Federer not named SI Sportsman of the Year...

wangs78 · Nov 30, 2009

How ridiculous is it that they chose DEREK JETER!? A guy who is nowhere near being labeled GOAT or anything of the sort in his sport. He had a good season but there were plenty of ppl who had better seasons this year. SI had already lost my respect in recent years - let's face it who even goes to their website nowadays with ESPN around, other than to check out the swimsuit stuff? But this time, they've earned my contempt!

malakas · Nov 30, 2009

derek jeter?Whos that??Never ever heard of him.
Probably some athlete in an american sport that noone out of USA gives more than 2 cents about.
Goes to show you how much worth this SI sportsman of the year award is.

kishnabe · Nov 30, 2009

Last year it was the running guy and this year it a guy who I never heard of. They could have at least gave it to Nadal and it would have made sense.

egn · Nov 30, 2009

Jeter is a baseball player on the New York Yankees. Nobody is really sure why SI gave it to him, most Americans are probably confused by it is as well, considering Jeter wasn't the best baseball player this year or even the best yankee for that matter.

volleynets · Nov 30, 2009

kishnabe said:
Last year it was the running guy and this year it a guy who I never heard of. They could have at least gave it to Nadal and it would have made sense.

Nadal would not deserve it. Maybe 08 he would.

Chadwixx · Nov 30, 2009

Jeter is a baseball player who hasnt tested positive for steroids, that alone should get him the award.

flying24 · Nov 30, 2009

I would not have given Federer the award either. It is not like he dominated tennis this year the way he has in some years. As to who should win it, I would need to think about that some. Jeter no though.

BigSkyChamp · Nov 30, 2009

In my opinion there were many won it over Jeter, such as Albert Pujols or even Joe Mauer. Federer deserves credit for surpassing Sampras for the most Grand Slam titles in history, as this is the most highly-acclaimed honor to hold in tennis. But, as you say, he did not Completely dominate the entire year. I believe if Nadal hadn't of gone on that beginning of the year tear, and if Fed had would have beaten DelPo in NY for the US Open Title (as lets just be honest this award generally goes out to accomplishments IN THE U.S.) he probably would have been ESPN sportsman of the year.

Changmaster · Nov 30, 2009

BigSkyChamp said:
In my opinion there were many won it over Jeter, such as Albert Pujols or even Joe Mauer. Federer deserves credit for surpassing Sampras for the most Grand Slam titles in history, as this is the most highly-acclaimed honor to hold in tennis. But, as you say, he did not Completely dominate the entire year. I believe if Nadal hadn't of gone on that beginning of the year tear, and if Fed had would have beaten DelPo in NY for the US Open Title (as lets just be honest this award generally goes out to accomplishments IN THE U.S.) he probably would have been ESPN sportsman of the year.

Somehow, I don't think he would have gotten it even if he won the US Open and had dominated the field as much as he did in past years. It's ridiculous that Fed has had FIVE incredible years, '04, '05, '06, '07, and '09, and he hasn't even won SI sportsman of the year just once. Shows how incredibly biased SI is. Might as well call it, "American Sports Illustrated".

akv89 · Nov 30, 2009

It's a magazine directed towards Americans who watch American sports. It's no surprise that international tennis players will not be selected for the title and they shouldn't be expected to either.

TheMagicianOfPrecision · Nov 30, 2009

wangs78 said:
How ridiculous is it that they chose DEREK JETER!? A guy who is nowhere near being labeled GOAT or anything of the sort in his sport. He had a good season but there were plenty of ppl who had better seasons this year. SI had already lost my respect in recent years - let's face it who even goes to their website nowadays with ESPN around, other than to check out the swimsuit stuff? But this time, they've earned my contempt!

Sports Illustrated= American magazine, USA is great at recognizing their own- Globally Roger Federer is 3856388 times more famous than Derek Jeter. No worries

He won the Laureus Sportsman of the year 4 times!! in a row.

pc1 · Nov 30, 2009

wangs78 said:
How ridiculous is it that they chose DEREK JETER!? A guy who is nowhere near being labeled GOAT or anything of the sort in his sport. He had a good season but there were plenty of ppl who had better seasons this year. SI had already lost my respect in recent years - let's face it who even goes to their website nowadays with ESPN around, other than to check out the swimsuit stuff? But this time, they've earned my contempt!

malakas said:
derek jeter?Whos that??Never ever heard of him.
Probably some athlete in an american sport that noone out of USA gives more than 2 cents about.
Goes to show you how much worth this SI sportsman of the year award is.

Derek Jeter is an American baseball who is a gifted athlete, super clutch player and one of the best of all time in his position. A sure hall of famer who had a great season in which his team won the World Series.

He has won five World Championships in his great career and he's one of the majors factors why his teams have won.

He has also been a model citizen in his sport. No scandals, no positive tests for drug or PEDs. He has been one of the major faces of baseball.

I don't know exactly the qualifications for Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year but he is clearly not an embarrassing choice.

Edit. Just checked the qualifications and here's a paragraph from the Sports Illustrated articles-

It was that combination of on- and off-field achievement that helped make Jeter this year's Sportsman. Said Sports Illustrated Group Editor Terry McDonell, "Derek Jeter has always presented himself with class; he does numerous good works for the community with his Turn 2 Foundation, which is one of the most efficient, effective foundations of its kind; and he's extremely generous with not just his money but with his time, which in many cases is more valuable. He also had another signature year on the field."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/magazine/specials/sportsman/2009/11/25/derek.jeter/index.html

It's wasn't a MVP award or the best in his field award but a combination of factors. Jeter has been in some years the best player in baseball like in 1999 but he never won the SI Sportsman of the Year award.

Clearly Federer or Joe Mauer in baseball were superior from a sporting perspective but Jeter was great on the field also and he has been well known for years for his off the field work.

That being written I think it's about time a tennis player is recognized as the top athlete here in the United States. Unfortunately tennis is a minor sport here.

jamesblakefan#1 · Nov 30, 2009

SI Sportsman of a year is a joke, the fact that Federer hasn't won it yet is a joke. As was mentioned, 04, 05, 06, 07 would have all been suitable years for Federer to win it. As is, he didn't, and it only goes to show how the award is only used to sell magazines and has no real significance.

Just look at who won it last year - Michael Phelps. Deserved at the time, yes, but in light of his recent transgressions, clearly shows that community service and good will isn't always central to winning SOTY award.

Here's a list of past winners for reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

RafaNike · Nov 30, 2009

Sports Illustrated is USA based so it's going to be mostly USA centric. I don't bother reading it.

eagle · Nov 30, 2009

I can't remember the last time I read SI.

SI in my personal opinion is not the authority in sports.

And as far as tennis is concerned, I could care less what they think.

The opinion of Tennis mag and tennis-related publications or websites matter to me more.

2 cents.

r,
eagle

MuseFan · Nov 30, 2009

Well SI jumped the shark when they named Dwayne Wade over Roger for 2006. That's when you KNEW it was about maximizing magazine sales over integrity.

RafaBrain · Nov 30, 2009

i dont read SI, but i watch Federer and Rafa all the time.

Ledigs · Nov 30, 2009

Jeter is well respected and has been a major player on the Yankees for ohhh 15 years. People love him and the Yankees are the most popular baseball team in the US. They won the world series this year which is huge in America. He's just a beloved athlete here.

marc45 · Nov 30, 2009

kishnabe said:
Last year it was the running guy and this year it a guy who I never heard of. They could have at least gave it to Nadal and it would have made sense.

phelps last year i believe, rafa deserved it as well

Ripper014 · Nov 30, 2009

egn said:
Jeter is a baseball player on the New York Yankees. Nobody is really sure why SI gave it to him, most Americans are probably confused by it is as well, considering Jeter wasn't the best baseball player this year or even the best yankee for that matter.

Probably because he did not get the MVP award...

