Pacquiao, nominadong Athlete of the Year sa USA Sports Academy

MANILA, Philippines - Nominado si Manny Pacquiao na maging Athlete of the Year ng 2009 sa United States Sports Academy. Ayon sa philboxing.com.

Nanomina si Pacquiao matapos ang kanyang panalo kay Ricky Hatton na pinabagsak niya sa ikalawang round lamang at Miguel Cotto via TKO sa kanilang 12-round bout nitong Nob. 14 lamang para makopo ang ikapitong titulo sa iba’t ibang weight divisions, na tanging siya lamang ang nakagawa sa buong mundo.

May 12 lalaki at 12 babaeng kandidato para sa Athlete of the Year. Ang Male at Female Athlete of the Year awards ay igagawad sa atletang may pinakamaraming boto.Noong nakaraang taon, nanalo sina Olympic stars Michael Phelps at Nastia Liukin.

Kasamang nominado ni Pacquiao sina Craig Alex-ander, triathlon, Australia; Usain Bolt, track and field, Jamaica; Drew Brees, football, United States; Kobe Bryant, basketball, United States; Angel Cabrera, golf, Argentina; Roger Federer, tennis, Switzerland; Santonio Holmes, football, United States; LeBron James, basketball, United States; Jimmie Johnson, auto racing, United States; Albert Pujols, baseball, Dominican Republic; at Tiger Woods, golf, United States.

Ang award na ito ay ipre-present ng NBCSports.com at USATODAY.com at ang balloting ay magsisimula sa December 1, 2009. Hanggang Dec. 24.

Ang Athlete of the Year balloting ay ang pagtatapos ng isang taong Athlete of the Month program ng academy na kumikilala sa accomplishments ng mga babae at lalaki sa sports sa buong mundo.

Ang Academy Athlete of the Month ay pinipili ng international voting committee na binubuo ng mga media, sports organizations at governing bodies.

Sa mga babae nominado sina Yelena Isinbaeva, track and field, Russia; Carmelita Jeter, track and field, United States; Courtney Kupets, gymnastics, United States; Linet Masai, track and field, Kenya; Lorena Ochoa, golf, Mexico; Courtney Paris, basketball, United States; Sanya Richards, track and field, United States; Jiyai Shin, golf, South Korea; Diana Taurasi, basketball, United States; Lindsey Vonn, skiing, United States; Chrissie Wellington, triathlon, United Kingdom; at Serena Williams, tennis, US.  (Mae Balbuena)