Pacquiao a contender for Athlete of the Year plum

Manny Pacquiao’s pair of explosive performances against "bigger and stronger foes" - Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto - has certainly placed him in a good position to win yearend accolades from award-giving bodies. Fresh from bagging a record-breaking title in a seventh weight division, Pacquiao is already considered a strong contender for "Fighter of the Year" honors for 2009 and as if that’s not enough, the "Pacman" could very well end up as the best of all athletes this year.

The Filipino ring icon has been shortlisted as a candidate for "Athlete of the Year" by the United States Sports Academy, vying for the coveted plum against tennis great Roger Federer, golf superstar Tiger Woods, and NBA top guns Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. The US Sports Academy - an independent, nonprofit, accredited, special mission sports university which prepares men and women for careers in the profession of sports – has named 12 male and 12 female athletes for the title. According to a report posted on PhilBoxing.Com, winners will be decided by balloting from Dec. 1 to 24. Voters, according to the report, will be asked to select their top three candidates for the award in descending order. First choice is worth five points, second place is three points and third place is one point with the top vote-getter regardless of gender named the Overall Athlete of the Year. Competing with Pacquiao for the title, aside from Federer, Woods, Bryant and James, are Ironman champion Craig Alexander of Australia; Olympic sprint king Usain Bolt of Jamaica; quarterback Drew Brees of the US; Masters champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina; wide receiver Santonio Holmes and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, both of the US; and three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols of the Dominican Republic. Up for the award among the female athletes are pole vault great Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia; sprint queen Carmelita Jeter and gymnastics ace Courtney Kupets, both of the US; champion distance runner Linet Masai of Kenya; World No.1 golfer Lorena Ochoa of Mexico; WNBA star Courtney Paris and world 400m run champion Sanya Richards, both of the US; LPGA top rookie Jiyai Shin of South Korea; WNBA MVP Diana Taurasi and multi-titled ski racer Lindsey Vonn, both of the US; Ironman triathlon champ Chrissie Wellington of the UK; and tennis superstar Serena Williams of the US. Earning accolades outside the boxing ring is no longer new to Pacquiao. This year alone, the pride of General Santos City made it to TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and to Forbes Magazine’s Celebrity 100 list (No. 57) and World’s Highest Paid Athletes roster (No. 6). A two-time Fighter of the Year awardee from both the Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America, Pacquiao also won an ESPY award as Best Fighter earlier this year, nosing out boxer Shane Mosley and Brazilian MMA star Lyoto Machida for the honor. For his 12-round TKO of Cotto recently, Pacquiao has been bestowed the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu by President Arroyo. This award is given to individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines and upon diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines. - GMANews.TV