JoshDragon · Nov 30, 2009

jamesblakefan#1 said:
SI Sportsman of a year is a joke, the fact that Federer hasn't won it yet is a joke. As was mentioned, 04, 05, 06, 07 would have all been suitable years for Federer to win it. As is, he didn't, and it only goes to show how the award is only used to sell magazines and has no real significance.

Just look at who won it last year - Michael Phelps. Deserved at the time, yes, but in light of his recent transgressions, clearly shows that community service and good will isn't always central to winning SOTY award.

Here's a list of past winners for reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Obviously the writers of this magazine are biased against tennis. Look at their choices, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Arthur Ashe. WTF, no Sampras, Federer, Borg, Laver, McEnroe, Connors.

Federer should have been in there at least 1 time.

Tsonga#1fan · Nov 30, 2009

For those who don't find the SI award being considered credible, why would you even care then who gets it? Would it make you take it more seriously if they had named the athlete you wanted? As for those outside USA, yes, it is an award that generally takes into consideration the perspective of what opinions are here. I have no clue about other publications from other countries and couldn't care less what soccer player is considered worthy in, say Italy, Mexico, Serbia, Greece or where ever. Personally, I don't even care what magazine names who what.

LiveForever · Nov 30, 2009

Federer should have been on there at least once. 2006 or 2007 would have been the best years.

JennyS · Nov 30, 2009

BTW, The Yankees are my favorite team of all time and Jeter is one of my favorite baseball players, but he didn't deserve it.

Roger deserves it for the career Slam and passing Sampras. But Jeter sells more magazines.

shaysrebelII · Nov 30, 2009

psh not surprised. If Fed didn't win in 06 or 07, I doubt he'd win this year. He certainly deserved it more than Jeter tho.

The bar is set so high for a non American athlete to win this thing. The only year Gretzky won it, he shattered hockey's scoring record, and had by far the best season any hockey player's ever had. He had near superhuman accomplishments, yet was almost edged out by Bo Jackson. Non American athletes are at such a severe disadvantage when it comes to winning this thing that it can hardly be considered a legitimate award.

LiveForever · Nov 30, 2009

JennyS said:
BTW, The Yankees are my favorite team of all time and Jeter is one of my favorite baseball players, but he didn't deserve it.

Roger deserves it for the career Slam and passing Sampras. But Jeter sells more magazines.

True. Is Jeter more famous worldwide? idk but Federer's popularity must be immense. I read the other day that his net worth is a freaking 100-160 million dollars. :shock: That is right up there with the best NBA, NFL players.

OrangeOne · Nov 30, 2009

malakas said:
derek jeter?Whos that??Never ever heard of him.
Probably some athlete in an american sport that noone out of USA gives more than 2 cents about.

^^I'll echo what she said

kishnabe said:
Last year it was the running guy and this year it a guy who I never heard of. They could have at least gave it to Nadal and it would have made sense.

Err, Nadal? Last year I assume....

OrangeOne · Nov 30, 2009

LiveForever said:
True. Is Jeter more famous worldwide? idk but Federer's popularity must be immense. I read the other day that his net worth is a freaking 100-160 million dollars. :shock: That is right up there with the best NBA, NFL players.

It would be a lot, lot, lot more than that. His winnings from tennis are 50-odd million, he'd have done a lot more than double that off court, especially when counting appearance money and investments.

I'm sure he's not quite the billionaire Tiger is, but yeah, he'd be worth more than 100-ish.

settolove · Dec 1, 2009

I'm sure I read his wealth was around quarter of a billion dollars and the comment was that it was nowhere near Tiger.

Andres · Dec 1, 2009

From 1954 to 2009 (56 years), there has been only 8 NON AMERICAN winners of the SI award. Are you really THAT surprised?

The last 13 winners have been american.

