Fansided

5 dumbest sports controversies of 2015

By Stu White

Oct 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts fans hold up signs referring to Deflategate during a game against the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts fans hold up signs referring to Deflategate during a game against the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 31, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Victor Espinoza aboard American Pharoah wins race eleven of the 2015 Breeders Cup Championships at Keeneland. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Victor Espinoza aboard American Pharoah wins race eleven of the 2015 Breeders Cup Championships at Keeneland. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Sports Illustrated “snubbing” American Pharoah

Yes, this inane controversy is a fresh one, but it’s so unfathomably dumb that it deserves an entry on this list. It’s the sort of controversy that seems almost too ridiculous to be true, like something that would be rejected by The Onion for being too outlandish, but, alas, it actually did happen. Because people suck.

To recap: tennis superstar Serena Williams was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated. Considering the amazing year she had in 2015 — three major titles and a mind-blowing 53-3 overall record — it’s hard to argue for anyone being more deserving. She was undeniably dominant, clearly head and shoulders above her competition. Nobody could take umbrage with her winning the award, right?

Wrong. See, some people felt a more deserving recipient of the Sportsperson of the Year award was … wait for it … wait for it … American Pharoah.

The horse.

American Pharoah the horse.

This wasn’t some case of a few loudmouths propping up a bad and wrong opinion. No, American Pharoah actually won the online readers’ poll. I’m not making this up.

Look, people are free to have their own hot takes about life, but saying that a horse — as in: a creature that is a not human — should beat out an amazing tennis player — who is human, and who has succeeded at the highest level of her profession despite being the target of so much hate — for an award for Sportsperson of the Year is flat-out asinine, not to mention embarrassingly disrespectful. American Pharoah had a great year on the racetrack and accomplished a feat that hadn’t been seen in decades, but that’s light years away from what Williams, an actual person, achieved in 2015.