Phelps Honored As 'Greatest Olympian Of All Time' By Sports Illustrated
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Sports Illustrated honored a handful of athletes on Monday night at Barclays Center in New York including LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Phelps.
James was named the 2016 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, while Lonnie Ali and Peyton Manning honored iconic athletes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Brown and Bill Russell with the SI Muhammad Ali Legacy Award.
Michael Phelps was celebrated as the greatest Olympian of all time by fellow Olympians; gymnast Aly Raisman, swimmer Tom Dolan and track & field star Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
Phelps commented on his historic year by saying, "For me being able to have one more year where I came back and finished things exactly how I wanted, I know there are some people out there who know what that feels like, I feel like I'm on top of the world. I was able to get married this year, have my first child. I literally feel like the luckiest man in the world."
Watch Michael Phelps' Acceptance Speech (Video Courtesy: Sports Illustrated):
Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor was presented the Symetra Rising Star award by Red Sox legend David Ortiz and local Junior Olympian sisters Tai, Rainn and Brooke Sheppard from Brooklyn were honored as the SI Kids SportsKids of the Year with a heartfelt video tribute and special presentation by DJ Khaled.
Others in attendance include Ray Lewis, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, SI Swimsuit models Ashley Graham, Hailey Clauson and Kate Bock, legendary rapper Nas and more.