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Brett Favre (A-List Person of the Year 2009)

AroDrive Team — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:35:37 +0000

There’s no doubt that the A-List voters got it right:-) I hoped and prayed that my 2009-2010 NFL MVP choice Brett Favre gets to win this contest.

Brett Favre no doubt was the number one personality of 2009.

Right from the beginning of the year with the Favre – Jets crisis to the Summer of Favre (nothing like the “Summer of George” – Seinfeld:-)) to the Vikings chase, then came the Packers hatred. And Favre dominating the Packers home and away.

lets not forget all all the Favre magical moment all through out the season.

Favre no doubt made the year exciting for sports fans and none sports fans alike and that was the criteria we were looking for in the A-List Person of the Year.

So ladies and gentle men, your A-List Person of the Year 2009 is ; Brett Favre.

Tell us what you think about the A-List choice for Person of the Years. We are living the voting open so do remember to cast your vote at the bottom of the page. (Remember to vote as many times as you can) For more info on each nominee click on the nominees thumbnail or name.

Here are the nominees;

Brett Favre

From Retirement from the Jets to the come back story of the year. Brett Favre at 40 is having the best season of he’s life and in line for another MVP and Super Bowl ring. More […]

Brock Lesnar

Brock lesner steps into the Octagon and completely dominates the sport. Lesner has become the face of UFC. He’s currently facing health issues, but we expect him to bounce back in 2010. More […]

Tiger Woods

Tiger bounce back from knee surgery to reclaim the number 1 ranking; though he did not win a major, he won 6 PGA titles the most on the Tour. Though, Tiger’s marital transgression has become the biggest story of the year! We nominate him for he’s golf achievements. More […]

Jimmy Johnson

Johnson started the year looking to defend he’s 3rd Sprint Cup Series Championship and hoping to set a record of winning he’s 4th. He did just that and now he’s in the record books and an A-List Person of the Year nominee. More […]

Serena Williams

After taking time out the past couple of years, Serena Williams came back in 2009 to reclaim the tennis thrown. She won 2 Grand Slams (Australian Open and Wimbledon) also won the WTA Championships. Her outburst at the US Open this year made all the news, but she had one of the best year of her career. More […]

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant began the year looking to take the Lakers back to the NBA Finals after being embarrassed by the Boston Celtics in 2008. Kobe and the Lakers got their wish and the Lakers are NBA champions again. The Lakers are on the path for another run again as the NBA season on the way right now has the Lakers on top of the NBA Power Ranking (A-List Edition). More […]

Alex Rodriquez

The year started very rough for A-Rod, questions of failed steroid test, questions of he’s ability to come through in October, questions about he’s health. And at the End, A-Rod answered all the questions and more. Today, the Empire State is World Champions again and A-Rod had a lot to do with it. More […]

Edith Labelle

It’s amazing how the firing of a girl that carries an Octagon board with a number pasted on it, can be the biggest story in a sport she’s no longer a part of.
But, that’s what Edith Labelle managed to achieve this year.
Edith Labelle is a nominee on the A-List Person of the Year solely on her popularity though she’s no longer apart of the UFC. More […]

Tim Tebow

Tebow will not be winning a 3rd BCS Championship Ring, but that’s how the year started for Tebow and the Gator Nation, BCS Champions. That said, Tebow is still the most popular college player in a very long time and in most cases, the one of the most popular athlete in America.
This year just like the last 3 has been very exciting down in Gainesville, and Tim Tebow had a lot to do with that. More […]

Charlie Weis

The Charlie Weis saga finally came to an end in South Bend after 5 seasons of mediocre football. But, right from the beginning of the year till the disappointing end, Weis was the biggest (literally) story in the sports world. We gonna miss you Charlie. More […]

Erin Andrews

No side line reporter is more captivating than Erin Andrews. Though she’s currently ranked 2nd in the A-List – Top 25 Sexiest Sportscasters of 2010, she’s clearly the biggest name in sports broadcasting, from corporate endorsements with Sony to her nude video scandals. This year was a big for Ms Andrews. More […]

Shawn ‘Jay Z’ Carter

Most Rap Stars brag about how they run a town, For Mr. Shawn Carter aka; Jay Z, he Stands above Michael Bloomberg on the sport hierarchy in the Big Apple.
For just a minority owner of the dreadful New Jersey Nets, in 2009 Jay Z became a power broker in sports circles, from being the biggest reason why Lebron James might make the move to the Empire State, to Riding on the Parade Bus with the World Champions New York Yankees, to leading the charge to move the Nets to Brooklyn.
Jay Z has become New York. More [...]

