Hey, Tiger: Make room for Johnson

STEVE DeSHAZO: Johnson deserves his due

Date published: 11/9/2009

By Steve DeShazo

TWO RACES remain on the 2009 Sprint Cup schedule, but they're mere formalities, almost exhibitions.

And there are nearly two months left in the calendar year--plenty of time for amazing feats by Kobe or LeBron, Peyton or Tebow.

But when The Associated Press Sports Editors conducts its annual poll of members for male and female athlete of the year, one vote is already assured:

Jimmie Johnson.

Mind you, this is coming from someone who's not a NASCAR fan and once needed convincing that race-car drivers are indeed athletes. (Pro bowlers and poker players are another matter, despite what ESPN chooses to broadcast.)

But you can't ignore someone who's about to accomplish a feat no one in his sport's history has. Unless Johnson oversleeps twice or comes down with H1N1, he'll easily win an unprecedented fourth straight Cup title.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. never did that. Neither did Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty or Jeff Gordon, who join The Intimidator to make up NASCAR's Mount Rushmore.

Comparing accomplishments in different sports can be like equating apples and oranges. But Johnson's feat deserves to be ranked with Lance Armstrong's seven straight Tour de France titles, Roger Federer's six straight Wimbledon crowns or Tiger Woods' holding all four PGA major trophies at once.

Armstrong, Federer and Woods have enjoyed a stranglehold on the AP male award in recent years, but they should move over and make room for Johnson.

Yes, Johnson drives for deep-pocketed Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR's answer to the New York Yankees. He enjoys the finest technological advancements. But so do Tiger and Federer in their respective sports.

(And if money is the sole criterion for NASCAR success, why isn't Dale Earnhardt Jr. thriving for Hendrick? Despite similar equipment, he has lagged far behind teammates Johnson, Gordon and Mark Martin. Isn't it time to admit that Junior inherited his father's name but only a fraction of his driving ability?)

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Date published: 11/9/2009