The race for foreign sports personality of the year couldn't have been any closer, so it should come as no surprise that it was only decided early Sunday morning.
At least a handful of athletes deserved the accolade, but the performance by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Saturday night left no doubt as to who the winner should be.
With Roger Federer having yet another stunning year, picking up three more Grand Slam titles, and Justine Henin dominating the women's game, losing just four matches all season long, it would have come as no surprise had they won the award.
Kaka, who almost single handedly led AC Milan to the Champions League title, and Tyson Gay, who won a sprint double at the Athletics World Championships, would have also been worthy winners.
Brady's accomplishments in 2007, however, were simply mind-boggling.
Brady, the 199th pick in the 2000 draft, has led his team to a perfect 16-0 season and threw 50 touchdown passes, breaking Peyton Manning's single season record.
"There's nobody I'd rather have," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "He's done a great job for us, this year and in previous years."
Brady wasn't drafted until the sixth round in 2000, a snub that has driven him. He took over from injured Drew Bledsoe as the starter in the third game of 2001 and won the first of his two Super Bowl MVP awards that season.
"The great thing about playing quarterback here is that you've just got to do your job. You don't have to worry about a whole lot of other things, because you have great confidence that all the other guys are going to do what they're asked to do," Brady said. "I've just got to drop back and try to throw it to the guys in blue."
Right now Brady is doing that as well as anyone ever has.
AP contributed to this report
