Spieth, Pharaoh Part Of SI's Sportsman Of The Year Final 12

Richard Deitsch lists the 12 finalists for SI's annual Sportsman of the Year. Unlike some recent years when there was a by-default sensibility, this year has some incredible candidates.

Serena Williams might have gotten my vote if she wins the Grand Slam. But she just missed out so this looks like a two-horse race between American Pharoah and Jordan Spieth. Working against Spieth is that in the eyes of the casual sports fan, he's the early speed in this race. Having dominated golf through July (and then again at East Lake in October), Pharoah wins the Triple Crown in June, wins the Travers, made the trek to Saratoga where he lost (but had nearly 20,000 show up for a training session), then broke a track record by five seconds in a stunning Breeders Cup Classic win his first time against older horses.

Spieth recorded one of the greatest years in the history of golf's modern Grand Slam and the PGA Tour. Had Tiger gone 1-1-4-2 while winning a big pot of cash, he holds on to cross the wire before Pharoah. But given that I've sensed even golf people do not understand the significance of 1-1-4-2, the sports world probably doesn't fully grasp how difficult that feat was to accomplish. Just look at Deitsch's description of Spieth's year:

The 22-year-old Spieth had his coming-out party in 2015, becoming the second youngest golfer to win the Masters and youngest to win the U.S. Open. He recently regained the World No. 1 ranking after a top ten finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in China.

Coming out party (2014). World No. 1 ranking regained (everyone on three, oy vey!).

In early voting at SI.com (warning, annoying autoplay video), the Kansas City Royals have a big lead over Pharoah, no doubt fueled by some clever vote campaigning by the Royals marketing department. Meanwhile 59% of the country not in Kansas, Missouri and two other midwest states, are voting for Pharoah: