What makes an athlete?

By Dan Rodgers

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson was named the 2009 AP Male Athlete of the Year.

Johnson received 42 votes. Tennis star Roger Federer came in second place with 30 votes and Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt came in third with 29. They were the only three to receive double digit votes.

The biggest problem I have with this is that race car driving is A) not a sport and B) you don't have to be athletic or an athlete to compete in NASCAR. Take Tony Stewart for example, this guy is a fat slob and is a beast race car driver. Now, you might look at David Ortiz and say he is not an athlete. I agree, but at least he has to have hand-eye cordination and such and not just turn left all day long. Besides, he would never win the award. At least R-Fed is an athlete. Usain Bolt is a monster but sprinting isn't anything special.

Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and Albert Pujols tied for fourth with nine votes each.

So this was just me venting a little bit because I have a problem with the race car driver winning an award dealing with being an ATHLETE.

Rodgers That