Derek Jeter -- SI Sportsman of Year

[SirSaxa]

Sports Illustrated named Derek Jeter -- Sportsman of the Year. First Yankee to win this honor.

STORY

Excerpt
"He's so classy," McDonell said. "He brings a dignity and elegance to the game."

Jeter's 2009 season was remarkable.

He batted .334 with 18 homers and 66 RBIs with 30 steals to help lead the Yankees to their first World Series title in nine years -- a frustrating drought for the player who won four championships in his first five seasons.

And as calls swelled for Jeter to switch positions after his contract expires in 2010, the 10-time All-Star went out and had one of his best defensive seasons: He made a career-low eight errors in winning his fourth Gold Glove.

He also passed Yankees icon Lou Gehrig's club record for hits, won the Hank Aaron Award as the AL's top hitter, and was given the Roberto Clemente Award for excellence on and off the field.

The World Series victory might have been Jeter's most cherished accomplishment this year, but what clinched the sportsman award for him was his philanthropic work. Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation has doled out over $10 million in grants since 1996 to organizations that help keep young people away from alcohol and drugs.

"It's about the manner of the striving and the quality of the effort, too," McDonell said. "Off the field he has grown so much as a member of the community."

[Jack]

I'm just happy he is finally getting some recognition.

[TBird41]

Because I'm in the mood:

And as calls swelled for Jeter to switch positions after his contract expires in 2010, the 10-time All-Star went out and had one of his best defensive seasons: He made a career-low eight errors in winning his fourth Gold Glove.

[/i]

Errors are a horrible method of judging defense. You can't make an error on a ball you don't get to (*cough* pastadivingjeter *cough*)

[To be fair, Jeter's UZR was a lot better this year than last year]

He also passed Yankees icon Lou Gehrig's club record for hits, won the Hank Aaron Award as the AL's top hitter, a

That's great that Jeter now has a number of hits that is still fewer than any recognized milestone. Is it going to be special when Justin Upton passes Mark Grace for most career hits by a Diamondback? And can I just point out how absolutely ABSURD it was that Jeter won the Hank Aaron award over Joe Mauer? Compared to Mauer, Jeter had a lower batting average, a lower on base percentage, a lower slugging percentage, fewer HR, RBI, 2B, walks, more strike outs and hit into more double plays.

And one other thing--I thought we'd established that Jeter's intangibles had diminished in 2006, after Morneau won the MVP despite Jeter clearly having a better season on the field? I mean, the chemistry stories on the Yankees I read all talked about how Swisher and Sabathia had loosened up the Yankees' clubhouse and let everybody play up to their talents.

[Elvado]

This is an outrage. How does Barry O not win for his male-only pick-up games? He deserves SI award as least as much as he does the Nobel Prize. AG Holder should ask his wife and brother whether to investigate.

[theexorcist]

www.theonion.com/content/news/derek_jeter_honored_for_having

[Boz]

This selection is quite simply Usain......umm, I mean "insane."

;D


Congratulations to Jeter.

[hoyarooter]

Congratulations to Jeter, I guess. But I echo what TBird wrote. How could that possibly have occurred? Who makes that selection, the Yankee beat writers?

[theexorcist]

Nov 30, 2009 12:56:01 GMT -5 hoyarooter said:

Congratulations to Jeter, I guess. But I echo what TBird wrote. How could that possibly have occurred? Who makes that selection, the Yankee beat writers?

This year was problematic. No Olympics. No World Cup, even. That leaves the major sports:

1. NFL - Last year's Super Bowl champs, the Steelers, have no larger-than-life players and are now at .500.

2. NBA - Kobe, Sportsman of the Year? HAHAHAHAHAHA.

3. College Basketball - Meh. Blake Griffin didn't lead his team to the Final Four (Carolina spanked them.

That's three sports down. No one was notable for UConn in women's basketball. Soccer doesn't matter if it's not a World Cup year. Track had no particularly notable athletes who took the public consciousness. Swimming - Phelps won last year. Tiger was hurt most of the year. No tennis star really captured the imagination.

So that leaves Jeter, easily the most recognizable member of the Evil Empire, who won the World Series for the first time in a long time. A good choice. There are still three other competitors, though.

