{UAH} Serena Williams winning Sports Illustrated’s 2015 Sportsperson of the Year results in (gasp) controversy

Serena Williams winning Sports Illustrated's 2015 Sportsperson of the Year results in (gasp) controversy

Republish
Reprint

Cam Cole | December 14, 2015 | Last Updated: Dec 15 8:18 AM ET
More from Cam Cole

•  
• Twitter
 
• Google+ 
• Reddit
 
• Email 
• Typo? 
• More

Julian Finney/Getty ImagesSerena Williams was named Sports Illustrated's 2015 Sportsperson of the Year.

Items that may grow up to be columns, Vol. XVII, Chapter 15:

Serena Williams' 2015 season is over: 'It's no secret I've played injured most of the year'

PHAROAH RUNS SECOND: Sports Illustrated's 2015 Sportsperson of the Year award has resulted in (gasp) controversy. It's a photo-finish to see who was more offended: the horseracing community, which has been counting on American Pharoah's triple crown to revive a struggling industry, or those who think the cover photo of winner Serena Williams is exploitative, because the tennis star is displayed provocatively on a golden throne in full warpaint with several miles of leg showing.

Yu Tsai for Sports Illustrated via APThis photo provided by Sports Illustrated shows the cover of the 2015 "Sports Person of the Year" magazine issue, featuring tennis player Serena Williams.

First of all, Pharoah was a wonderful story, but even the great Secretariat lost to Formula One racer Jackie Stewart in 1973. No non-human has ever won the award, and no individual woman has been the solo winner since distance runner Mary Decker in 1983. So you might say it's about time.

POINT, COUNTERPOINT: Pharoah did what Williams did not: win his sport's Grand Slam, as it were. Williams won the first three legs of hers, and another strong candidate, golfer Jordan Spieth, came within a few strokes of winning all four of his.

Let's just leave it at this: it was a hell of a year for sports performances. Novak Djokovic also won three of four Grand Slams and reached all four finals. Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry wasn't too shabby, either.

There was no wrong choice, although they would have had to change the name to Sports … um, Performer of the Year for Pharoah.

And the cover photo? That was Williams' own idea, says the magazine, though SI's editors probably didn't put up much of a fight.

KANE IS ABLE: You don't have to be a huge fan of Patrick Kane the person to be blown away by the explosive Chicago Blackhawk winger's 26-game point-scoring streak. Considering the volume of criticism heaped upon him when he started the season under the cloud of a sexual assault allegation, which prosecutors ultimately decided didn't merit taking to court, Kane's frame of mind as he has roared out of the gate like a man on a mission may be summed up best by the words of that old sportswriter, Friedrich Nietzsche: "It is impossible to suffer without making someone pay for it; every complaint already contains revenge."

___________________________________

Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

"But this I know, UPC believed and still believes in

very high education. We can call Obote all bad names we have, but the bottom line remains that he got more scholarships for Buganda than all previous Uganda leaders combined. That includes Sir Edward Mutesa, President Lule, President Binayisa, up to and into Ssabasajja Mutebi. Who all happen to be Baganda leaders." Mulindwa

--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com