Deleted member 21996 · Dec 1, 2009

malakas said:
derek jeter?Whos that??Never ever heard of him.
Probably some athlete in an american sport that noone out of USA gives more than 2 cents about.
Goes to show you how much worth this SI sportsman of the year award is.

oh c'mon Mal... you know better than that! like anyone gives a crap about Sports Ilustrated opinions around here in Europe or anywhere else outside america!

it's not like Fos Ton Sports or Protathlitis ever elected baseball players for similar awards is it?

and what Andres said also...

paulorenzo · Dec 1, 2009

it's a pity. SI actually has, more times than not, great, insightful writing.
but it's targeted to an american market, so the topics that get the most coverage are the ones that typical american sport fans want to read about.

malakas · Dec 1, 2009

Gorecki said:
oh c'mon Mal... you know better than that! like anyone gives a crap about Sports Ilustrated opinions around here in Europe or anywhere else outside america!

it's not like Fos Ton Sports or Protathlitis ever elected baseball players for similar awards is it?

and what Andres said also...

I don't read those garbage newspapers either.They're of the worse kind a cross-breed of war declarations and a p0rn magazine.The fact that they're so popular just goes to show you how pitiful most men are!

Fortunately though,noone serious gives a crap about them either,in contrast with SI.

I'm not suprised at all that they picked an american,I just had to point it out to the OP who seemed a little worried.

Deleted member 21996 · Dec 1, 2009

malakas said:
I don't read those garbage newspapers either.They're of the worse kind a cross-breed of war declarations and a p0rn magazine.The fact that they're so popular just goes to show you how pitiful most men are!

Fortunately though,noone serious gives a crap about them either,in contrast with SI.

I'm not suprised at all that they picked an american,I just had to point it out to the OP who seemed a little worried.

if that is the case agree in all points...

vive le beau jeu ! · Dec 1, 2009

malakas said:
derek jeter?Whos that??Never ever heard of him.
Probably some athlete in an american sport that noone out of USA gives more than 2 cents about.
Goes to show you how much worth this SI sportsman of the year award is.

Andres said:
From 1954 to 2009 (56 years), there has been only 8 NON AMERICAN winners of the SI award. Are you really THAT surprised?

The last 13 winners have been american.

and has a curling player ever been nominated ?

this award is ridiculous !

TheMusicLover · Dec 1, 2009

JennyS said:
BTW, The Yankees are my favorite team of all time and Jeter is one of my favorite baseball players, but he didn't deserve it.

Roger deserves it for the career Slam and passing Sampras. But Jeter sells more magazines.

This, folks.
I've never heard of that bloke myself, btw.

ksbh · Dec 1, 2009

Spot on, T#1F!

SI & Jon Worthlesseim have about as much credibility as the dead former princess of Wales and that is .... zero!

Tsonga#1fan said:
For those who don't find the SI award being considered credible, why would you even care then who gets it? Would it make you take it more seriously if they had named the athlete you wanted?

mtommer · Dec 1, 2009

Tsonga#1fan said:
For those who don't find the SI award being considered credible, why would you even care then who gets it?

I'm guessing it's because SI is read by so many people and how tennis is portrayed by SI is going to be reflected in the American public overall thereby affecting the sport's popularity which affects getting money into the sport etc.

tacou · Dec 1, 2009

sports illustrated is like 50pages long. can you even buy it outside the US? why would they put a tennis player on the cover? though, they did have a wimbledon issue last year

borg number one · Dec 1, 2009

Professional Tennis' popularity in the United States has declined overall since the Golden Era of Tennis (Borg, Connors, McEnroe), and also since the Sampras-Agassi rivalry was in full force. There was also some marginally increased interest within the general public when Andy Roddick was briefly at the top before the rise of Roger Federer.

There has been renewed interest in the U.S. during the fight between Federer-Nadal for #1, especially when they played their epic Wimbledon Final in 2008, when that was THE TALK of the every Sports show here in the U.S., including ESPN. Yet, overall, there is not the interest in professional tennis since the days of these 3 guys. During the late 1970's-early 80's, Tennis was extremely popular and TV ratings for Grand Slam Finals were on par or even exceeded big events/games in other Sports such as baseball, basketball, and football.

Back then, Sports Illustrated would have big articles on Borg, Connors, and McEnroe:

borg number one · Dec 1, 2009

Federer not named SI Sportsman of the Year...

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