It was 10 months ago, a lifetime in the Internet age, but there’s still no question the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl victory — and the spotlight it put on Drew Brees — was 2010’s biggest sports story. And it earned Brees a deserving nod for Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year. Still, other nominees among those put forth by SI’s writers might’ve been worthy any other year.
Alan Shipnuck seized on the grace and courage of golfer Graeme McDowell, who topped a “died and gone to heaven” U.S. Open title at Pebble Beach by putting an entire continent on his back to clinch Europe’s victory in the most exciting Ryder Cup finish ever.
“With his courageous play and generosity of spirit he elevated himself and his sport,” Shipnuck said.
Ian Thomsen reminded that before there was Michael Vick, there was Ron Artest, whose road to redemption, and an NBA title, took more than a decade and concluded with an unlikely recognition, not of divine inspiration but secular guidance Artest willingly sought.
“How many players would admit to their failings in their moment of triumph?” Thomsen said. “That’s what Artest did last June, and he wanted everyone to hear his confession.”
Then there was Michael Farber’s recognition of a simple act by Capitals center Brooks Laich on his worst night of the year, pulling over on the Roosevelt Bridge to change a stranded motorist’s tire after the final loss in Washington’s meltdown playoff series loss to Montreal.
“Too often professional athletes seem to live by separate rules if not on completely different planets,” Farber said. “They behave as if they are above us. But on a sad spring night in D.C., a small-town Saskatchewan guy lowered himself to the pavement.”
– Craig Stouffer
