I debated a bit with this post, as sports is not something we really cover all the time. Then I realized the Sportsman of the Year award is so much more than just being about sports. I will profess to not being a baseball fan that watches all the games, hell I have to even let you know that I am a Mets fan and not a Yankees fan, but something about Jeter makes you pay attention. As everyone else is saying, Jeter acts the right way for every diverse situation that he is in, along with being a top athlete, so this award was almost made for him. Jeter was chosen as the magazine’s 56th honoree (the December 7th issue hits the newsstands on Wednesday). Surprisingly he also becomes the first Yankee to be named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year.
“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,” said Terry McDonell the SI magazine Group Editor.
What is so interesting about Jeter’s season is that the Yankees team captain turned 35 this year and still batted .334 and lead the Yankees to the World Series title. He has broken Yankee great, Lou Gehrig’s franchise mark for base hits and led the American League by reaching base 289 times. Really though what makes him such a beast in the sport is his clutch ability and in the post season batted .344 with a .432 on-base percentage, three home runs and six RBIs. If that wasn’t enough he batted .407 in the World Series. Did I also mention he is 35? Based on some of the previous winners, I think Jeter’s achievement will stand the test of time.
The Sportsman of the Year award has been given every year since Sports Illustrated began in 1954.
Source: The New York Times and TSN
