Thomas Hauser on Sports: Remembering the Journey

Black and White and Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year”

Sports Illustrated’s choice for “Sportsman of theYear” is always analyzed and debated. In 2008, I took the process one step further. Black and White and Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year” Each year since 1954, Sports Illustrated has honored a “Sportsman of theYear.” As defined by the magazine, the award is bestowed upon “the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement.” This year’s honoree is Michael Phelps. I don’t question his credentials . He’s a superb competitor and a true sportsman. But his selection raises a nagging question. Over the decades, have the editors of Sports Illustrated leaned toward white athletes in choosing their “Sportsman of theYear”? Let’s start with some numbers. There has been a single honoree in forty-four of the fifty-five years that the award has been given.Ten of the single honorees were black; thirty-four were white. In seven years, there have been dual honorees. In three instances, both honorees were white. Once, they were both black. On three occasions, there was a racial mix. In 1987, the magazine honored eight athletes for their involvement in community work. Four of the eight were black. Over the course of fifty-five years, there have been forty-seven white honorees,nineteen black honorees,and three teams.One of the teams was all white; one had a single black player; the third was predominantly white. Sports Illustrated has been in the vanguard of those fighting for racial justice in sports. In the 1960s, it took the lead in reporting on the plight of black athletes. It was supportive of Muhammad Ali’s right to practice his religion as he saw fit when many media giants took a contrary view. It’s a wonderful magazine. 112 THOMAS HAUSER But given black America’s dominance in sports over the past halfcentury , one might question whether an unintended racial bias has crept into the magazine’s “Sportsman of theYear” selection process.And that question is particularly appropriate given the fact that, on several occasions , Sports Illustrated indicated that the award was being bestowed for lifetime achievement as much as for the recipient’s accomplishments in a single year.And each of these recipients (Jack Nicklaus, Don Shula, Cal Ripken Jr., Dean Smith, and Bret Favre) was white. Weren’tWillie Mays,HankAaron,Roberto Clemente,Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson,Walter Payton, and Eddie Robinson equally deserving? Just asking. Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of theYear” Honorees 1954 Roger Bannister 1955 Johnny Podres 1956 Bobby Joe Morrow 1957 Stan Musial 1958 Rafer Johnson 1959 Ingemar Johansson 1960 Arnold Palmer 1961 Jerry Lucas 1962 Terry Baker 1963 Pete Rozelle 1964 KenVenturi 1965 Sandy Koufax 1966 Jim Ryun 1967 CarlYastrzemski 1968 Bill Russell 1969 Tom Seaver 1970 Bobby Orr 1971 LeeTrevino 1972 Billie Jean King JohnWooden 1973 Jackie Stewart 1974 Muhammad Ali THOMAS HAUSER ON SPORTS 113 1975 Pete Rose 1976 Chris Evert 1977 Steve Cauthen 1978 Jack Nicklaus 1979 Terry Bradshaw Willie Stargell 1980 U.S. Olympic HockeyTeam 1981 Sugar Ray Leonard 1982 Wayne Gretzky 1983 Mary Decker 1984 Edwin Moses Mary Lou Retton 1985 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1986 Joe Paterno 1987 Bob Bourne Judi Brown King Kip Keino Dale Murphy Chip Rives Patty Sheehan Rory Sparrow ReggieWilliams 1988 Orel Hershiser 1989 Greg LeMond 1990 Joe Montana 1991 Michael Jordan 1992 Arthur Ashe 1993 Don Shula 1994 Bonnie Blair Johann Olav Koss 1995 Cal Ripken Jr. 1996 TigerWoods 1997 Dean Smith 1998 Mark McGwire Sammy Sosa 1999 U.S.Women’sWorld Cup SoccerTeam 114 THOMAS HAUSER 2000 TigerWoods 2001 Curt Schilling Randy Johnson 2002 Lance Armstrong 2003 David Robinson Tim Duncan 2004 Boston Red Sox 2005 Tom Brady 2006 DwyaneWade 2007 Bret Favre 2008 Michael Phelps THOMAS HAUSER ON SPORTS 115 ...