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Your Turn: Any other Sportsman?
CNNSI.com users give their alternative 1998 Sportsman picks
Posted: Friday December 18, 1998 05:43 PM
Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were clear choices as Sports Illustrated's Sportsmen
of the Year. But what if they weren't eligible? Who do you think would deserve
the award? CNNSI.com users responded to the question, and here are a selection
of
answers:
Marion Jones , who had the best year any female sprinter has ever had. And
she`s also the best long jumper in the world. She should be the clear choice
even if Mac and Sammy were
available.
-- Timo Toivonen, Turku,
Finland
My Sportsman of the Year would be Doug Flutie . Above all he showed what a
true athlete should be. He was happy to be the backup and when needed came in
to perform his best. He understands the meaning of teamwork in never taking too
much credit for his success and has not lashed out at all of those who shunned
him all those years
ago.
-- Michael Funk,
Boston
Ricky Williams is by far the best even with Sosa and McGwire considered.
He represents everything that is good not only in sports, but in human nature.
I hope that he doesn't lose his humility and class as he enters the professional
arena.
-- Kevin M. Fitzgerald, LaCrosse,
Wis.
My Sportsman of the Year is not a person but a team. It is the New
York Yankees , for the reason that there was not one standout player on the
squad but the whole team was invincible and that is why they won 125 games.
-- Gary Berger, New York
City
The easy choice would be Jeff Gordon , a guy who has won three Winston
Cups, 13 races this year, and has done it all with
class.
-- Craig Larson, Overland Park,
Kans.
Definitely Alex Rodriguez ! Why? I've got 2 reasons ... 40 and 40! At 23
years old?! Can Mac & Sammy do
that?
-- Loni Johnson, Federal Way,
Wash.
Steve Yzerman (center, captain, heart and soul) of the Detroit Red Wings
is the epitome of a true sportsman. In leading the '97-'98 Wings to their
second Stanley Cup Championship, he has proven that he is truly one of the
greatest hockey players to ever set skate on the ice. I would hope that he
received some consideration for this
award.
-- Scott Simnitch, Plainfield,
Ill.
John Elway : He made several Super Bowls with lackluster teams for years
and finally won the Holy Grail. Not only that, but he has led his team to an
amazing record this year and possibly another Super Bowl victory. Nothing was
sweeter than finally seeing the Lombardi Trophy in the hands of one of the
greatest quarterbacks the game has ever
seen.
-- Jason Homorody, Columbus,
Ohio
Wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin . Yes that's right, Steve Austin -- what
athlete brings in more money and has a greater impact on the sports world today?
Of course I could have recommended Michael Jordan, but the NBA is another
story. I know, you are reading this and probably laughing, but here is a guy who
has worked his way up to the top and has won the hearts of literally millions of
fans throughout the world. He demonstrates dedication to his profession as well
as any other athlete. He has overcome great adversity and has changed the sport
of wrestling. I ask you, "Who has had a greater impact in any other
sport?" This is why I recommend Steve Austin for the Sportsman of the Year
award.
-- Dean Clark, Houlton,
Maine
Davor Suker , Striker and Golden Boot winner from Croatia at World Cup
France 98. He led the underdog Croatian team to a 3rd-place finish at the World
Cup. He led them to what many people thought was impossible due to fighting in
his homeland, and also won the golden boot along the way. He truly showed
himself as a sportsman when he refused to take credit for his team's fine
showing, saying instead that his teammates deserved all the
credit.
-- Wes Faulk, Savannah,
Ga.
Cal Ripken. He reached the one true unreachable star, and ended his
streak on his terms and to benefit his team. He didn't get hurt and he probably
could have gone another 400 games. He did so with such never-before-seen modesty
and class that I think he deserves to be 1998 Sportsman of the
Year.
-- Paul Gardner,
Baltimore
Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt , for an undefeated season,
a sixth title, and the job of molding Chamique Holdsclaw into one of the
greatest players in college ball, male or female. And for turning down the pros
to stay with a college program "because young women need to see that we can
succeed at this level."
-- Patricia Miller, Madison,
Wis.
Dominik Hasek would have been a great choice. He almost singlehandedly
took the Czech Republic hockey team to the gold medal in the Olympics. He took
the Sabres on his shoulders and almost carried an otherwise mediocre team to the
Stanley Cup finals. And he won a second consecutive Hart Trophy as the league's
MVP, something unheard-of for a goaltender. Simply put, there is no other
athlete in his or her sport (other than that Jordan guy) who can carry their
team as far as the Dominator
can!
-- Mike Elliott, Lower Allen,
Pa.
What Chris Spielman did -- give up a season (at least) while he's still
one of the better players in the league, to help his wife fight cancer --
definitely merits recognition. Despite all the dysfunctional sports families
you write about, Spielman gives proof positive that there are athletes worth
caring
about.
-- Mark Cohen,
Pittsburgh
My Sportsman of the Year would be Mark O'Meara . The reasons are simple:
no holdouts, no contract disputes, no trash talk, just two majors and a lot of
class. Thank you Mark, for being someone my kids can really look up
to.
-- Lyle Boerchers, Laurier MB,
Canada
Bryce Drew . The primary reason nobody cares whether the whiny NBA players
or owners ever settle their deal. We all know college basketball is much more
exciting and fun to watch than the
NBA!
-- Jeff Richied,
Houston
Not Sportsman, but Sportsmen. Major League Baseball did more for itself
this year than in the history of baseball. From Ricky Henderson leading in
stolen bases to Juan Gonzalez's historic run at the RBI crown to young A-Rod's
40/40 season to second-year man Nomar Garciaparra's MVP run, baseball has shown
that it is our national pastime again. It grabbed us by the heart and made us
proud to say, Let's go out to the
ballgame.
-- Dow Pender, Winston Salem,
N.C.
There's no other choice: You guys did it absolutely right. Big Mac and
Slammin' Sammy are indeed perfect choices!! Good job.
-- Brent Lansden, Beaver,
Okla.
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