Drives Me Crazy

The Associated Press Athlete of the Year- an honor that is given to sports heroes we won’t soon forget. The names on this list are some of the most incredible and storied athletes to ever play their respective games. From Dimaggio to Gretzky, and Jordan to Phelps, the athletes to have won this award lay out footprints that Bigfoot would have a hard time filling.

So how is it possible that this year’s athlete is more likely to leave skid marks than footprints on the great lineage of the award?

Yes, the 2009 AP Athlete of the Year is NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson. Jimmie Johnson didn’t hit 47 homeruns- Albert Pujols did. Jimmie Johnson didn’t rush for over 1,700 yards- no, Chris Johnson is doing that. Jimmie Johnson didn’t average over 27 points a game and win an NBA championship- that would be Kobe Bryant.

So, what did Jimmie Johnson do to earn the title AP Athlete of the Year? Okay, so he won four consecutive NASCAR championships. That’s pretty impressive- if you consider pressing on three pedals, shifting into gear, and steering all at the same time impressive. He’s quite the multi-tasker, isn’t he? Just today I was walking into my apartment, chewing gum, talking on the phone, and checking my watch. I guess you can put me on the short list of nominees for the 2010 award.

Maybe because I’m a girl, maybe because I don’t think people who drive cars are athletes (think about it- your mom can do it), or maybe it’s because I have all my teeth, but I don’t think Jimmie Johnson is the epitome of athleticism. So what? Jimmie Johnson is a man who can turn left as gracefully as Derek Zoolander. But is he a Mickey Mantle? A Joe Montana? A Carl Lewis? I don’t think he is.