"Rodgers is the 2011 Male Athlete of the Year, chosen by members of the Associated Press, after he turned in an MVP performance in the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in February and then went on to lead his team on a long unbeaten run this season (CBS Sports)."
Rodgers run has been pretty epic. The rest of the voting went as follows...
"Rodgers received 112 votes out of the 212 ballots submitted from U.S. news organizations that make up the AP's membership. Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander finished second with 50 votes, followed by tennis standout Novak Djokovic (21), Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton (6) and NASCAR champion Tony Stewart (5)."
While it's hard for me to argue that didn't Rodgers deserved the award there is a name missing here that really pisses me off... Tim Thomas. Listen, I get it, hockey isn't the biggest sport in the world, but Thomas won the Vezina Trophy (best goalie in NHL), went on to have a record setting playoff run, won the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP), and won the Staleny Cup. He was the first goaltender to win the Stanley Cup, Vezina, and Conn Smythe trophies in the same season since 1974, and yet he isn't even mentioned on the list? I think that's bullshit. Especially when I could make the argument he deserved it over Rodgers.