# SI Sportsperson of the Year 2019 prediction thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 10, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845 "2019-07-10T16:46:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/21 "2019-10-31T03:07:55Z")
[Moderating] Merged threads. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/22 "2019-10-31T04:34:23Z")
After tonight, it’s got to be the Nationals/Mystics. While obviously D.C. didn’t recover from a horrible hurricane as Houston did a couple of years ago, D.C. did start the year with a horrible government shutdown that affected almost the entire city. And, it makes up from the snub for the Capitals last year. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/23 "2019-10-31T13:15:27Z")
There’s another option I didn’t consider: a combination of players from the three “first time” winners - the Nationals, Raptors, and Blues. Admittedly, it’s a longshot as SI tends to ignore (a) ice hockey, and (b) teams from outside the USA; also, see my earlier post about not having the same sport win in consecutive years. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/24 "2019-10-31T13:24:34Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > There’s another option I didn’t consider: a combination of players from the three “first time” winners - the Nationals, Raptors, and Blues. > > Admittedly, it’s a longshot as SI tends to ignore (a) ice hockey, and (b) teams from outside the USA; also, see my earlier post about not having the same sport win in consecutive years. I would kinda like that, would love to hear the Patriots fans howl. I guess Tiger is another option, but he’s already won it twice. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/25 "2019-10-31T17:36:53Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I would kinda like that, would love to hear the Patriots fans howl. Something tells me you’re not going to like my next suggestion… Tom Brady - but not just as Sportsperson of the Year; he’d be the 2010s Sportsperson of the Decade. Maybe share the Decade title with LeBron James, and possibly Venus Williams as well. Then again, in 2009, rather than name a single SOTD for the 2000s, SI named a “Top 20 Male Athletes” and “Top 20 Female Athletes” of that decade. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/26 "2019-11-01T15:14:16Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Something tells me you’re not going to like my next suggestion… > > Tom Brady - but not just as Sportsperson of the Year; he’d be the 2010s Sportsperson of the Decade. Maybe share the Decade title with LeBron James, and possibly Venus Williams as well. Two things: 1. You meant _Serena,_ not Venus, there right? I don’t think that even Venus Williams thinks that Venus Williams was the best tennis player of the decade. 2. If I’m doing the math right, then by the end of the year Serena Williams will have spent the majority of the decade _not_ at #1 — as opposed to Novak Djokovic, who by the end of the year _will_ have spent the majority of the decade at #1. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/27 "2019-11-01T17:58:18Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Two things: > > 1. You meant _Serena,_ not Venus, there right? I don’t think that even Venus Williams thinks that Venus Williams was the best tennis player of the decade. > > 2. If I’m doing the math right, then by the end of the year Serena Williams will have spent the majority of the decade _not_ at #1 — as opposed to Novak Djokovic, who by the end of the year _will_ have spent the majority of the decade at #1. 1 - yes. Venus doesn’t even have a “career slam.” Then again, neither did Bjorn Borg, IIRC. 2 - Perhaps, but Serena was competitve for pretty much the entire decade when she wasn’t injured or pregnant. Also, she has something that Djokovic doesn’t have - American citizenship, which is pretty much a requirement for SOTY if you’re not in one of the four major team sports. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2019, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/28 "2019-11-01T19:59:52Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Mike Trout Great player but “Sportsperson of the Year” seems more suited to someone who did more than just put up a good OPS. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/29 "2019-11-01T20:03:32Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > SI seems to hate hockey. ☹ Or at least, they really don’t give a shit. It’s not that they hate hockey, it’s that it’s unofficially “American Sportsperson of the Year.” Hockey is dominated by Canadians and Europeans, and no American player has been dominant enough to merit the award. Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr had to practically break the sport to win it, and they are two of only three non-Americans to win it individually; Ingemar Johansson was the curious 1959 choice. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2019, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/30 "2019-11-02T03:09:54Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s not that they hate hockey, it’s that it’s unofficially “American Sportsperson of the Year.” Hockey is dominated by Canadians and Europeans, and no American player has been dominant enough to merit the award. Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr had to practically break the sport to win it, and they are two of only three non-Americans to win it individually; Ingemar Johansson was the curious 1959 choice. What about Roger Bannister and Jackie Stewart? