Manny Pacquiao has another opportunity to earn a rare distinction as ESPN Star Sports invites sports fans across Asia to single out 2008?s Champion of Champions?the sports personality of the year who made the biggest impact in the world of sport.
The initiative, led by ESPN STAR Sports? web site www.espnstar.com in conjunction with Asia?s most popular sports news show SportsCenter, aims to garner public opinion to determine the individual who has gone beyond achievements and new levels of excellence to leave his mark on sports fans in 2008.
Pacquiao, who was among the final 16 personalities to be named in the illustrious list, became the first individual to move into the quarterfinal round after fans voted him over motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi in the first round.
Other personalities who made the list include football superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, World No. 1 tennis player Rafael Nadal, cricket heroes Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly, reigning National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant, golf superstar Tiger Woods, Beijing Olympics record-breakers and headliners, Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. Among the list of athletes also includes top sportsmen from Asia such as the world?s top squash ace Nicol David from Malaysia and air rifle sharp-shooter Abhinav Bindra, India?s first Olympic gold medalist in 28 years.
The ?People?s Choice? will be chosen from a list of 16, which was predetermined by fans across the region through forums, and the voting mechanism will be in the form of a knockout format. The sports personalities were drawn against each other in pairs through an open draw conducted live on ESPN?s SportsCenter, as well as live streaming on www.espnstar.com on November 28.
Members of the public will be able to cast their votes immediately after the draw, and the sports personality with the most votes will go through the next round. Following the first stage of elimination, a quarterfinal, semi-final and final round will be conducted where the Champion of Champions will be announced live on SportsCenter on December 31.
