro]

Peyton Manning

[andy m]

nominate Kelly Holmes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/athletics/3605460.stm

[oykib]

I'm suprised that there's been no Michael Schumacher or Bill Belichick yet. Not quite as suprising, although still somewhat suprising, is the lack of Olympians nominated in an Olympic year.

I guess I typed too fast, or not fast enough.

[Radii]

nominate Michael Phelps

second Curt Schilling

[spleen1015]

I would like to nominate Kobe Bryant. He accomplished much in 2004.

1. Beat a rape conviction
2. Beat a divorce
3. Successfully got rid of arguably the best coach in NBA history
4. Successfully got rid of arguably the most dominating player in the NBA
5. Singlehandedly dethroned the Laker franchise for the time being

My real nomination goes to Curt Schilling.

[Swaggs]

Mia Hamm

Barry Bonds

[scooter]

Mia Hamm

I was just thinking that it would only be fair to also have a "Sportswoman of the Year" thread started as well. I'd second Mia Hamm in that thread (not so much for her accomplishments this year, but for what she's done for woman's athletics over her career).

[spleen1015]

nominate Michael Phelps

I second

[oykib]

I don't know, scooter. Steffi Graf in her heyday or Annika Sorenstam today'd have a decent shot to make the top ten, at least.

Hell, take this poll a year ago and Serena Williams woud've been a lock.

I can think of a lot of female Olympians over the years that would've made the cut, as well. Florence Griffith-Joyner or Jackie Joyner-Kersee were very accomplished and popular in very recent history-- Gail Deevers almost as much.

In a year or two Michelle Wie'd probably merit strong consideration. I think we measure athlete's against the competition in their own sports and against history. I don't think people considered Mia Hamm and then threw her out because they thought Ronaldinho would blow her off the pitch.

I see no need to seperate them. Plus, I doubt you'd generate much interest in that kind of poll. Maybe you would if you extended it for a decade's worth of time.

[Maple Leafs]

Pat Tillman.

[gstelmack]

I'll third Lance Armstrong and second Mia Hamm.I'll nominate Adam Vinatieri for having defined "clutch Kicker".

[brimick79]

nominate Diana Taurasi

led Uconn to it's third straight national championship
wnba rookie of the year
won a gold medal

I'll third Micheal Phelps

[mckerney]

Nominated: LeBron James

Also considered Johan Santana for his stretch towards the second half of the season that rivaled one of the greatest in modern day baseball.

[Cringer]

http://www.nba.com/media/act_ron_artest.jpg

[oykib]

Brimrick79, Michael Phelps is only seconded, unless I've missed something.

Gstelmack, You can only second or third someone. So I'll take mia Hamm, since you listed her first.

[oykib]

Apparantly I did miss spleen1015's post, Brimrick. Sorry.

[scooter]

I don't know, scooter. Steffi Graf in her heyday or Annika Sorenstam today'd have a decent shot to make the top ten, at least.

Hell, take this poll a year ago and Serena Williams woud've been a lock.

I can think of a lot of female Olympians over the years that would've made the cut, as well. Florence Griffith-Joyner or Jackie Joyner-Kersee were very accomplished and popular in very recent history-- Gail Deevers almost as much.

In a year or two Michelle Wie'd probably merit strong consideration. I think we measure athlete's against the competition in their own sports and against history. I don't think people considered Mia Hamm and then threw her out because they thought Ronaldinho would blow her off the pitch.

I see no need to seperate them. Plus, I doubt you'd generate much interest in that kind of poll. Maybe you would if you extended it for a decade's worth of time.

I didn't mean that she didn't belong in a list of the top Sports"person" of 2004, only that she didn't belong in a list of the top Sports"man" of 2004. I think if you are including women in this, then the title of the thread should be changed to reflect that - it's the right thing to do :D

[Glengoyne]

Armstrong absolutely. That's a Third I believe.

EDIT Ooops OK it's a fourth. Carry on.

[oykib]

Armstrong absolutely. That's a Third I believe.

Caught it. The "In" list has been updated. Only four spots left.

[vtbub]

Schilling would be my choice

I'd nominate Martin St. Louis

[oykib]

Well, I'm off to bed. It's 2:40 here in Akashi. I trust you can keep track until I wake up.

[MrBug708]

Vijah
Pat Tillman

[gstelmack]

Gstelmack, You can only second or third someone. So I'll take mia Hamm, since you listed her first.
That's fine, since someone else hit the Third on Lance Armstrong. But that would mean my nomination of Adam Vinatieri would still hold up...