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2019, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/31 "2019-11-02T13:12:52Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Perhaps, but Serena was competitve for pretty much the entire decade when she wasn’t injured or pregnant. Also, she has something that Djokovic doesn’t have - American citizenship, which is pretty much a requirement for SOTY if you’re not in one of the four major team sports. Huh. I honestly hadn’t known this: when Serena got SOTY in ‘15, she’d won three of the Grand Slams and made it to the semifinals of the fourth; and Djokovic had won three of the Grand Slams and — made it to the finals of the fourth. (And they each wound up spending the entire year at #1, so what the heck else is left?) ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2019, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/32 "2019-11-02T13:24:56Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I would not count out Tom Brady. He won the award in 2005. 14 years later he wins another Super Bowl. Particularly if by December he looks like he is making another run at it. I think Brady ought to be a finalist for sure. That he still is at the top of his game in one of the most violent sports on the planet past 40 is a remarkable feat. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/33 "2019-11-27T12:01:22Z")
Quick bump as we’re getting closer to the actual announcement which should be early-mid December. My final answer is Nationals/Mystic. Two teams that unified DC during a contentious year. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/34 "2019-11-27T13:52:56Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > What about Roger Bannister and Jackie Stewart? I missed them! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/35 "2019-11-27T13:57:04Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I think Brady ought to be a finalist for sure. That he still is at the top of his game in one of the most violent sports on the planet past 40 is a remarkable feat. Sure, but it’s Sportsperson of the Year. Brady won the Super Bowl, but one would have to assume being the QB of the Super Bowl champion falls short of automatic consideration, especially a Super Bowl he didn’t play well in. Brady played very well during the regular season and all, but that was mostly in 2018 and it wasn’t a historic performance. I’d think serious consideration for Sportsperson of the Year would require something genuinely remarkable, something that goes beyond just winning a championship; lots of people win major championships every year, so why Tom Brady and not Anthony Rendon or Kawhi Leonard? (I’m not saying I’d pick those guys.) ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/36 "2019-11-27T15:48:10Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Sure, but it’s Sportsperson of the Year. Brady won the Super Bowl, but one would have to assume being the QB of the Super Bowl champion falls short of automatic consideration, especially a Super Bowl he didn’t play well in. Brady played very well during the regular season and all, but that was mostly in 2018 and it wasn’t a historic performance. > > I’d think serious consideration for Sportsperson of the Year would require something genuinely remarkable, something that goes beyond just winning a championship; lots of people win major championships every year, so why Tom Brady and not Anthony Rendon or Kawhi Leonard? (I’m not saying I’d pick those guys.) A case for Brady: it would be more for the “dynasty” (three Super Bowls in five years) than just for 2019. It took three World Series in five years (2010, 2012, 2014) for anybody from the San Francisco Giants to get the award. My gut says it goes to Megan Rapinoe, especially now that the “not singing the national anthem before the game” (and, to a lesser extent, “pay them more,” although that could be one of the reasons she gets it) business has died down. It could be both Rapinoe and somebody from the Mystics - say, Kristi Toliver or Delle Donne. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/37 "2019-11-28T14:21:15Z")
Has Simone Biles won yet? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/38 "2019-11-28T14:51:50Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Has Simone Biles won yet? No, and I can’t imagine winning in a non-Olympic year. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/39 "2019-12-09T20:14:16Z")
And it’s Rapinoe. Interesting choice as I’m not sure she’ll sell a ton of magazines. [https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2019/12/09/megan-rapinoe-2019-sportsperson-of-the-year](https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2019/12/09/megan-rapinoe-2019-sportsperson-of-the-year) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845/40 "2019-12-09T20:44:55Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > And it’s Rapinoe. Interesting choice as I’m not sure she’ll sell a ton of magazines. > [https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2019/12/09/megan-rapinoe-2019-sportsperson-of-the-year](https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2019/12/09/megan-rapinoe-2019-sportsperson-of-the-year) Then again, maybe it’ll sell a lot of magazines to people who might not otherwise buy a copy of SI. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/si-sportsperson-of-the-year-2019-prediction-thread/836845.md?page=3)