Serena Williams was just named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the year. Horse racing fans are livid American Pharoah was snubbed.
Normally, the holiday season is reserved for good tidings and cheer. However, some horse racing fans are trading the cheer in and instead presenting gifts of a different nature.
Like a one-way ticket to hell in a hand basket.
Tennis phenom Serena Williams was recently named Sports Illustrated’s Sports Person of the Year for her astounding accomplishments on the court, which included a 53-3 record and numerous titles. She completely dominated the tennis world in 2016.
Not everyone is happy with this choice, however. Actually, “not happy” is a gross understatement. Some fans of horse racing are mortally offended that American Pharoah, Grand Slam winner, was passed over for the honor. Horse racing fans are quick to point out that Williams did not win a Grand Slam, and suggested the selection process was rigged.
Accusations of unfairness and general sulkiness, however, were mild compared to other reactions.
One fan, Douglas Rutherford, is encouraging a boycott of Sports Illustrated, and said Sports Illustrated was so blind and oblivious that “The Lord could come and SI would have missed the calling!”
Sorry, SI. You’re doomed to, at best, hell on earth, at worst, a lake of fire.
So does choosing a tennis star over a race horse constitute a mortal sin in the eyes of the man upstairs? Will St. Peter turn away the editors of Sports Illustrated at the Pearly Gates because they didn’t go by the popular vote and anoint American Pharoah the “Sportsperson of the Year”?
Whatever happened to forgiveness and free will?
In the eyes of some fans, it appears as though that qualifies one to burn in hell.
Meanwhile, American Pharoah is also distraught.
Just spoke w/ American Pharoah. Ate oats the entire time, and then defecated on the floor. Wouldn't even address #Serena by name. Shocking.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) December 14, 2015
EXCLUSIVE: American Pharoah responds to SI Sportsperson of the year snub. https://t.co/DXa7GdssMq pic.twitter.com/EShI1D56MW
— SB Nation (@SBNation) December 14, 2015
By other accounts, he didn’t even want the honor.
Sports Illustrated tried to invite American Pharoah to their Sportsperson of the Year event but he said Nay
— Miguel Cabrera (@DrunkMiggy) December 14, 2015
In 1977, “Kid,” a horse, won the Sportsman of the Year honors, so awarding Sportsperson of the Year honors to an animal is not unprecedented.
The real hot take will be when someone says a horse other than American Pharoah should've been Sportsperson of the Year
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) December 14, 2015