On Wednesday, the Seattle Sports Commission released its list of nominees for the 2016 MTR Western Sports Star Awards. The awards honor the area's top athletes, as well as the best stories and moments in the last year of sports.
Seattle Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey made the short list for Male Sports Star of the Year for his impressive 2015 seasons for both club and country. He's up against fellow nominees Michael Bennett of the Seahawks, Nelson Cruz of the Mariners, Luke Falk of Washington State, Cheng-Tsung Pan and Seattle University coach and Sounders broadcaster and Seattle University Men's Soccer head coach Pete Fewing.