2011 Sports Awards

With just two more days left in 2011, it's time to hand out some awards in the world of sports.

Athlete of the Year: Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers made Packer fans everywhere forget all about Brett Favre once and for all with his sensational playoff run and eventual Super Bowl championship, something Favre only did once. For his encore performance, he put together what could be the best season we have ever seen from an NFL quarterback and is the overwhelming favorite to win the MVP. He also led all players in Pro Bowl voting.

Second place: Robert Griffin III

Team of the Year: Green Bay Packers

The Pack won their fourth Super Bowl back in February and didn't lose their next game until December 18th. It's hard to be much more dominant than that. Aaron Rodgers and his supporting cast of Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Donald Driver, and Jermichael Finley came very close to running the table for an entire calendar year and put up filthy numbers. This could end up being the best football team in NFL history.

Second place: Dallas Mavericks and LSU Tigers football

Coach of the Year: Shaka Smart

Leading your team to the Final Four is one thing, but it's another to do it with Virginia Commonwealth at age 33. Smart led the Rams passed USC, sixth seeded Georgetown, third seeded Purdue, Florida State, and upset the first seeded Kansas Jayhawks to reach the final four, where they lost to Butler. The remarkable run that VCU went on was reminiscent of George Mason's back in 2006.

Second place: Bill Snyder, Kansas State football

Best Game: Game Six of the World Series - Cardinals vs Rangers

Despite twice being down to their last strike, St. Louis emerged victorious in what many feel is the best World Series game ever played. In the bottom of the ninth, David Freese faced a 1-2 count with runners on first and second with two outs and his team trailing 7-5. He took a 98 mph fastball from Rangers closer Neftali Feliz and ripped one for a triple to tie the game. However, Josh Hamilton led off the tenth with a solo homer to regain the lead and let all of the air out of Busch Stadium. Life was restored when Lance Berkman came through with an RBI single to once again tie the game. In the bottom of the 11th, it was Freese's turn, again down to his last strike. The next pitch landed 430 feet away in center field. His tattered jersey landed in Cooperstown.

Second place: Michigan vs Notre Dame football

Best Story: Tebow Time

In a year when the Packers almost went unbeaten, the main focus in the NFL was on Tim Tebow. Despite heavy criticism from the "experts" and struggling to complete passes, the Broncos quarterback captured the attention of fans everywhere once he took over for Kyle Orton in week 5. What transpired can only be described as unbelievable. Nobody was able to explain it, but the man found a way to win, week-in, week-out with fourth quarter comebacks and last minute drives. Who says the read-option can't work in the pros?

Second Place: VCU and Butler's NCAA Tournament run

Worst Story: Penn State Controversy

The casual college football fan had no idea who Jerry Sandusky was before November. The former defensive coordinator under Joe Paterno at Penn State became the most talked about man in sports for quite some time after allegations of sexual abuse from at least nine boys. To make matters worse, the school tried to cover it up. After an assistant saw these acts take place in the showers, Paterno sat on the information while him the school president swept it all under the rug. Paterno and President Graham Spanier were both fired, students rioted in the streets, and what was once an elite NCAA football program may never be the same.

Second place: NCAA Football investigations

Biggest Knucklehead: Jim Tressel

The sweater vest wearing head coach portrayed an image of integrity and class for a decade at Ohio State, but epitomized the exact opposite in reality. Multiple players received free tattoos, sold merchandise for cash, were paid for far more hours than they worked on summer jobs, among other allegations that could not be fully proven. Tressel even made sure that recruits attending his camps received special prizes over the non-recruits who worked all summer mowing lawns just to attend. Terrelle Pryor, the worst offender, made around $40,000 a year selling merchandise, some of which he stole from the equipment room. Tressel tried to cover up all of these events and even lied to NCAA investigators to try to save face. As a result, Tressel was fired, the Buckeyes suffered a 6-6 season, and received a bowl ban next season. The ultimate hypocrite even wrote passages such as "the reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour," and "discipline is what you do when no one else is looking" in his books.

Second Place: LeBron James