Tom McNichol: Hansen, Nelson are Delco's favorite sons

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Some quotes:

The Daily Times sports department put together its annual year-end tribute to Delco's Sports Figure of the Year Friday. Never in the relatively short history of this feature, was the decision more difficult than it was in 2004. That's one of the reasons we felt compelled to include an image of Jameer Nelson on our Back Page along with that of our choice, Olympic swimming medalist and world record-holder Brendan Hansen.

We have been extremely fortunate to have a couple of sports writers in John Lohn and Rob Knox who developed a rapport with Hansen and Nelson, respectively, before the two athletes became nationally known.

Hansen has called Lohn from points all over the globe, including Athens this summer. The stories we ran on Hansen from Athens were as good or better than the ones other papers ran from writers who were there.

In Hansen's case, we have been able to chronicle his trips home when he would show up at the Daily Times Elite Meet and sign autographs for the impressionable young kids who idolized him.

Nelson has become very involved with Youth Interlock, the very successful program for young people in Chester, giving of his time and some of his new-found wealth.

They are two young men who haven't forgotten their roots because they know it is in those roots where the foundation for their success can be found.

Like many sports fans in the county, we were able to follow the exploits of two of Delco's favorite sons on national television throughout 2004.

There was more swimming watched in this sports department than any in America between the Olympic Trials and then the Summer Games.

Such was the high level of expectation in Athens for Hansen that there was a twinge of disappointment in silver and bronze in the 100 and 200, respectively. But there's no diminishing the value of an Olympic medal in any athletic endeavor and don't forget, Hansen still owns the world records in both events.

Another article from Delware County Times:
A taste of the good, the bad and the ugly of 2004

And Another:
Top sports stories of 2004: It was an Olympian year on the Main Line

And Another:
Flannery: In the end, 2004 was pretty special