Brett Favre (A-List Person of the Year 2009) is a post from: AroDrive

A-List – Person of the Year 2009

AroDrive Team — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:58:02 +0000

Updated [January 19, 2010] Right from the beginning of the year with the Favre – Jets crisis to the Summer of Favre (nothing like the “Summer of George” – Seinfeld:-)) to the Vikings chase, then came the Packers hatred. And Favre dominating the Packers home and away.

Brett Favre (A-List Person of the Year 2009) Click here for the full Story

The following People made the year 2009 a very big one, but, there can only be one Person of the Year.
So we need your votes to choose the A-List Person of the Year 2009.
The final result will be tallied at the end of voting so do remember to cast your vote at the bottom of the page. (Remember to vote as many times as you can) For more info on each nominee click on the nominees thumbnail or name.

Brett Favre

From Retirement from the Jets to the come back story of the year. Brett Favre at 40 is having the best season of he’s life and in line for another MVP and Super Bowl ring. More […]

Brock Lesnar

Brock lesner steps into the Octagon and completely dominates the sport. Lesner has become the face of UFC. He’s currently facing health issues, but we expect him to bounce back in 2010. More […]

Tiger Woods

Jimmy Johnson

Serena Williams

Kobe Bryant

Alex Rodriquez

Edith Labelle

Tim Tebow

Charlie Weis

Erin Andrews

Shawn ‘Jay Z’ Carter

A-List – Person of the Year 2009 is a post from: AroDrive

Serena Williams may seat out US Open

AroDrive Team — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:09:57 +0000

Serena Williams has been fined $175,000 (£106,200) and put on probation for two years for her foul-mouthed tirade at the US Open in September, the International Tennis Federation has announced.

The ITF said any further offence at a grand slam in the next two years would see her suspended from the US Open in 2010, 2011, or 2012.

The fine will be reduced to $82,500 (£50,000) if she commits no further major offence until 2011, the ITF said.

Williams lashed out at a lineswoman after a foot-fault call at the end of her US Open semi-final loss to Kim Clijsters in September.

The title-holder and tournament favourite was 6-4, 6-5 and 15-30 down when the sanction was called against her on her second serve, setting up match point for Clijsters.

Gesturing at her with her racket outstretched, Williams – who had earlier been given a code violation for racquet abuse – hurled a volley of abuse towards her, resulting in the point penalty and the loss of the match.

The lineswoman then ran up to umpire Louise Engzell to report the incident which brought tournament referee Brian Earley on to the court.

It was never confirmed what Williams had said to the lineswoman, but the on-court microphones picked up her saying to the official in an argument: “I never said I would kill you, are you serious?”

After discussing the situation with the player, linesperson and chair umpire, Williams was handed a second code violation, the resultant point penalty handing victory to a bemused Clijsters, 6-4 7-5.

Speaking shortly after the incident, Williams, the defending champion, felt she had nothing to apologise for.

“I don’t think that’s necessary for me to speak about that. I’ve let it go,” Williams said. “I didn’t threaten (her). I didn’t say…I don’t remember anymore, to be honest. I was in the moment. And, you know, everyone’s fighting for every point. It was a really crucial point, 15-30, actually.”

Serena Williams may seat out US Open is a post from: AroDrive

ESPN The Magazine: The Body Issue a joy to sports fans every where

Tuviere — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:26:17 +0000

ESPN Magazine has decided to switch it up this month by mounting a direct challenge to Sports Illustrated’s popular Swimsuit Edition with what they are calling their “Body Issue.” Out on newsstands (October 9), the first annual Body Issue will feature a number of popular and successful, athletes posing, tastefully, completely in the nude. The idea is to demonstrate to readers what the body of a top athlete looks like (versus SI’s Swimsuit Edition which lets us know what hot models in bikinis or paint look like). Rumored to be in the lineup? Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings Running Back), Serena Williams (tennis), Gina Carano (MMA), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), Clair Bevilacqua (Australian Surfer), Carl Edwards (NASCAR), Lolo Jones (Olympic Runner) and Sarah Reinersten (Amputee Ironman Triathlete).

That said, we are all happy that both Sports Illustrated and ESPN are working towards delivering on what we as fans want the most: Images we all can can enjoy (Click here for more on the ESPN body)

ESPN The Magazine: The Body Issue a joy to sports fans every where is a post from: AroDrive

Justine Henin is Back

Tony Holt — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:59:58 +0000

The backhand is back. The variety is back. The best women’s tennis player in the world is back.

