Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year should go to . . .

Sports Illustrated will be announcing its annual Sportsman/person of the Year sometime next week....hopefully SI will not pull a stunt like Time magazine did last year when they named "everyday people" as their Person of the Year.....what is that crap?.....SI has been taking suggestions from people about who should be this year’s recipient....

Some of the names mentioned were: dogs (because of the Michael Vick saga), Appalachian State (because of their win over Michigan), and the worst of all - Joey Chestnut (because he ate more hot dogs than that Japanese guy).....a hot dog eating winner as Sportsman of the Year?? — what a freakin joke....

To me, I think being named Sportsman of the Year is a very big honor....some of the previous winners were Joe Paterno, Joe Montana, Tiger Woods, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, etc.....therefore, there are some worthy and most deserving candidates for this year’s honor:

* Roger Federer, tennis - this dude is the most dominant athlete in any sport, but he gets very little recognition because 1) is not from the United States; and 2) he doesn’t act like a jackass (ala Chad Johnson)....Federer is very humble and does not seek out the spotlight.....but on the tennis court, he methodically destroys any opponent....

* Tim Duncan, basketball - Duncan is very similar to Federer in which he is a success at his trade, but someone who does not seek the spotlight....he has led the San Antonio Spurs to four NBA titles....4 titles!!!....I bet most sports people do not even realize that....he has led the Spurs to more NBA titles than Larry Bird did with the Celtics and Shaq did with the Lakers......

* Peyton Manning, football - Manning finally got that albatross off his back by winning this year’s Super Bowl.....he is a true professional and a very good role model.....when his career is over, Manning will probably hold every quarterback record in the NFL.....

* Brett Favre, football - if I was betting on who will win it, my money would go on Favre.....he is having a spectacular year.....everyone loves Favre.....Favre can do no wrong....he is not only beating NFL opponents, but also Father Time......personally, I would not vote for Favre, but I have no problem if SI decides to give him this honor.....

* My choice for Sportsman of the Year would be both Tony Dungy and Bill Belichick.....both are successful NFL coaches, but with complete opposite personalities and values.....Dungy is the good guy who is personable and says the right things while Belichick is the essence of evil with his hooded sweatshirt and Spygate scandal.....but overall, both are two Hall of Fame quality coaches who have a major impact on the NFL....they also are great teachers - look at thow many assistant coaches under them went on to become head coaches....