Brett Favre is SI's 2007 Sportsman of the Year (1 Viewer)

[trader jake]

SI cover

link

Sports Illustrated names Brett Favre 2007 Sportsman of the Year

NEW YORK - Brett Favre's standout season for the resurgent Green Bay Packers has earned him the title of 2007 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, making him the fourth quarterback to win the award in its 53-year history.

The 38-year-old Favre joins fellow quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw (1979), Joe Montana (1990) and Tom Brady (2005) as recipients of the award, given to an athlete who symbolizes the ideals of sportsmanship.

Favre, a three-time NFL MVP, said in the cover story of the magazine's Dec. 10th issue that leadership is about finding ways to raise his team's level of play.

"You do that by setting an example, by doing things the right way. I've always shown up, I've always been prepared, I practise every day," Favre said. "I practise hard. I study. No matter what happens on the field, I never point blame at anybody else. Everything I do comes back to leadership, the example I want to set."

Favre has started a quarterback-record 249 consecutive games, and this year surpassed Dan Marino for career touchdown passes and pass attempts. He is 450 yards away from breaking Marino's career record of 61,361 yards.

Favre has had one of the best seasons of his 17-year career, completing 67.4 per cent of his passes for 3,412 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

He's on pace to surpass his career marks in completion percentage, yards passing and fewest interceptions per attempts.

The magazine also recognized Favre's history of philanthropy, including his Fourward Foundation that's donated more than US$4 million to charities in Wisconsin and Mississippi and assisted Mississippi's Gulf Coast counties after hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade won the magazine's award last year.

Congratulations to Brett Favre. That's a huge honor to receive at this stage of his career.

 

[kaso]

Brett Brett?

 

[sho nuff]

Seems to be more an award for his career than just this year.

I thought Dungy probably should have gotten it...though, his big moment happened so early it was probably harder to do.

Congrats to Brett though.

 

[trader jake]

Brett Brett?

Edited. Bad timing after the loss to Dallas and his injury, but he's obviously having a great season. Not sure it's Sportsman of the Year worthy unless they are basing it more on career achievement.

 

[Eviloutsider]

I am sure this award means more to him....

http://www.packers.com/multimedia/videos/recent/

Look for the Brett Favre Make A Wish video.

 

[sho nuff]

I am sure this award means more to him....

http://www.packers.com/multimedia/videos/recent/

Look for the Brett Favre Make A Wish video.

But I thought he is just a selfish guy who is only playing for the records?

 

[smcindoe]

King Kaufman pretty much nailed this one:

http://www.salon.com/sports/col/kaufman/20...sday/index.html

 

[Eviloutsider]

King Kaufman pretty much nailed this one:

http://www.salon.com/sports/col/kaufman/20...sday/index.html

Well in the article is states that SI named 7 sportsmen of the year in 1987 for off the field activities. Maybe this year they named Favre for not only his excellence on the field this year and in the past, what he does for others (see link above), and what he means to a city, state, and league.

 

[trader jake]

The names being suggested in place of Favre don't inspire me to disagree with his selection...even if it is a bit of a career achievement award.

 

[TitusIII]

What the hell does "symbolize the ideals of sportsmanship" mean? They could have made a better choice(Dungy/Federer) but SI is pop-culture trash nowadays...so good for Brett..he deserves it...

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

Like the Heisman and other awards, totally overrated. Hype and stuff to sell copy. So for business purposes, Favre is probly the right choice by SI.

 

[pantherclub]

I really dont see how it could not have been Federer.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

I really dont see how it could not have been Federer.

Who would sell more copies, Federer or Favre?

 

[The Kerminator]

I am sure this award means more to him....

http://www.packers.com/multimedia/videos/recent/

Look for the Brett Favre Make A Wish video.

Thanks for posting that EvilOutsider. That is one side of Favre that the GB homers see, hear, read about that many of the 'haters' don't see. This guy gives so much more back that doesn't get reported but many local organizations and charities know about. Favre gets it.

 

[-OZ-]

probably an attempt to jinx Favre into retirement.

 

[sho nuff]

I really dont see how it could not have been Federer.

Because nobody in this country really cares about Tennis.And what does he do outside of the sport...especially in the States?

 

[faulkfan]

I really dont see how it could not have been Federer.

Because nobody in this country really cares about Tennis.And what does he do outside of the sport...especially in the States?

I don't know...what?

 

[Truman]

Lebron James?

 

[sho nuff]

I really dont see how it could not have been Federer.

Because nobody in this country really cares about Tennis.And what does he do outside of the sport...especially in the States?

I don't know...what?

I don't know either...figured that the poster who was pushing for Federer might know.Favre has done a ton off of the field...its a big part of that award.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

I really dont see how it could not have been Federer.

Because nobody in this country really cares about Tennis.And what does he do outside of the sport...especially in the States?

I don't know...what?

Does it matter? It's "sportsman", not humanitarian.Again, why most award thingies are a joke, from the Heisman to the Oscars.

 

[sho nuff]

I really dont see how it could not have been Federer.

Because nobody in this country really cares about Tennis.And what does he do outside of the sport...especially in the States?

I don't know...what?

Does it matter? It's "sportsman", not humanitarian.Again, why most award thingies are a joke, from the Heisman to the Oscars. T

You might want to read up on the award and what all they give it for.Off the field/court/course stuff counts quite a bit.

