04/25/24
December 19, 2010
AP Athletes of Year Lindsay Vonn, Drew Brees: The AP Athletes of the Year are skier Lindsey Vonn and quarterback Drew Brees. Vonn becomes the first skier of either gender to win this honor, finishing ahead of the racehorse Zenyatta second and UConn basketball player Maya Moore third. The top three men were Brees, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and boxer Manny Pacquiao.
Yeah, I'm glad she beat the horse too.
At least in Britain, they gave it to the dude on top of the horse.
posted by owlhouse at 06:52 PM on December 19, 2010
If a horse is one of your top three contenders, I'm guessing the women's field wasn't all that strong this year. I guess I would have expected more since it's an Olympic year and all.
posted by Bonkers at 03:54 AM on December 20, 2010
If a horse is one of your top three contenders, I'm guessing the women's field wasn't all that strong this year.
Actually, it's not an indictment on the women's field as much as it's a testament to the year that Zenyatta had in 2010, and her popularity (as it grew) throughout the year.
posted by grum@work at 07:38 AM on December 20, 2010
Actually, it's not an indictment on the women's field as much as it's a testament to the year that Zenyatta had in 2010, and her popularity (as it grew) throughout the year.
Or to the blinkered vision of the AP writers who participated in the poll.
Not surprised, but still disappointed.
Oh, and to return to the subject: even if the AP weren't blind to the many excellent female athletes out there, Lindsey Vonn still would have deserved it.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:25 AM on December 20, 2010
I believe Zenyatta was in the top 3 last year as well. Incidentally, it appears that the highest a male horse has placed was Secretariat in 6th in 1973 (winner that year was O.J. Simpson). Here's an article from when the same issue came up last year.
posted by holden at 05:04 PM on December 20, 2010
Vonn becomes the first skier of either gender to win this honor, finishing ahead of the racehorse Zenyatta second and UConn basketball player Maya Moore third. The top three men were Brees, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and boxer Manny Pacquiao.
Emphasis mine.
Wow.