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LeBron Happy With Latest SI Sportsperson Award, But Did Someone Else Deserve It?

Cavaliers F LeBron James "didn't know how to react" Thursday after SI named him Sportsperson of the Year for '16, the second time he has won the honor, according to Marla Ridenour of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. James prior to Thursday's game against the Clippers said, "I know it's a great achievement and I've heard the history of it and how honored I should be to get it." He added, "I'm more happy for my family, my kids, my wife, my mom, and for my foundation, the kids that I represent and the kids that use me as a role model and an inspiration" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 12/2). ESPN Radio's Mike Greenberg called James winning the award a "good choice, and I think an easy choice." Greenberg: "The stuff that he does with social justice, how outspoken he's willing to be -- I believe that he is ... sort of the leader of sports in America right now." He also had a "huge year, obviously, on the court" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 12/2). ESPN's Bomani Jones said there is an "argument for LeBron, but we have to remember that there’s kind of a Lifetime Achievement Award-quality to this award." James joins Tiger Woods as the only two-time winners, and Jones said, "They like to spread it around, so I was surprised they came back to LeBron James.” He added, “It’s almost an impossible task for Sports Illustrated to try to get this one" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 12/1).

JAMES IS GOOD, OTHERS ARE BETTER: ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said James in “any other year, for what he did going back to his hometown and winning,” would have deserved the award. However, the Cubs winning the World Series after 108 years makes them the “only choice” (“PTI,” ESPN, 12/1). ESPN's Jackie MacMullan called James a good selection, as he was "involved with a lot of the social change that the NBA took stands on." He also is the "greatest player on the planet.” However, she said former UConn and current Storm F Breanna Stewart does not get "nearly enough love." MacMullan: "I don't want to accuse Sports Illustrated of sexism, or maybe I do, because she went four years and won four national championships. Tell me someone else who did that and wouldn't get Sportsman of the Year." The N.Y. Daily News' Frank Isola said he "would have liked to have seen one of the Olympians get it." He added SI seems to have "unfettered access to LeBron." Isola: "I remember his love letter to Cleveland was in Sports Illustrated, so maybe that had something to do with it” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 12/1).

A CASE FOR KAEPERNICK: In N.Y., Ebenezer Samuel writes with "apologies to the greatness" of James, 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick deserves the honor, as he "permanently has entwined social justice and politics into sports." The two issues are "inseparable now, because Kaepernick has steadfastly married them" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/2). The Washington Post's Kevin Blackistone: "I don’t think when we look back on this year, 2016, anyone will be more discussed than Colin Kaepernick in terms of his protest ... and how that transcended not only his sport, but transcended sport in general” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 12/1).

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