[Ragone]

I nominate: Micheal Schumacher

His Dominance of the f1 circuit is unreal.. and his charity/humantarian efforts really are second to none.. check out his donation to the tsunami effort as a example

hxxp://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=1959051

I second:Martin St. Louis

[oykib]

I second Michael Schumacher.

[ISiddiqui]

David Ortiz, and I'm not even a Red Sox fan ;).

[JonInMiddleGA]

My nominee is already in there, but I'll third
Vijay Singh

[Crapshoot]

Im a McLaren fan, but Schumacher is amazing. I'll third him and Bonds.

[sabotai]

I'll third Martin St. Louis

And I'll nominate Bernard Hopkins for being the first boxer to knock out Oscar De La Hoya (probably the boxing match last year with the highest appeal to the casual fan).

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

although not a big F1 Fan I vote for Shcummi too.

[Buccaneer]

Got to get Vijay on the list.

[ISiddiqui]

Ooops, I didn't bold my nomination before:

David Ortiz

[Suicane75]

Maria Sharapova. And no, not because of her looks.

[TLK]

I nominate Sebastien Bourdais (http://www.champcarworldseries.com/Drivers/Driver.asp?ID=310), for his dominance of the ChampCar series.

The F-1 love here surprises me.... in a good way.

[Darkiller]

We're the Front Office FOOTBALL forum so I'll nominate a FOOTBALL player : Peyton Manning is undoubtely the best in the business this season.

[BreizhManu]

I nominate Sebastien Bourdais (http://www.champcarworldseries.com/Drivers/Driver.asp?ID=310), for his dominance of the ChampCar series. saw Bourdais once at Barcelona 3 years ago in F3000, he led the race from the first lap till the last lap and then he crashed just in front of me (nothing serious he was able to finish the race in 3rd position). I had fun http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Breeze]

Pat Tilman

[oykib]

We've got our ten. Voting's closed.

[ISiddiqui]

Not really to be an ass or anything, but Pat Tillman? Yeah, he did a courageous thing, but this is SPORTSman of the year, right? Are we counting how well he shot during training?

[Maple Leafs]

Not really to be an ass or anything, but Pat Tillman? Yeah, he did a courageous thing, but this is SPORTSman of the year, right? Are we counting how well he shot during training?Seems only fair that if you're going to nominate people like Lance Armstrong and Mia Hamm, largely for their inspirational and positive contributions off-the-field, then Tillman should be there too.

[Raiders Army]

Whoa...Lance Armstrong did win the Tour de France...for a record breaking sixth time...something he did in 2004.

I'm not saying that Pat Tillman did not contribute inspirationally, but to say that their accomplishments in 2004 were equal is not right.

[Maple Leafs]

Whoa...Lance Armstrong did win the Tour de France...for a record breaking sixth time...something he did in 2004.True. But let's not pretend that Armstrong would be a top-level sports celebrity in the US without his other struggles. I doubt many Americans could name the winners of any other cycling events. I doubt many Americans could any other cycling events, period. If he was known only for cycling, Armstrong would be a minor figure in the US sports world, one that you'd hear about for a day or two once a year and that would be it. It's because of what he's had to overcome and what he's done for others that he's become so much more than that.

[Raiders Army]

True. But let's not pretend that Armstrong would be a top-level sports celebrity in the US without his other struggles. I doubt many Americans could name the winners of any other cycling events. I doubt many Americans could any other cycling events, period. If he was known only for cycling, Armstrong would be a minor figure in the US sports world, one that you'd hear about for a day or two once a year and that would be it. It's because of what he's had to overcome and what he's done for others that he's become so much more than that.
Point taken...and that is why I didn't touch Mia Hamm. :)

I agree completely that if someone were to win the record-breaking 10th consecutive World Championship of Curling, I probably wouldn't know who that is...and the same for cycling, for the most part. I do think that cycling is a little more well-known than other sports though.

[oykib]

Hey, it's a popularity contest. I'd have taken Bernard Hopkins over Pat tillman myself. But the people have spoken (posted).

[ISiddiqui]

Seems only fair that if you're going to nominate people like Lance Armstrong and Mia Hamm, largely for their inspirational and positive contributions off-the-field, then Tillman should be there too.

Yes, but their inspirational and positive contributions were in the realm of SPORTS! Armstrong won the Tour after having cancer and Mia was the most popular womans sports athelete! Tillman served in the military. The only connection with sports is that he used to play for the Cards.