1. Ovechkin and Crosby, or Crosby and Malkin - Something about youth making the NHL thrilling again, with a Game 7 win for a team that was about to be contracted. A few angles here.

However, the last sole non-American winner was Gretzky in 1982. SI likes its Americans, and neither Crosby nor Malkin nor the two combined is Gretzky.

2. Tim Tebow - I was expecting this. With every single story about how he's had a greater impact than just his play on the field, he seemed like the logical pick.

3. I don't care two figs about NASCAR, but Jimmie Johnson just won his fourth straight title and has a sterling reputation. Someone from NASCAR has never won - have the lede be "Jimmie Johnson had won three straight championships, but this year, he took it to another level."

[kchoya]

I would have gone with Tom Watson. A gripping competition at The Open this year - even in defeat. And he showed how to play with class and grace. He's a sportsman in the truest sense of the word. Much more refreshing to see him out on the course with a smile and able to take in the moment as opposed to Tiger who is dropping f-bombs and throwing his clubs around.

[Jack]

Nov 30, 2009 13:19:55 GMT -5 theexorcist said:

Nov 30, 2009 12:56:01 GMT -5 hoyarooter said:

Congratulations to Jeter, I guess. But I echo what TBird wrote. How could that possibly have occurred? Who makes that selection, the Yankee beat writers?

No tennis star really captured the imagination.

How bout Mr. Federer, who happened to win 2 of the most exciting tennis matches ever while setting a record for Grand Slam titles and reclaiming his mantle from the younger, prettier rival, all while being lauded for his class and dignity? I suppose SI doesn't sell as well in Zurich as it does in Manhattan, though.

[Deleted]

Nov 30, 2009 13:19:55 GMT -5 theexorcist said:

2. Tim Tebow - I was expecting this. With every single story about how he's had a greater impact than just his play on the field, he seemed like the logical pick.

Tebow and Psycho T aren't eligible - this is the "Sportsman of the Year" award, not the "Verne Lundquist Man-Crush of Millennium" award.

[strummer8526]

Nov 30, 2009 11:36:50 GMT -5 TBird41 said:

That's great that Jeter now has a number of hits that is still fewer than any recognized milestone. Is it going to be special when Justin Upton passes Mark Grace for most career hits by a Diamondback?

Yeah, good argument. Cause, you know, the Diamondbacks have the same history of Hall of Fame players that the Yankees do. Not AT ALL an "apples to whatever-the-opposite-of-apples-is" comparison.

[theexorcist]

Nov 30, 2009 14:06:47 GMT -5 Jack said:

Nov 30, 2009 13:19:55 GMT -5 theexorcist said:

No tennis star really captured the imagination.

How bout Mr. Federer, who happened to win 2 of the most exciting tennis matches ever while setting a record for Grand Slam titles and reclaiming his mantle from the younger, prettier rival, all while being lauded for his class and dignity? I suppose SI doesn't sell as well in Zurich as it does in Manhattan, though.

When Federer was essentially the Terminator, he couldn't geta sniff. Now that Nadal seems better, it's a crapshoot ... if you're not American, you really have to be awesome.

[TBird41]

Nov 30, 2009 14:33:17 GMT -5 strummer8526 said:

Nov 30, 2009 11:36:50 GMT -5 TBird41 said:

That's great that Jeter now has a number of hits that is still fewer than any recognized milestone. Is it going to be special when Justin Upton passes Mark Grace for most career hits by a Diamondback?

Yeah, good argument. Cause, you know, the Diamondbacks have the same history of Hall of Fame players that the Yankees do. Not AT ALL an "apples to whatever-the-opposite-of-apples-is" comparison.

Fine. Whatever. The onion article did a better job. It's really not all that exciting that Jeter got more hits than a bunch of people that didn't really get that many hits.

[SFHoya99]

Wow, SI just continues further towards irrelevance.

Jeter? He had a nice year. Mauer or Pujols were better picks as baseball players -- the former for simply being amazing year in and year old and the latter for being a CATCHER who did what he did with the bat.

Jimmie Johnson should have been the pick.

