From the Marbles - NASCAR

From the Marbles

Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

It's Jimmie Johnson versus Kobe, LeBron and Michael Phelps!

By Jay Busbee

ESPN has just announced the nominees for its Male Athlete of the Year, and the nominees include some notable names indeed: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Phelps and NASCAR's very own Jimmie Johnson.

Johnson, of course, won his third consecutive championship last year. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to the 2009 NBA title. Michael Phelps won himself a raft full of gold medals. And LeBron was LeBron.

Johnson is also nominated in the "Best Driver" category, the only NASCAR driver so named. Also included are Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Tony Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. Castroneves' 2009 Indy win was nominated in the "Best Moment" category, the only motorsports moment so honored.

So who'll win the best-male award? (Assuming, of course, that NASCAR drivers are athletes, ha ha ha.) Well, each of the nominees has potential negatives -- Phelps with his little bong dalliance, LeBron because he didn't even get to the Finals, Johnson because he's not as well known to ESPN's target demo, and Kobe because he's Kobe. Still, my money's on LeBron to take this one.

If you'd like to have a say, go vote online at www.espys.tv or www.espn.mobi for mobile phones. The show will air on Sunday, July 19. Here's hoping Jimmie smokes 'em ... and not Phelps-style.

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37 Comments

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  1. Willy Doer
    1. Posted by Willy Doer Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    Phelps smoked Doobies and still kicked @ss....Weird huh?
  2. MJ
    2. Posted by MJ Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    I'll go with Phelps because it's a solo effort. At least when the four of them are in the green room, nobody will get raped.
  3. bodymarshallbill
    3. Posted by bodymarshallbill Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    OK, Put LeBron and Kobe in Cup cars, and make Jimmie and Michael play one on on B-ball. Then toss Jimmie, Kobe and LeBron in the pool and see who sinks and who floats. Tabulate the results and let the best athlete win!
  4. Jerry Jones
    4. Posted by Jerry Jones Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    @bodymarshallbill
    LeBron would overlap Kobe in racing, twice.
    Michael would win 11-4 against Jimmie on 1v1.
    LeBron would win the swimming because of his enormous size, Kobe in second, and Jimmie would swim in circles and think he's doing it right.
    Tabulated results:
    1. LeBron (winner)
    2. Kobe (runner-up)
    3. Michael Phelps (he'll probably be watching the awards high)
    4. Jimmie (he just drives fast)
  5. tx_jjk
    5. Posted by tx_jjk Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    I'm pretty sure Phelps ruined his chances with the whole stoner dude impression, I'd love for JJ to get it just because it's an admission that NASCAR is a sport, and because LeBron irritates me. Kobe would be my second choice.
    Which means, it'll be LeBron.....
  6. MJ
    6. Posted by MJ Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    I'm not saying Phelps will win. I'm just saying I would vote for him because winning or losing rests squarely on his shoulders. Jimmy has a pit crew and Kobe/LeBron have teammates.
  7. FarmerJ
    7. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    JJ will never get it
  8. Daniel K
    8. Posted by Daniel K Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    Phelps will win.
  9. gaborik10m
    9. Posted by gaborik10m Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    i would hope most people would ask themselves..."Why is the ex-Cowboys' coach up for Male Athlete of the Year?"
  10. QueenBee
    10. Posted by QueenBee Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    Kobeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee should win!
  11. Carol
    11. Posted by Carol Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:02 pm EDT

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    Wow. I never thought there would come a time when I'd find myself voting for Jimmie....
  12. howboutdemSaints-mp
    12. Posted by howboutdemSaints-mp Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:32 pm EDT

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    Carol - still can't see me voting for JJ. hahahahaha
  13. brinirmess
    13. Posted by brinirmess Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:48 pm EDT