 

[Keysersoze666]

I really dont see how it could not have been Federer.

Because nobody in this country really cares about Tennis.And what does he do outside of the sport...especially in the States?

I don't know...what?

Does it matter? It's "sportsman", not humanitarian.Again, why most award thingies are a joke, from the Heisman to the Oscars.

Hey Sonny, I read all of your replies and I think you have it pegged. These "awards" are mostly self-serving attempts to sell whatever it is that the GIVER is selling. In most cases (SI, Academy Awards, and many others) the criteria is purposefully "loose" in order to leave the lattitude required to SELL the final product. I guess if anything, they provoke debate that might otherwise lay dormant, and I'm not sure how that hurts anything.As a lifelong Packer fan, I don't think anyone associated with the Packer organization has any reason to NOT be proud of Favre winning, even if it IS for someone else's commercial purposes. He's never asked for this stuff, nor ever campaigned for it. I also thank EvilOutsider for posting the Make-A-Wish link, anyone who doesn't follow Favre closely will see a side that of him that non-Packer fans rarely see.

In any event, Favre brings excitement, hope and honor to the Packer organization as he always has. I find very few devout football fans who don't feel the same way about some figure in their team's history. Packer fans will soon have to talk about Favre in past tense, so forgive us our transgressions while we enjoy the final years of our franchise's most exciting player.

 

[daddymag]

Agreed on how the award is all hype and congrats to SI for making a big deal of it for themselves.

How does this relate to football? I think of something Boomer Esiason said when Kerry Collins was going through all of his f-ups in Carolina. Boomer said that, no matter what your abilities on the field, when you are an NFL quarterback your responsibility is this: millions of people (your team's fans) are going to feel a certain way on Monday, based on what YOU do on Sunday.

I am a Steelers fan. It sucks not believing in your quarterback. It's reeeeeaaaal nice knowing every Sunday who your quarterback is, and knowing that you're riding with him.

Regardless of whether anyone thinks he's overhyped or not, Brett Favre is a Quarterback.

 

[Keysersoze666]

Agreed on how the award is all hype and congrats to SI for making a big deal of it for themselves.How does this relate to football? I think of something Boomer Esiason said when Kerry Collins was going through all of his f-ups in Carolina. Boomer said that, no matter what your abilities on the field, when you are an NFL quarterback your responsibility is this: millions of people (your team's fans) are going to feel a certain way on Monday, based on what YOU do on Sunday.I am a Steelers fan. It sucks not believing in your quarterback. It's reeeeeaaaal nice knowing every Sunday who your quarterback is, and knowing that you're riding with him.Regardless of whether anyone thinks he's overhyped or not, Brett Favre is a Quarterback.

Well said Daddy ... you have a bright future with Big Ben. I live in Dayton, 30 miles from where Ben went to college and he's been "the MAN" since college and seems to be comfortable with that role. To me, thats HUGE advantage for any QB!

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

I really dont see how it could not have been Federer.

Because nobody in this country really cares about Tennis.And what does he do outside of the sport...especially in the States?

I don't know...what?

Does it matter? It's "sportsman", not humanitarian.Again, why most award thingies are a joke, from the Heisman to the Oscars.

Hey Sonny, I read all of your replies and I think you have it pegged. These "awards" are mostly self-serving attempts to sell whatever it is that the GIVER is selling. In most cases (SI, Academy Awards, and many others) the criteria is purposefully "loose" in order to leave the lattitude required to SELL the final product. I guess if anything, they provoke debate that might otherwise lay dormant, and I'm not sure how that hurts anything.As a lifelong Packer fan, I don't think anyone associated with the Packer organization has any reason to NOT be proud of Favre winning, even if it IS for someone else's commercial purposes. He's never asked for this stuff, nor ever campaigned for it. I also thank EvilOutsider for posting the Make-A-Wish link, anyone who doesn't follow Favre closely will see a side that of him that non-Packer fans rarely see.

In any event, Favre brings excitement, hope and honor to the Packer organization as he always has. I find very few devout football fans who don't feel the same way about some figure in their team's history. Packer fans will soon have to talk about Favre in past tense, so forgive us our transgressions while we enjoy the final years of our franchise's most exciting player.

I understand. Don't get me wrong, I like Favre -- one of my all-time favorites, no doubt. I just think most of these award things are bs.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

I really dont see how it could not have been Federer.

Because nobody in this country really cares about Tennis.And what does he do outside of the sport...especially in the States?

I don't know...what?

Does it matter? It's "sportsman", not humanitarian.Again, why most award thingies are a joke, from the Heisman to the Oscars. T

You might want to read up on the award and what all they give it for.Off the field/court/course stuff counts quite a bit.

Very well. Even so, I'm sure there are plenty who are "deserving" yet don't get consideration due to the sell. No biggie either way, it's a business, which is why I don't think it's worth getting worked up over. Again, the Heisman being a great example of how ridiculous it can get.

 

[Eviloutsider]

Roger Federer is the best tennis player I have ever seen. He is the best at his craft and I don't think anyone doubts that. This award though is done to sell copies and Federer doesn't sell here, simple as that. Same reason we don't put cricket players on the cover as well. Good for Favre, he's a great QB and does some good stuff off the field. That makes him qualified to win the award but I am sure there are thousands of people playing a wide variety of sports who do what they do better. No sense in getting upset about about something so superficial as a fake award given out by a magazine that is living on repuatation alone.