Guess who is the Associated Press’s Athlete of the Year. I’ll start by giving you some hints. He has won 4 straight championships in his sport. How many other people or teams can boast having won 4 championships in their sport? The number 48 is very significant to him. Got it yet? His initials are JJ. You’ve probably figured it out by now, so I’ll tell you. It’s Jimmie Johnson of Nascar. Believe it or not, the sport has finally come into its own with a driver winning the Athlete of the Year for the first time, and Johnson is the one that has proven his mettle. Having to win 4 straight championships is a really high bar for anyone who’s trying to get honored in some way! But either way, congratulations to him. While he may not always be my favorite driver, I have to admit that he’s one of the best drivers in the entire league. I enjoy watching him race, because while he doesn’t always win individual races, he does have a sense of the marathon-style racing that can win Sprint Cups much more easily.