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    Phelps deserves it above and beyond any of the other 3. single individual effort. An effort that should remain untarnished beyond the bong incident. If you gonna go there, you gotta go with 48 team cheat incidents, the Kobe accussed rape incident, and Lebron- don't know right off the top of my head. But I do hav a L James rookie card that I hope he doesn't screw up for me.
    1. Phelps
    2. Kobe/Lebron
    100. JJ
  14. Frevic
    14. Posted by Frevic Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    MP, I am behind you 100%, no vote for JJ here neither, Carol, unlike you, I just cant do it, it defies all my prinicpals, which there ain't many
    MP, a certain reader told me I was boring the other night, can you believe that
    My choice,
    1. Phelps 2. Kobe
    3. Lebron
    4. anybody but Johnson
  15. thismanisafan
    15. Posted by thismanisafan Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    I'm a Jimmie fan but I have to go with Phelps as an across the board male
    athete of the year. If it were Nascar ? Hands down Jimmie #48 would have it.
    Basketball, Kobe hurt himself with the rape thing that will always hang around his
    neck and most people can't give you an award when kids will be looking up to.
    Lebron, he hasn't learned how to get along with others yet ! give him 5 more yrs.
  16. Mr. Danica Patrick
    16. Posted by Mr. Danica Patrick Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:39 pm EDT

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    Kobe wins MVR = Most Valuable Rapist
  17. muwanga kasujjar
    17. Posted by muwanga kasujjar Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    Hey am Richard,Kobe deserves to win this.
  18. Phoenix H
    18. Posted by Phoenix H Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:53 pm EDT

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    This is a tough one.
    Jimmie is a 3 time champion (3 in a row too)
    Kobe is a 4 time champ
    LeBron is a no-time champ (so far)
    Phelps could be considered a ... how many medals does he have again? - champion.
    LeBron will go down fighting for this one. Kobe has people going for him, and people going against him. Jimmie practically has only race fans going for him, and even then it seems split just the same.
    Phelps' image is a bit tarnished, so that will cut his votes too..
    I think LeBron's gonna get it, amigos. Whether or not you shake hands afterwards, the only thing he has against him are people who don't like him/Laker fans.
    He was the regular season MVP, after all.
    But I would vote for John Daly.
  19. Megan
    19. Posted by Megan Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:29 pm EDT

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    This is a tough one. Jimmy's three in a row with todays talent is most impressive. Kobe really is a hell of an athlete and leader who overcame the Lakers soap opera the last 5 years. Michael Phelps is a hell of an athlete
    whose partaking in extra curricular herbage should not count against him (how many states is it a doctor prescribed medicine now?) And then theres Lebron. No doubt a gifted athlete and physical specimen, but his not being a good sport when they lost to the Magic, I will never have any respect for him. So there you have it. Four great athletes and one tough decision. My vote goes to Kobe, but we shall see.
  20. Masterkush
    20. Posted by Masterkush Fri Jun 26, 2009 2:26 am EDT

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    But Kobe only Rapes your Sister so it doesnt count :-)
  21. Masterkush
    21. Posted by Masterkush Fri Jun 26, 2009 2:26 am EDT

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    Oh and Phelps with a Bong in hand is my easy choice. But JJ's feat is right up there.
  22. Masterkush
    22. Posted by Masterkush Fri Jun 26, 2009 2:31 am EDT

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    Oh and anyone that says Lebron (What in the hell has he done???) is Semi-Retarted - Meaning you Jay Busbee...Hope you're wearing your helmet.
  23. Masterkush
    23. Posted by Masterkush Fri Jun 26, 2009 2:34 am EDT

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    Ya and I know I spelled retarded wrong. But then again I'm no crack journalist like JB. Peace out
  24. brinirmess
    24. Posted by brinirmess Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:02 am EDT

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    Individual medals in numerous events, not to mention team events also over the last 8 years, and all you can throw at him is he inhaled. Elected Clinton twice and he did not inhale and oral sex is not sex,..lol
  25. brinirmess
    25. Posted by brinirmess Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:06 am EDT

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    And JJ been caught how many times in the grey area and penalized, Koobe "accussed' of rape, Lebron does not play well with others, and Phelps performs the greatest individual performance in the history of Olympic events for the USA without huge salary (notwithstanding endorsements post of course) and there's any question as to who deserves it, that's funnier than oral sex not being sex.

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