Sportsmen of the Year...

Sportsmen of the Year - The View from the Couch

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

…to be a sports writer.

It’s a job where folks are paid to watch sports, so being an Oscar Madison type is not the most arduous job on the planet.

From the free food, the hanging out with the guys more often than the wife, (or in most cases ex-wives?), the semi-cool schwag, to occasionally witnessing actual history, it is, for the most part, every sports fan’s dream job. Nevertheless, even the guys and gals in this game need a break.

That’s what December is for.

If you’ve noticed lately, and if you haven’t, you stopped paying attention just about the time you recovered from your own turkey induced coma, this is the time of year for all media every where to look back at all the fascinating things that have gone on in the world of fun and games in 2005.

And talk or write about it…

…incessantly.

It’s the time of year where sports writers open up their laptop archives and go through the previous stuff they’ve already written and plagiarize themselves ruthlessly to produce these fabulous “recaps.” The process is quick. It’s easy. Nobody gets hurt, and most importantly, there’s plenty of extra time left over for plenty ‘oh (Ho ho ho) seasonal lunches.

This takes us to the grand daddy of these annual traditions:

Sports Illustrated magazine's sportsman of the year.

SI came up with this scam award in the 50’s handing out the hardware, (not that there is any), to the person they dub deserving. The first winner is none other than Roger Banister, of miracle mile fame, and since then there has been different guys and girls (three times a winner) picked. That is except for one feller who was picked twice, and should have been picked a third time as well.

This year they gave the nod to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Not a bad pick. Brady has led the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles in the last four seasons and was twice named Super Bowl MVP.

He also hosted Saturday Night Live, has had a 60 Minutes segment done on him and his girlfriend is smokin’.

Besides that, he’s kinda boring really. After football he wants to go into politics fer gawds sakes! If they asked me for my two cents, I wouldn’t have even had him up for a nomination. If I was gonna take someone from football, it would still be a Patriot, but the coach, not the QB.

But they didn’t. Therefore, in the time-honored tradition of December sports writing, I will now provide my choice for the athlete of the year.

I will go with a countdown if you don’t mind. More drama that way…

Number 5.

This lumpy uber-administrator has this bunch of spoiled brat athletes drinking his koolaid, giving up more lucrative deals elsewhere, all in pursuit of championships. Without Bill Belichick, Tom Brady is not going to be SI’s choice, simple as that.

Number 4.

If you listen to those who know about tennis, Roger Federer just might be the greatest player the game has ever seen. In 2005, he won 11 titles, including two Grand Slams, four Masters Series crowns and had an incredible 81-4 match record. The only problem is, he’s even more boring than Tom Brady. And that’s saying something.

Number 3.

How can a little guy from Canada win an MVP trophy in an American league populated by giants? With quickness, fitness, brains and creativity, that’s how. By pushing the ball up the court unrelentingly, Steve Nash pushed himself to the top of this giant pyramid, and along the way, providing great quotes. If he had managed to win the NBA title, he’d be number 1.

Number 2.

Damn those French! Something Lance Armstrong may or may not have done in 1999 came back and bit him on his ball this year, tarnishing his unprecedented 7th win at the Tour de France. Previous to Lance, no cycling enthusiast could have conceived of anyone winning the most grueling athletic endeavor that many times, never mind in a row. However, the French press have had a hate-on for the American ever since he usurped their sport. One way or another they would get him. They could only do it after he retired and that shadow of a doubt cost him the top spot as his swan song.

Number 1.

His opponents know. That’s why they voted him the PGA player of the year for seventh time in nine years. Forget sports writers, this sport lets its own decide who is best, and I agree with PGA Tour president Tim Finchem when he said,

SI chose Tiger Woods twice before as their Sportsman of the Year. He’s the only one to make the grade twice before, and this year should have been his third. After undergoing a swing overhaul that made him all but irrelevant in 2004, Woods rebounded to the top of the world rankings in 2005, claiming six titles including the Masters and the British Open and more than $10 million in earnings. And all that in his first year of marriage!

SI gave him the title the first time in 1996, anointing him practically as the second coming. They gave it to him again in 2000 when he actually appeared to be a god. This year, though not as unreal as 2000, was still just about as good a year as a golfer has ever had. The only problem is Tiger set the bar too high perhaps even for himself. SI couldn’t see beyond that, but I can.

Tiger Woods – Sportsman of the Year.

Well, that was easy enough. One December column down, a couple more to go. What should be next week? Play of the Year? Team of the Year? Story of the Year?

I’ll make up my mind over lunch.

Cheers - Gavin McDougald – AKA Couch

Remember to drop us a line at rants@betED.com to voice your opinion on one of McDougald's articles or on anything else you read at betED.com!

AP Wire - His suspension over, Terrell Owens was deactivated as planned for the Philadelphia Eagles' game against Seattle.

The All-Pro wideout was suspended Nov. 5 after he again criticized quarterback Donovan McNabb, called the organization "classless" and fought with former teammate Hugh Douglas. Two days later, the Eagles extended the suspension to four games and told Owens not to return.

On Nov. 23, an arbitrator upheld the decision, ruling that the Eagles were justified in their actions.

Owens was restored to the 53-man roster last week, but his career in Philadelphia is over. The Eagles plan to deactivate him the remainder of the season and will trade or release him before March, when he's due a roster bonus.

The Eagles reportedly informed Owens he must repay most of his signing bonus he received in March 2004. The team could withhold his pay the rest of the season because he never returned the signing bonus. This might lead to another grievance being filed by the NFL Players Association on Owens' behalf, or by the Eagles if the money isn't returned.

The reigning conference champions are 1-3 without Owens and were last in the NFC East with a 5-6 record going into Monday's game against the Seahawks.

Owens has five years remaining on a seven-year contract that he signed when he came to Philadelphia last year. His problems started when he demanded a new contract after an outstanding season in which he caught 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns, helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl.

He took his first verbal shot at McNabb in April, suggesting the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback was tired in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl loss to New England.

McNabb responded harshly and the two didn't speak for a prolonged period in training camp. They briefly reconciled their relationship and performed well together on the field -- Owens had 47 catches for 763 yards and six TDs in seven games.

Owens was banished for one week from training camp after a heated dispute with coach Andy Reid that followed a shouting match with offensive coordinator Brad Childress.

Owens also annoyed the Eagles by violating the dress code on road trips, parking in coaches' spots at the team's practice facility and sleeping through one team meeting, not bringing his playbook to another and refusing to open the playbook at another meeting.

One day after the Eagles told him to go home for good, a contrite Owens pleaded for another chance in a public apology outside his home in Moorestown, N.J., but the team was unmoved.

Scott Speed? Cmon - what's your name really??