No, I’m not talking about Kim Clijsters. Two Belgian newspapers are reporting that Justine Henin will announce Tuesday that she is returning to the game.

Henin has become a spokesperson for UNICEF and said just four months ago that tennis was “truly a page that has been turned.”

So what gives with women’s tennis? Is the entire sport full of Brett Favres, who keep retiring, but can’t stay away?

Kim Clijsters, after 2 1/2 years on maternity leave, came back to win the U.S. Open this month. She followed Martina Hingis out of retirement, Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles and others.

But these women are going through the opposite of what Favre keeps doing. It’s about fulfillment, and where you find it.

Let’s get back to that in a minute.

Justine Henin

Start with this: This is great for women’s tennis. It’s not that Henin is the most marketable player, but it’s never good for a game when its best player walks away. You always wonder if the new champs are really worthy.

The game fell apart after Henin retired in May of 2008. Several players have held the No. 1 ranking since then, before falling apart emotionally. Only Serena Williams has shown the capacity to be a champion, but she simply won’t work hard enough, or stay fit enough, to hold the top spot.

Dinara Safina is No. 1 now, and already in mid-collapse.

It has been an embarrassing time for women’s tennis, topped off with the top players choking and falling apart at the U.S. Open.

Henin, if reports of her comeback are true, immediately becomes the favorite to win the French Open in May, and maybe even the Australian in January. She will push back the nervous women in the hierarchy and also force Williams to make a decision about commitment.

So the transformation of women’s tennis is just about complete. In the past few months, the game will have seen the returns of Henin and Clijsters, the emergence of American teen Melanie Oudin, and also the return of Maria Sharapova, who had undergone shoulder surgery.

The top of the women’s game had become overloaded with large Russian women pounding the ball with exactly the same style. Sharapova plays that style, but doesn’t usually fold. Oudin’s mix-and-match style of spins and paces led her to beat four straight Russians at the U.S. Open. Clijsters mixes up her game. And Henin, undersized like Oudin, will do anything to win.

“You kind of need to work your way into a position where you can still win matches even if you make a lot more mistakes, or you’re not feeling the ball as well,” Clijsters said at the Open. “I think some of the girls don’t really have that now. I remember Justine, she was one who could mix her game up even if she was not playing well.”

But back to Favre, and why so many 20-something women keep retiring from tennis and then coming back. I think Favre leaves because of the grind of a season, but then finds himself more afraid of time away from football than time in it. What will he do without football?

With many of the young women, it has more to do with committing their lives, from childhood, to one singular focus. They leave because of the beating on their minds and bodies, but also, because they aren’t finding fulfillment. Henin and Clijsters went looking for more in life.

This year, Henin, who’s 27, traveled to Cambodia, Congo and Denmark, according to the Associated Press, to learn about infant vaccinations and how they affect poor mothers and babies around the world. UNICEF plans to use Henin as a featured part of a campaign this fall.

“I have been able to discover so many things in my life after tennis,” she said in a press conference for UNICEF. “You live in a bubble and in leaving it, you ask plenty of questions on plenty of issues.”

Clijsters said that when she retired, she had other things “that I wanted to achieve as a woman and as a person.”

Her husband, and her daughter, Jada, now travel with her on tour. And she said her life has balance and perspective: When she comes home after a match, her daughter doesn’t care how it went.

I’ve been critical of Williams for not trying unless she’s in a major, but credit her for finding other interests and not letting the game burn her out.

Maybe the tour needs to find a new system of scheduling to keep these young women around longer.

Her first time on tour, Henin reached the top, but felt the need to bulk up to withstand the beatings. Unhappy with that, she decided to come back to her previous size.

Then, she was gone.

Now, the game has its champion back. She was never the loudest or flashiest player. But tennis missed her.

By Greg Couch

But these women are going through the opposite of what Favre keeps doing. It’s about fulfillment, and where you find it.

Let’s get back to that in a minute.

Justine Henin is Back is a post from: AroDrive

Roger Federer going down in a Blaze of fire (See the Video)

Tony Holt — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:28:26 +0000

Roger Federer

It seems the women’s semi-final at the US Open won’t be the only high-profile match marred by a profane outburst. Although it appears that it was not nearly as intense (and critically important to the match) as what happened to Serena Williams, Roger Federer cursed at the chair umpire after he disagreed with his opponent, Juan Martin del Potro, being allowed to challenge a call after a lengthy period of time.

Federer began complaining to the chair umpire that del Potro should not be allowed to challenge a line call so long after the point had ended: “I wasn’t allowed to challenge after two seconds. The guy takes like 10 every time.” The umpire told Federer to be quiet, and this did not sit well with the tennis champion: “You have any rules? Don’t tell me to be quiet, ok? When I want to talk I’ll talk, all right…I don’t give a shit what he said, ok?”

