Gawker: Jeter to be named SI’s Sportsman of the Year

November 29, 2009 by Benjamin Kabak 16 Comments

In the grand scheme of sports, winning Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year is but a small achievement. It carries with it a magazine cover, a glowing profile and not much else. Still, in the 55-year history of the award, no member of the New York Yankees has won it. According to a report on Gawker, that should change tomorrow when the magazine reveals the 2009 winner. The media blog reports that Derek Jeter will earn the honors this year. He’ll beat out teammate CC Sabathia, among others. We don’t really have to make a case for Derek; any Yankee fan knows that the Yankee Captain is more than deserving of the honor. I’m sure he likes the fifth World Series ring more than he will yet another SI cover though.

http://www.wiredtowns.com Short Porch

I bet they are real glad they didn’t pick Tiger right about now.
- http://www.lennysyankees.com lenNY’s Yankees
  
  Haha, absolutely.
Salty Buggah

A comment from that article:

“Sportsman of the Year” rumors? How weird. Also, Derek Jeter, whoever and whatever he does, does not have a pleasing face

Really? This guy doesnt know who Derek Jeter is?
- Salty Buggah
  
  Another comment from “The Stephen A.”, who I guess is the Stephen A. Smith from the picture:
  
  This is a disgrace. A sad moment for a once meaningful award. No, Usain Bolt, I’m not sure how much further you were supposed to bend time and space. Sorry. Maybe if you were carried to a championship by the wealthiest team in your sport by a significant margin, they would’ve had something for you.
- larryf
  
  Minka, Mariah and the rest of the girls would disagree…
Januz

Sportsman Of The Year is a BIG thing, because it has never been accomplished by a Yankee (Of course, there is the infamous SI Jinx (Some of the “Winners” included Rose, McGwire, and Sosa)). Jeter is just adding to a career, where 50 years from now, he will be discussed with Gehrig, DiMaggio, Berra. and Mantle (Ruth is on his OWN level).
I can imagine that the Everything Sox & Pats Network (ESPN), will give this lots of coverage this on Sports Center (Right after 50 Minutes of Pats/Saints talk and analysis, Charlie Weis, and Women’s College Basketball), leading into PATS/Saints Pre-Game.
- Carl
  
  What? Jeter in a class with Ruth, Gehrig, Berra, Dimaggio, and Mantle? Maybe in the eyes of pure Yankee fans. The 5 you listed are loved by baseball fans regardless of teams. Mariano is in that class already. Jeter is not a legendary player.
  - http://www.wiredtowns.com Short Porch
    
    Would another 750 hits and two more rings change that?
    
    Note: As stated, Ruth is in another league.
dch

If Jeter plays say 5 more years-He has at least 3500 hits,2000+ runs, maybe 1500 rbis-that is not legendary-while playing Shortstop?
- Carl
  
  That’s called Consistency. Jeter has never put up a legendary season. Ever.
  - http://pinstripepalace.blogspot.com/ Brien Jackson
    
    Um, 1999?
  - Amy
    
    Ridiculous consistency counts for something on the “legendary” scale.
  - http://twitter.com/riddering Riddering
    
    Better to put up 15+ years of incredible baseball than one legendary year.
  - steve (different one)
    
    how about 2009?
    
    find me the list of 35 year old SS who put up the type of season Jeter did this year.
Whitey14

Wow, even I think Jeter has had an awesome career, and a great 2009, and I’ve passionately rooted against every minute of it. Of course it helps me appreciate a player like Jeter, when my teams trial and travails with the Shortstop position are becoming legendary.
Ned D.

Love Jeter, but clearly Roger Federer should be sportsman of the year