And instead of a single player, the entire team is one of 12 nominees for Sportsman of the Year.
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Seattle Slew was the next Triple Crown victor in 1977 and he, too, did not win the award. In most states, though, American Pharoah has the lead by a wide margin. “He completed his career with a 6.5 length win in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in his final start before heading off to the breeding shed”.
The Sports Illustrated victor will be announced December 14. Never has a four-legged athlete claimed the honor previously bestowed upon the likes of Muhammad Ali, Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. They came-from-behind against the Astros in the ALDS, knocked off the Blue Jays in six games the ALCS and finally rolled over the Mets, 4 games to 1. The editors will make the ultimate selection but fans will get to have a say in the vote.
In his latest article for the Washington Post, Des Bieler asks whether or not a horse really “should even be considered” for Sportsman of the Year. And, if this season has taught fans everywhere anything it’s that Royals fans are good at this online voting thing. The other 10 are Usain Bolt (track and field), Simone Biles (gymnastics), Novak Djokovic (tennis), Serena Williams (tennis), Carli Lloyd (soccer), Lionel Messi (soccer), Ronda Rousey (mixed martial arts), Jordan Spieth (golf), American Pharoah (horse racing) and Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals.
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Votes can be taken until December 12 with the poll victor announced on December 13.
