Introducing The Deadspin Sportshuman Of The Year Tournament

Since Sports Illustrated is making its unveiling of the 2006 Sportsman Of The Year award into a two-month enterprise, we figured we could do the same thing. Therefore, we are introducing the Deadspin Sportshuman Of The Year tournament, where 16 nominees will compete for the sainted title. We've put together the seeding, and you'll vote every Tuesday and Thursday to narrow the field down to one winner at the end of the year.

We'll have a fun bracket for you on Tuesday, filling in all the seeds, but we thought we'd start you off with an 8-9 seed battle. Only one can be crowned. Enjoy.

No. 8 Seed: Matt Leinart 2006 Highlights Drafted by The Buzzsaw That Is The Arizona Cardinals. Consumated sexual relationship with Paris Hilton. Impregnated USC basketball player. Discovered what life with the Buzzsaw is really like.

No. 9 Seed: Rick Sutcliffe 2006 Highlights Partied with Bill Murray and then made the unfortunate decision to go live on the air. (Sadly, the video has been eradicated from the Internets, as far as we can tell.) Suspended for going out there and trying to solve that thing.

So, go vote: Who advances to the Elite Eight?

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