ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --On Dec. 16, Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for 2013's Sportsman of the Year. The annual honor has been awarded to the likes of Dean Smith, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan.
In an article titled "My Sportsman," Sports Illustrated's Peter King shared his thoughts on the honor.
I love this award. Since I began subscribing (age 12, 1969, "Namath Weeps"), I always looked forward to the annual Sportsman issue, because it advanced the ideals of sport. A great athlete or coach could be a good person too. Some better than others at the athletics, or at the person part, or both. But there had to be something inherently good about the winner, and I liked that. So over the years, if the managing editor at the time asked me for a nomination from pro football, I would give it thought and advance only the causes of those I thought were worthy.
He then announced his nomination for the award -- Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.
*He's 37, he's had his mid-football-life crisis and survived it well; he has a charitable side that stretches into the four states he has called home at various stages of his life (Louisiana, Tennessee, Indiana, Colorado); and, despite his arm being maybe 85 percent of what it once was, he just might have the best year he has ever had.
Manning has persevered. He has put another franchise on his shoulders, and he's winning, and he's still the best at what he does at a time when whole and healthier and rich athletes are getting on with their lives. He thinks he owes everything he's got as a professional to helping the Broncos win. It's idealistic, it's old-fashioned, it's admirable. And that package gets my 2013 Sportsman vote.*
To read the rest of King's article, click here.
