Weir or Gagne? - Canadian Athlete of the Year

[Indiana Sev]

This is the debate over here right now. Every year, our country (as many others do) chooses an Athlete of the Year. Weir and Gagne are the only two athletes that are really in contention. This is a tough one...

~ Mike Weir is the first Canadian to ever win a major (The Masters) and finished 5th among the money leaders on the PGA tour. Also, up until the last few weeks of the tour he was a contender for Golfer of the Year (PGA).

~ Eric Gagne DIDN'T BLOW A SINGLE SAVE ALL YEAR. Wow! To cap it off he won the Cy Young in the NL. A great feat to say the least.

So, who do you think should win?

I'm going with Weir...what he did was a much bigger deal over here and it'll be remembered for a much longer time.

PS: If anyone wants to start one for the U.S.A., feel free. I'm not sure who is in contention myself. But Lance Armstrong will probably win again. ;)

[Morgana]

Don't know if my opinion is welcome since I'm a Yank, but since no-one else is saying anything, I'll try to get the party started.

I voted for Weir, just because he's more of a poineer. If you remember I rooted for him in one of those PGA tournaments, even though I'm not big on golf.



As for an American poll, I vote for anyone who wasn't using the THG steroid this year. :D

[PapaJupe2k]

Note: I'm American.

I voted for Eric Gagne his flawless pitching season may not be duplicated for a long time, no matter what the nationality.

Mike Weir's accomplishments certainly were historically significant, but I've go to give the nod to Gagne on the basis of that I like baseball better than golf. Also for Gagne's cool kick ass glasses he wore on the mound.

[Nate6]

Weir. The day after he won the Masters was quite a day to be a Canadian. The coach of our school's golf team declared it "Mike Weir Day" and gave out food the entire day! Like Sev said, what he did will be remembered for a long, long time.

As for Gagne, what he did was incredible, but it wasn't such a big deal up here. Great pitcher, no doubt, but baseball really isn't monstrously popular up north. Doesn't reduce the level of what he did, but Weir's success made a much bigger wave in Canada.

[blankpage]

Weir. I've always cheered him on in golf (whenever I watched it), and this year he showed everyone he's got skill. He won the MASTERS which is something that I find to be an extraordinary feet for a golf player, especially a Canadian one. He's been talked about all year, US and CANADA, and I think he's the man you deserves it more than anyone else.

[horrorfreak13]

This is a tough one but I'll have to go with Eric Gagne 55 saves and didn't blow one of them plus a Cy Young award.

Can't also dispute what Weir did either a Masters win and 5th in the money list.

[ToRontoRon]

Tough, tough, TOUGH call. I just don't know. It seems people say this type of thing every year, but this year they really do both deserve it. Also, Paul Tracy had a pretty good year winning the points in Kart, but that is if you call driving a sport. (Another debate for another time.)

I guess if I have to get off the fence and make a choice, I'd pick Weir. The first Canadian to win a major, and the Masters at that, is a big accomplishment, even though he has cooled off in the second half of the year, making things pretty tight.

[Slim]

Eric Gagne. 55 saves. Not blowing a single one. Cy Young award.

I really don't care if Weir is the first Canadian to ever win a major. It's fuckin' golf! ;)

[Ripper1888]

Being an American I voted for Gagne because here in the states baseball is much bigger than golf,But if I was Canadian Weir would have gotten my vote because golf is indeed bigger in Canada than baseball plus what he did being the first Canadian to win a major is much more historically significant.

[ToRontoRon]

Originally posted by Ripper1888
But if I was Canadian Weir would have gotten my vote because golf is indeed bigger in Canada than baseball.

I don't know about that. Golf might be a bit bigger right now because of Weir, but in the early '90's when the Jays were winning World Series, it wasn't even close with baseball WAY more popular. These things are cyclical up here. One thing that isn't cyclical is hockey, though. It's always number one. (btw, on a side note, the Leafs beat the Sens tonight for their fourth win in a row.):)

[Benny]

I vote for Youppi! The Montreal Expos mascot. :p

[outsyder]

Weir.


He's now considered a MAJOR player in the PGA tour, and is enjoying success. He may not be the greatest golfer, but he's a fresh faceto the championship circle that golf needs.

[horrorfreak13]

Well it was announced today Mike Weir wins the Lou Marsh Trophy for Canadian athlete of the year beating out Eric Gagne by 1 vote. The award, decided by a panel of sports editors and broadcasters, is given annually to Canada's outstanding athlete by the Toronto Star.

Other finalists for the award were skier Melanie Turgeon, hurdler Perdita Felicien, speed skater Jeremy Wotherspoon, race-car driver Paul Tracy and divers Alexandre Despatie and Emilie Heymans.

The award is named after a former Toronto Star sports editor.

The judging panel consisted of three people from the Star plus representatives from The Canadian Press, the Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Sun, La Presse, Edmonton Journal, CBC, CTV, The Score and The Fan 590.

The Canadian Press announces its athlete of the year awards later in this month.

Female athlete of the year will be announced Dec. 29, followed by the male athlete on Dec. 30 and team of the year on Jan. 1.

The CP awards are decided by sports editors and broadcasters across the country.

[The Delfonics]

Mike Weir for sure! This guy I hear is like a new national hero in Canada lol. I met him got his autograph at the PGA Championship and hes a hell of a guy and a player. Gagne is good but does not have the power that Weir has over Canadians.