Roger Federer going down in a Blaze of fire (See the Video) is a post from: AroDrive

Serena Williams, Definately all woman.

Tony Holt — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:29:27 +0000

So she screamed at the lines woman and didn’t think she had to apologize.

And after every lose refuses to acknowledge that her oponent was just better. Not to mention she really prefer the world of fashion, Hollywood and all that goes with it: fame and all the Glitz above her tennis career.

All I have to say to that is, so what?

She is a goddess amongst men and when you are that perfect and that good ( 10 Gland Slams Titles and counting, Countless WTA Titles, Olympic Gold medals, Fashion Mogul, more than 25 million in price money and worth much more, and a body to die for!) You can scream at what ever you like.

Come guys, shes not even arrogant enough.

So with our tradition of profiling sexy woman in sports and of cause! Cheerleaders, we focus on the queen of tennis:

Ms Serena Williams.

An Athlete, an Icon

Serena Williams embodies style, power, beauty and courage. Like numerous A-list celebrities, Serena is recognized by the mere mention of her first name. Only 27, Serena has overcome insurmountable odds to win 8 career Grand Slams, and become one the game’s greatest all-time players. Her remarkable tennis skills have skyrocketed her to fame, but only her unique charm and drive could explain her successful endeavors outside of tennis in film, television, fashion and philanthropy. Serena has high hopes for the 2008 season after her dominating performance in the most recent Australian Open. Her tennis ability combined with her off -court activity makes her one of the most recognizable names and faces in the world – an icon.

Serena was born September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan, to Richard Williams and Oracene Price. While still an infant, the family moved to Compton, California where she began playing tennis at the age of four. At nine, Serena and her family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. Since that time, she has become one of the most dominant figures in tennis.

Source: http://www.serenawilliams.com

We could not have said it better:-)

Ok! here goes Rena; AND DON’T FORGET TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!

Sexy Serena Williams

Serena Williams, Definately all woman. is a post from: AroDrive

Serena: ‘I want to sincerely apologize

Tony Holt — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:48:15 +0000

Serena: 'I want to sincerely apologize'

NEW YORK — Serena Williams apologized Monday for what she called her “inappropriate outburst” during her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open.

Williams was short on contrition in the postmatch news conference after her profanity-laced, finger-pointing tirade at a lineswoman Saturday night — and again in a prepared statement Sunday.

“I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst,” Williams’ latest statement said.

It was released by the U.S. Tennis Association about a half-hour before Williams and her sister, Venus, played in the women’s doubles final, which they won for their 10th Grand Slam title as a team. Given a chance to publicly deliver an apology during the postmatch ceremony, Williams declined.

“I’m a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when I’m wrong,” her written statement said. “I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it’s not the way to act — win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner. I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad, I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result.”

Williams lost her temper after the lineswoman called a foot fault, resulting in a double-fault. That moved Clijsters one

Serena: 'I want to sincerely apologize'

point from victory. Williams then was penalized a point for her outburst. Because it happened to come on match point, it ended the semifinal with Clijsters ahead 6-4, 7-5. Clijsters went on to win the championship Sunday.

“I swear to God I’m [expletive] going to take this [expletive] ball and shove it down your [expletive] throat, you hear that? I swear to God,” Williams said to the official.

Williams was fined $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and could face further penalties — including a higher fine and a possible suspension — for what U.S. Open tournament director Jim Curley described as her “threatening manner.”

In an interview, Curley also said the tournament considered — and decided against — preventing Williams from participating in the doubles final.

The Williams sisters beat defending champions Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-2, 6-2 Monday for their first U.S. Open doubles championship since 1999. Several spectators in the mostly empty stands showed support for the younger Williams, greeting her with shouts of “You go, Serena!” and “We love you, Serena!”

During the trophy ceremony afterward, Williams drew applause when she said: “I’d like to thank the fans for supporting me through everything. I really, really love you guys and never want to have a bad image for you guys.”

ESPN2′s Patrick McEnroe gave her a chance to publicly reiterate her apology, but Williams said: “I think I said it all.”

When McEnroe followed up by asking whether anything had “clicked” in her head, fans booed, and Venus quickly interjected: “What I think the crowd is saying is, ‘Patrick, let’s move on,’” earning applause.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Serena: ‘I want to sincerely apologize is a post from: AroDrive

Serena Williams offered no apology and showed no remorse for her behavior during her U.S. Open semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters

Tony Holt — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:28:38 +0000

Serena Williams offered no apology and showed no remorse for her behavior during her U.S. Open semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters, 6-4, 7-5.

