Pacquiao is top male athlete in US online poll

Plagued by doping accusations and a looming legal battle against the Mayweathers, here’s a whiff of fresh air for Team Pacquiao. The United States Sports Academy (USSA), in its website, on Friday named the seven-time world division title holder Pacquiao its 2009 Male Athlete of the Year alongside world champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia. Both athletes topped the worldwide online poll, distributed also at the NBC Sports and USA Today websites, where more than 1.9 million votes were cast. Pacquiao and Isinbayeva bested 11 other world class athletes in their respective divisions. The Filipino boxing icon is expected to reap more awards and other citations after having a banner year in 2009 that saw him claim the world titles of Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Pacquiao scored a quick second-round knockout of Hatton to snatch the light welterweight strap of the "Hitman" in May then became the first boxer to win titles in seven different weight divisions after taking hold of Cotto’s welterweight crown (technical knockout) last month. The "Pacman’s" other accolades in 2009 include gracing the cover of TIME Magazine's Asia edition before his 12-round slugfest against Cotto, being the best fighter in the 2009 ESPY Awards in July and placed 22nd in TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in March.

The General Santos City native also landed at 24th spot in the most influential list of AskMen.com and earned the honors of "sportsman of the year" by the Los Angeles-based Filipino-American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI). Pacquiao was also conferred the "Order of Sikatuna" with the Rank of Datu by President Gloria Arroyo for his achievements. Swiss tennis champion Roger Federer, who won a record 15th grand slam title at Wimbledon a month after completing a career grand slam at the French Open, placed second to Pacquiao while world 100m and 200m record holder Usain Bolt finished third in the online poll. Isinbaeva, 27, holds the 2009 world outdoor (16 feet, 6 inches or 5.06 meters) and indoor (16 feet, 4 inches or 5 meters) records. She became the first woman to clear the bar at 16 feet in the indoor championships. She also earned the 2009 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year and the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports. Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa and Kenyan long distance runner Linet Masai placed second and third, respectively, in the women’s class. The Athlete of the Year online poll, according to the USSA website, is the culmination of the yearlong Athlete of the Month program, which recognizes the accomplishments of men and women in sports around the globe. The Athlete of the Month is selected by an international voting committee comprised of media members and representatives of sports organizations and governing bodies. – Jon Perez, GMANews.TV