Did Madison Bumgarner Deserve SI's 2014 Sportsman of the Year Award?

 By Andy Dougherty (@AndyDougherty10)

Since 1954, Sports Illustrated has presented the “Sportsman of the Year” award to “the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement.”

Earlier this week, Sports Illustrated chose Madison Bumgarner as 2014’s winner. Bumgarner won the honor because of his historic playoff run, in which he led the San Francisco Giants to a championship and won the World Series MVP award.

However, Bumgarner was not among the 26 players who received votes for the National League MVP award. He did not finish in the Top-10 in the National League in ERA or Wins Above Replacement (WAR). His year as a whole was far from perfect, leaving the door open for another athlete to take this award. Here are the other eight nominees Sports Illustrated named for its fan poll.

Tony Dungy Should Just Own His Homophobia Already

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

In the least shocking incident of the NFL off-season, football moral compass and former Bucs/Colts head coach Tony Dungy publicly stated that he wouldn't have selected Michael Sam, the first openly gay player in the history of the NFL Draft.

I say least shocking because, if you know anything about Tony Dungy, you know he is a devout Christian who has spoken out in favor of a Gay Marriage ban in Indiana, and taken President Barack Obama to task, albeit briefly, on Twitter for "veering from the Biblical interpretation" of marriage.

Here is Dungy's exact quote on Sam.

“I wouldn’t have taken him,’’ Dungy told the Tampa Tribune. “Not because I don’t believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn’t want to deal with all of it. It’s not going to be totally smooth . . . things will happen.’’

That's all fine and dandy. The former Super Bowl winning coach is entitled to his faith and his views. This is America, after all.

My issue is that a man who used to occupy what is essentially a hiring position (NFL head coach) outright said he wouldn't hire someone because they are a minority… And we take that as a "stance."

The Late, But Obligatory Huge NFL Draft Wrap

Michael Sam was the story of this year's draft, but what can he actually bring on the field?

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

This past weekend's NFL Draft was one of the most intriguing and eventful in recent memory, so of course I spent my entire Sunday… Sunbathing with my wife on the roof.

Yeah, sorry, it was a long winter here in Boston, and I was grabbing the sun while it was there.

Consequently, this massive NFL Draft recap was pushed back a bit, but have no fear. I'm still here to tell you what to think about your favorite team's draft.

Let's get to it.

Bob Lobel: The Risks of Home Ice in Game 7

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

The shelf life for something written or said on a day off after a dismal sixth game and a much anticipated “all or nothing” game is minimal. 

Like a paper used to be. Read it and then wrap the fish in it. That’s its basic worth by this time tomorrow. Trying to make the most of a short attention span, I can tell you I honestly am not a fan of 7th game home games in the National Hockey League. 

So, I Guess an Athlete Being Gay is Still a Big Deal

Jason Collins (left) became the first openly gay NBA player Sunday night, and Michael Sam (right) is the NFL's first openly gay draft prospect.

By Joe Parello  @HerewegoJoe

The other night Jason Collins became the first openly gay player in NBA history.

Collins, who signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, made his first appearance since "coming out" Sunday, and was as unremarkable on the court as he has been his entire career.

In 11 minutes, he grabbed a pair of rebounds, somehow amassed five fouls, missed his only shot attempt and committed two turnovers. What was remarkable, to some people apparently, was that the ground did not open up and swallow Collins into eternal damnation.

Catching Up With Bob Lobel: A Week of Social Issues in Sports

Join legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel and host Joe Parello as they break down the Michael Sam story. Is it the players, or the league and media that are more concerned about a gay football player?

 And, with all the social issues and tensions, is anybody actually watching the games in Sochi?

The Michael Sam Story Really Happened In August

Michael Sam will likely be the first openly gay player in the NFL. But is that the real story?

By Jeremy Conlin (@jeremy_conlin)

On Sunday, Missouri defensive end Michael Sam gave interviews with ESPN's "Outside The Lines" and The New York Times in which he came out publicly as gay. Sam is a strong, but surely not a slam-dunk prospect in the upcoming April draft - probably a mid-round pick. As such, it would be pre-mature to say that he will be the first openly gay player in the NFL, but if he does become the first, it will be a huge deal.

Bob Lobel: Why Are We Still Hung Up on Sexuality in Sports?

By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

I have to be missing something here. 

I thought we moved past these discussions years ago.

Apparently not.