Her tirade toward U.S. Open to lineswoman goes beyond those of McEnroe and Nastase in earlier days, especially as she shows no remorse. She should be heavily fined and suspended.

Let’s see what kind of guts the normally soft-on-discipline sport of tennis has this time. If she were an Oregon football player, she’d be out for the season.

If you saw it on television, you know what happened, you know that she made a fool out of herself Saturday night in an ugly incident at the U.S. Open. If you didn’t see it, we’ll confirm it:

Serena Williams made a fool out of herself Saturday night in an ugly incident at the U.S. Open.

The quick details are:

* She was given a point penalty on match point, which meant she lost her semifinal to Kim Clijsters, 6-4, 7-5.

* She was given the point penalty because, after a linesperson called a foot fault on her first serve at 15-40, she went over to the linesperson, shook her fist at her, and from just several feet away, said, according to several witnesses courtside, “You don’t know me. You better be right. I could shove this ball down your throat.” Interspersed with this were several F-bombs.

* The lineswoman was called to the chair umpire to report what had been said. The chair umpire had given Williams a warning/code violation at the end of the first set, when Williams smashed her racket to the court and broke it. That is a routine call for chair umpires. A second violation called from the chair is loss of a point, a third loss of the match. Williams’ second violation was on match point.

* The point violation was assessed after a conference around the umpire’s chair that included chair umpire Louise Engzell, tournament referee Brian Earley, the unidentified lineswoman and Williams. During that confab, Williams was overheard on TV microphones as denying she had threatened to kill the lineswoman.

Quickly, Williams was tossing her racket on her bag and walking to the back of the court, where a confused Clijsters spread her palms open as if to say, “What’s going on?” and then accepted Williams’ handshake and short hug.

Since the days of John McEnroe and maybe Ilie Nastase, there hasn’t been much of this in tennis. This might have gone well beyond those days in severity.

serena_williams Defending her self

It was on network television, in one of the most-anticipated matches of the entire tournament. Millions watched.

It went well beyond the McEnroe tirade stage into body language and direct verbiage that was threatening and ugly.

It was an embarrassment to a sport that has made good strides recently in expanding its niche. The U.S Tennis Assn. loves to talk about its “grass-roots” programs, geared to getting rackets into young players’ hands. Now those young hands have a role model for racket-smashing and bad language.

As bad as this incident was, leaving a three-quarters-filled Arthur Ashe Stadium in near stunned silence, worse was Williams’ handling of the aftermath in a news conference. There, she had a chance to apologize, or maybe even fake some remorse. She did neither.

Instead, we got the usual, phony, sing-songy deflections and silly answers — all done with a big smile, as if she had just won, 6-0, 6-0.

Examples:

Question: What did you say?

Answer: What did I say? You didn’t hear? Oh.

Q. Do you think the lineswoman had any reason to feel threatened. Apparently she says she felt threatened?

A. She says she felt threatened. She said this to you?

Q. I’m just repeating what has been said that she told the chair umpire.

A. Well, I’ve never been in a fight in my whole life, so I don’t know why she would be threatened.

Q. Do you regret losing your temper both after the first set and after the foot fault?

A. I haven’t really thought about it to have any regrets. I try to — I’ve done — you know, I try to not live my life saying, I wish, I wish. But, you know, I was out there and fought and I tried and I did my best.

Q. You’ve always prided yourself on being an extremely forthright player, and with us here in the press room. Could you tell us what you said on the court, please?

A. I don’t think that’s necessary for me to speak about that. I’ve let it go, and I’m trying to better — to, you know, to get — to move on.

Q. Do you think the lineswoman deserves an apology?

A. An apology for?

Q. From you.

A. From me?

Q. Would you be interested to see if you actually foot faulted?

A. I’m pretty sure I did. If she called a foot fault, she must have seen a foot fault. I mean, she was doing her job. I’m not going to knock her for not doing her job.

The public that watched this ugly farce will be watching closely now. It will see if tennis pretends that this somehow wasn’t as outrageous as it clearly was, and that it didn’t wipe out years of image-building in the sport.

If it goes without being addressed, then tennis is just telling us it cares only about our ticket money and us in front of the television set, but not our respect, loyalty or admiration.

Best guess? Tennis will pretend this was all a Las Vegas card game and let it ride.

Serena Williams offered no apology and showed no remorse for her behavior during her U.S. Open semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters is a post from: AroDrive