Fast Break

NFL

Sports Illustrated chooses Favre

Brett Favre’s standout season for the resurgent Green Bay Packers has earned him the title of 2007 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, making him the fourth quarterback to win the award in its 53-year history.

The 38-year-old Favre joins fellow quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw (1979), Joe Montana (1990) and Tom Brady (2005) as recipients of the award, given to an athlete who symbolizes the ideals of sportsmanship.

Favre has had one of the best seasons of his 17-year career, completing 67.4 percent of his passes for 3,412 yards with 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The magazine also recognized Favre’s history of philanthropy, including his Fourward Foundation that’s donated more than $4 million to charities.

Baseball

Oh, he likes A-Rod chances

Japanese great Sadaharu Oh said New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has the best shot at breaking his world home run record.

Oh, who hit 868 homers over 22 seasons in Japanese professional baseball, said he thinks it’s just a matter of time before someone catches up and surpasses him.

“I think the 868 record will be broken,” Oh said. “Nobody in Japan is close, but I think Alex Rodriguez could do it. He has the ability to hit 1,000.”

Rodriguez, who hit 54 homers for the Yankees last season, has 518 after 14 seasons. Barry Bonds has the major league record of 762.

Auto racing

Winners can stew over these picks

NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Tony Stewart, offering his take on the series’ highlights this season, announced his inaugural “Stewie Awards” on his weekly show on Sirius satellite radio.

“Best original drama” went to Kevin Harvick edging Mark Martin by a nose to win the Daytona 500, and the same race provided the “best stunt sequence:” Clint Bowyer sliding across the finish line on fire and upside down.