The Olympics are only a couple of days old but I've already made my picks for the US athletes I like the best. At a time when we focus all of our national attention on a Nike Spokesperson who finished fifth and someone who came just to watch the opening ceremonies, I like to find the underdogs who come out and play their respective sport in the spirit of the games.
Man of the Year: Joey Cheek
Although no grown man should ever call himself Joey, Mr. Cheek wins hands down by being a witty ("I'm majoring in economics because I heard it gets all the girls"), classy (going to college is going to be a greater accomplishment than competing), and philanthropic (he's donating his full $25,000 in winnings to aid refugees in Darfur) American that came, saw, and quietly conquered the rest of the 500-meter speedskating field.
Woman of the Year: Cassie Johnson
How many other women do you know that can push a 44 pound stone with absolute precision? She is the US skip on the coolest sport of the Winter Games, a graphic designer major, and silver medalist in the 2005 World championships. Oh, and she's absolutely adorable. If curling shoes weren't so darn impractical, they would be the next bowling shoe.
