Sportsman/Person of the Year

We were cruising north on the Sprain Parkway on Sunday morning heading toward the Garrison Golf Club in northern Westchester (N.Y.) and our annual end-of-the-season tournament, ‘The Who Da Man.’ (I was da defending Man.) ‘Zona was in the front seat. He moved to Arizona earlier this year but returned to compete in what we called the final Negro major. In the back were The Brit, another ex-Pat who’d moved away, to London; and The Cuban, so named because, well, he looks Cuban.

The conversation was typically high-minded and low-brow when I threw out this question: “Who should be Sports Illustrated's 2006 Sportsman of the Year?”

It’s that time of year when my former colleagues at the magazine begin deliberating their annual choice of what was once the most prestigious award in sports, which celebrates the man or woman that year who best embodied the spirit and ideals of sportsmanship on and off the field. (In other words: the jock/coach/etc., who kicked the most butt and kept his/her nose/veins/etc./ clean while doing so.) It’s still a cool award – the unique “amphora” trophy looks like a fancy Greek spittoon – though its popularity and prestige has slipped a bit in a world of ESPYs, post-season awards that fulfill bonus contract clauses and 50 Sexiest Athletes shows on cable.

“Ah, good question,” said ‘Zona, the third-biggest trash-talker in our crew, which numbered 18, including a couple of wimpy no-shows scared off by the morning rain.

“Could it be anyone other than Tiger Woods?” Asked Brit Man. “He won two majors and six straight tournaments if he wins today [Note: He did.] after his dad died. What else could he do?”

“I haven’t followed the other sports closely,” said ‘Zona. “But no one jumps out, which probably means no one deserves it. You can’t do Dwayne Wade. Not yet. And no one in football stands out anymore.”

“And no one in baseball,” said the Cuban.

“Steroids,” we all pretty much said in unison.

“Roger Federer?” Asked the Cuban.

“Tiger and Federer,” I said. “Actually they’re the same guy. But tennis isn’t exactly America’s favorite sport and Tiger’s been named Sportsman twice already. [In ’96 when he won his third-straight U.S. Amateur, and in ’00 after capturing three majors.] He’s the only guy to do that. Would they give it to him three times when they know they have to give it to him when he breaks [Jack] Nicklaus’ record [of 18 majors?]”

“Then give it to Andre Agassi,” Brit Man offered. “Everybody loved his story.”

“Nah,” said ‘Zona. “He didn’t win anything this year.”

“It could be for his career,” I said. “They’ve done it before.”

“Here’s one,” ‘Zona said, sounding as if he’d had an epiphany. “Reggie Bush. He won …”

“Texas won the title!” The rest of us said.

“Oh yeah.”

Clearly, ‘Zona has gotten a bit too much sun out there in the desert.

That’s pretty much how the debate goes at the magazine, as well. As a group of editors ruminate. Writers and reporters weigh in, as does just about anyone with access to Managing Editor Terry McDonnell’s email address. In the end, the T McD listens to all the arguments and makes the call. Although names of potential SOYs are certainly dancing like sugar plums in the editors’ heads, the debate will be begin in earnest following the end of the World Series, the last major sports event of the year. The Boston Red Sox were the no-brainer pick two years ago after ending The Curse and joyfully lifting the nation with their stirring 0-3 comeback against the Yankees in the ALCS and first World Series triumph in 86 years. And Tom Brady took home the amphora in 2005. So barring some historic performance in baseball’s postseason, the 2006 SOY isn’t likely to be a baseball player. Nor will an NFL player probably be recognized.

NASCAR? No one leads the pack.

Hockey? Please!

Sprinter Justin Gatlin might have been a long-shot pick after becoming the new co-World’s Fastest Man this spring by tying the 100-meter world record in Qatar. He was handsome, strong and poised to be the new “clean” face of another drug-tainted sport. Oops. Gatlin later turned up dirty, too, essentially ending any track athlete’s chance of becoming SOY during our lifetime.

Same with cycling. Lance Armstrong was SOY in 2002, as much for his heroic cancer story and what he’s done to raise funds to combat the disease as for his dominance of the Tour de France. But now we have Tyler Hamilton and many others in the sport for thrusting it into the lab with baseball and track.

The World Cup Champions, Italy, would be a worthy choice. Probably the right choice. The World Cup was far and away the biggest, most watched and most exciting sports event in the world this year, and Italy won an exciting shootout over France, the favored, sentimental pick, in the final. The world stopped for World Cup games, and on the day of the final even Americans across the nation found themselves staring at the mesmerizing action. The Italians’ victory lifted their nation, which was in the throes of a domestic soccer league scandal, much as the Red Sox’ triumph boosted Boston. Yet given the U.S.’ still-myopic view of sports (If we can’t win it, it doesn’t matter) I’d be surprised if this were the pick.

The awkward timing of the college football season makes it unlikely the pick will come from that sport. Like the NFL, college football is in the midst of its season and while Ohio State has emerged as the nation’s dominant team and Quarterback Troy Smith as the Heisman leader of the moment, there’s too much football left to play and the national title will not be decided until 2007. That timing is one reason the only college football players to named SOY are former Oregon State QB Terry Baker in 1962 (Yeah, I said, “Terry Baker who,” too.) and former Wake Forest player Chip Rives, who was part of the collection of do-gooders who were collectively recognized in 1987 as “Athletes Who Care.” That’s it.

After some thought, I agree with The Brit. Andre Agassi’s my choice for SI’s 2006 Sportsman of the Year.

Yes Tiger Woods had perhaps his best year ever. And doing so in the wake of Earl Woods’ death adds a layer of emotion that’s hard to ignore. But there’s a bit of a been-there-seen-that and-will-probably-see-it-again feeling to Tiger’s dominance. We expect it now, and will continue to do so for years. In a sense he’s becoming a victim of his own greatness.

Roger Federer probably deserves the award as much as any single athlete this year. He reached the final of every Grand Slam tournament this year, and won three, matching the feat he achieved in 2004. He’s been No. 1 since February of that year, and trails only Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors for the most consecutive weeks on top.

Federer should pass Connors in 2007. Perhaps that will be his year, but this one belongs to Agassi. The former No. 1 player, who left the game in September after a brilliant 20-year career, was without question the most beloved athlete of 2006. His retirement effort at the U.S. Open was the year’s most compelling sports television. Battling back pain that had us all squirminghe 36-year-old reached the third round before losing to inevitability. He leaves the game as the only Open Era player to have won every Grand Slam singles title, and the player who’ll perhaps be best remembered for transforming his game – and his image – more dramatically than perhaps any athlete of our age.

Agassi’s recognition is also deserved because of his work away from the game. Without much fanfare and with monies largely gained from his own winnings, Agassi opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas five years ago, which has since helped educate hundreds of primarily minority, economically disadvantaged kids in his hometown. His foundation has also launched programs to aid abused, neglected children, as well as those who are developmentally challenged, disabled or quarantined with infectious diseases.

These efforts make Agassi perhaps the most charitable athlete of his generation – including Lance Armstrong – and alone should make him worthy of SI’s honor. His retirement serves as the opportunity when he should be recognized as Sports Illustrated 2006 Sportsman of the Year.

As for someone who received no consideration for anyone’s Sportsman honor: ‘Zona, who took the 2006 Who Da Man Trophy back west, beating me by two strokes.