[lynchjm24]

Not really to be an ass or anything, but Pat Tillman? Yeah, he did a courageous thing, but this is SPORTSman of the year, right? Are we counting how well he shot during training?

I have been trying to figure out how Tillman wasn't the slam dunk winner for SI. I guess Red Sox shit sells a lot more copies though.

I would say that Pat Tillman was a SPORTSman in the sense that he was a figure in the SPORTSworld.

I read that Schumacher donated 50MM dollars to Asian relief. I guess that makes him second in my book.

[Glengoyne]

True. But let's not pretend that Armstrong would be a top-level sports celebrity in the US without his other struggles. I doubt many Americans could name the winners of any other cycling events. I doubt many Americans could any other cycling events, period. If he was known only for cycling, Armstrong would be a minor figure in the US sports world, one that you'd hear about for a day or two once a year and that would be it. It's because of what he's had to overcome and what he's done for others that he's become so much more than that.
Bullshit. He has done something that no one has ever done before. He would be just as huge, well there wouldn't be the wristbands, if he hadn't have had cancer. We Americans love being the best. We naturally assume we are actually the best in most things. When an American dominates that a sport a good part of the world follows, it is pretty big news here. Hell Greg Lemond was pretty much a household name when he won the tour, and he didn't do it six times in a row. We all know who Dennis Conner is, and he hasn't accomplished near what Lance Armstrong has done. The Cancer survivor part just makes for a nice human interest story.

[ISiddiqui]

I have been trying to figure out how Tillman wasn't the slam dunk winner for SI. I guess Red Sox shit sells a lot more copies though.

I would say that Pat Tillman was a SPORTSman in the sense that he was a figure in the SPORTSworld.

I read that Schumacher donated 50MM dollars to Asian relief. I guess that makes him second in my book.

Um no... neither example counts for me. Wow, he was in the sports world. Big deal. He ain't even close to sportsman of the year. What did he accomplish in the sports world?

[Glengoyne]

Um no... neither example counts for me. Wow, he was in the sports world. Big deal. He ain't even close to sportsman of the year. What did he accomplish in the sports world?
Well actually he is an athlete that did something very selfless and inspiring. I don't think it is that much of a reach, but I do get where you are coming from.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Um no... neither example counts for me. Wow, he was in the sports world. Big deal. He ain't even close to sportsman of the year. What did he accomplish in the sports world?

I believe, whether you agree with the conclusion or not, that his inclusion on a number of these lists I've seen lately (not just the one here) runs something along the lines of "a sportsman who transcended sports, and in doing so, elevated sports overall". Or something like that.

[Maple Leafs]

Um no... neither example counts for me. Wow, he was in the sports world. Big deal. He ain't even close to sportsman of the year. What did he accomplish in the sports world?For a very brief moment, he made the rest of today's modern atheletes stop referring to themselves as soldiers or warriors, stop pretending their stats were life and death, and stop acting like their games are the most important thing in the world.

For that along, he deserves a vote.

[ISiddiqui]

I believe, whether you agree with the conclusion or not, that his inclusion on a number of these lists I've seen lately (not just the one here) runs something along the lines of "a sportsman who transcended sports, and in doing so, elevated sports overall". Or something like that.

Or something like that is right ;). His act had nothing to do with sports other than the fact he walked away from them for his action. Does anyone think if he didn't die he would be nominated at all for this award? Why does that make a difference? Is dying why he 'transcended sports' or is it because he left his team to go into army.

No matter the reason, I think it's an idiotic inclusion. YMMV.

[lynchjm24]

Or something like that is right ;). His act had nothing to do with sports other than the fact he walked away from them for his action. Does anyone think if he didn't die he would be nominated at all for this award? Why does that make a difference? Is dying why he 'transcended sports' or is it because he left his team to go into army.

No matter the reason, I think it's an idiotic inclusion. YMMV.

Well what in the hell did Vijay Singh do? He hit golf balls better then Tiger Woods over a 12 month span. That's great and all but who really gives a shit.

Lance Armstrong won another Tour de France? Great - that's 6. We know he's the best at the Tour de France. I guess by this logic if Tillman had survived his time in the service and come back and made an All-Pro team then he'd be eligible.

Bernard Hopkins beat an over the hill boxer - that's great. Maybe everyone who has beat Tyson in the last half dozen years can be considered.

I guess you can have your definition and I can have mine, but three quarters of these nominations are jokes. Someone in the ChampCar series? Maria Sharapova? Noone would even know her name if she looked like Lisa Raymond. Adam Viniteri? He kicks field goals.... he's great at it, but why didn't anyone nominate a bowler or something.