LeBron Named 2013 Male Athlete of the Year by Associated Press

LeBron James has basically won everything the past two years. So it’s not surprising that he’s taking home yet another piece of hardware. The Associated Press announced Thursday that LeBron is their 2013 Male Athlete of the Year, becoming just the third basketball player since 1931 to win the award (Michael Jordan and Larry Bird). LeBron received 31 of 96 votes, topping Peyton Manning (20 votes) and NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson (7 votes). “I’m chasing something and it’s bigger than me as a basketball player,” LeBron told the AP. “I believe my calling is much higher than being a basketball player. I can inspire people. Youth is huge to me. If I can get kids to look at me as a role model, as a leader, a superhero… those things mean so much, and that’s what I think I was built for. I was put here for this lovely game of basketball, but I don’t think this is the biggest role that I’m going to have.”