[HoyaFanNY]

i'm biased, but my vote would have gone to #2

sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-woodsonsgift&prov=ap&type=lgns

[hifigator]

Lots to cover:

Jack wrote:

I'm just happy he is finally getting some recognition.
You forgot to put [sarcasm] and [/sarcasm]

TBird wrote:

That's great that Jeter now has a number of hits that is still fewer than any recognized milestone. Is it going to be special when Justin Upton passes Mark Grace for most career hits by a Diamondback?

While I agree that the team record for hits isn't especially noteworthy, in and of itself, but as much as I dislike them, the storied Yankee franchise hits record isn't really on par with the fledgling Diamondbacks is it?

Exorcist wrote:

This year was problematic. No Olympics. No World Cup, even. That leaves the major sports:

Great point. I was thinking exactly the same thing when I was on the way to work this morning and heard the news. My first thought was "really?" Then I started thinking about who should get it and tennis was up and down. Federer would have been the choice, but not sure he was dominating enough. As you point out, no one in the NFL really distinguished himself enough to win, especially with the workman-like Steelers winning it all. Holmes can't get it for basically one play. NBA -- Kobe came to mind, and I bet he was in the top 3 or so. I immediately dismissed Jimmie Johnson, even faster than you, but I think he would probably have been a good choice. But remember it is a year award. His achievement was heightened because of the past 3 years as well. And as for Tebow, if the voting would have been done in about 6 weeks, then I think he would have walked away with it. But I can't say that he deserved it yet at this point.

kc wrote:

I would have gone with Tom Watson. A gripping competition at The Open this year - even in defeat. And he showed how to play with class and grace. He's a sportsman in the truest sense of the word.

While I appreciate your sentiment, can we really give the Sportsman of the Year award to someone who almost won something? If so, then I think there are plenty of candidates.

Cam wrote:

Tebow and Psycho T aren't eligible - this is the "Sportsman of the Year" award, not the "Verne Lundquist Man-Crush of Millennium" award.

Ooh, the haters abound! That sounds a lot like the "I'm tired of hearing about him and no matter how good he is, he doesn't play for my team, so I hate his guts" response -- also known as the Tyler Hansbrough reflex.

[SirSaxa]

LOL! Comments above to be expected.

Amazing how many Yankee-haters there are on this board.
Not a touch of bias to suggest the vote was rigged by NY writers -- oh wait, he's the first Yankee ever to receive this award? Not even Mickey?

Despite their 27 world series victories and 40 pennants? Jeter's the First Yank?

What's that you say? Twice RED SOX players have won SI's award? Despite their puny record of 2 world series in the last 90 years?

Even more amazing are the Jeter haters. a Couple years ago many on this board were actually arguing "Jeter can't hit". Despite a lifetime average of .317? and .321 in the WS?

Too bad the "sports fans" on this board can't appreciate one of the all time great Baseball players -- ever. And a certain, first year, HOF'er. Plays the game the right way. Never trash talks. No scandals. No roids. Just a big time winner.

[Jack]

You're right, the 5th best hitter on the team with the highest payroll in the history of baseball is an inspiration to us all. SI is to be commended for their courageous choice in alerting us of his heretofore underreported greatness.

[Boz]

Nov 30, 2009 17:38:29 GMT -5 Jack said:

You're right, the 5th best hitter on the team with the highest payroll in the history of baseball is an inspiration to us all. SI is to be commended for their courageous choice in alerting us of his heretofore underreported greatness.

Jack is on fire today. ;D

For the record, I don't have much of an opinion on this. It's an award. As we are increasingly learning in the 21st century, awards like these (or those handed out in Hollywood, New York and Stockholm) have very little lasting significance.

It's great for Jeter and he seems like a pretty decent guy*, so kudos to him!

(*which also increasingly in the 21st century is about all it takes....be a really good athlete, don't be a tremendous d-bag, and you're in the running)


EDIT: If you'd like my opinion on what the award should be, I think it should not necessarily be for champions, but more for the Dikembe types of athletes, who are also tremendous ambassadors. If that athlete happens to be a champion, all the better. I'm sure Derek Jeter does a lot of good things for the community. I don't necessarily consider him to be an ambassador of goodwill. Alternatively, an athlete who achieves a major historic landmark in sport is also a good choice.

Maybe you don't have that every year, and that's fine, but I don't think it goes to those types of people enough. The fact that SI has never named Dikembe Mutombo its Sportsman of the Year is a crime.