Defending one major title, and then adding another a month later for good measure pretty much seals the deal for me.

In answer to the first question: Almost.

With regards to the second question, I suppose I would just say that these year-end awards are, in almost any sport, little more than popularity contests. And since casual fans are likely to only watch the majors, it makes sense that the majors would carry more weight in the voting.

Similar dilemma are present in the year-end awards for another sport I love: horse racing. This year, for instance, Big Brown won the Derby and the Preakness in grand style, only to be eased in the Belmont. he then went on to win a handful of the big summer races for three year olds. Meanwhile, Curlin – racing at age 4 – wins the world’s richest race (the Dubai World Cup), the Jockey Club Gold Cup, etc., before throwing in a clunker in the Breeder’s Cup Classic (being run for the first time on a synthetic surface). (He also had a loss on the turf at Belmont over the Summer). Casual fans would almost surely see Big Brown as the HOTY, because the only races they see are the Triple Crown races. But Curlin spent the year racing against much tougher competition and spotting them weight, as well.

Me? I’d vote Curlin.