What Manny Pacquiao did by beating Juan Manuel Marquez (albeit controversially) for the Ring Magazine title at featherweight, and then knocking out David Diaz for his lightweight title- and then going to welterweight and putting Oscar De La Hoya into virtual retirement with his destruction of him at the end of the seventh round- all within the same calendar year) ought to be considered among the best athletic feats ever in sport. Unfortunately, Pacquiao's brilliant year came at the same time that Michael Phelps annihilated his competition at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Had it not been for Phelp's dominance, or Usain Bolt's monopoly at the same Games in the 100m and 200m, I feel the Pacman would have been Athlete of the Year in a wash.

I like this guy a lot, both his style and his heart, and above all his ring smarts. But there are more deserving folks on this list.