Houston Strong: Watt, Altuve Earn Prestigious SI Honor

HOUSTON, TX — Capping a crazy year in Houston is a heartwarming image on a prominent national sports magazine. J.J. Watt and Jose Altuve were named Sports Illustrated's Sportspersons of the Year. This honor isn't chosen lightly by SI as they weigh lots of factors. Recipients often transcend their sport, and that's exactly what Watt of the Houston Texans and Altuve of the Astros did in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, which crushed the city in August but didn't damage its spirit.

The dynamic sports duo will be honored at SI's annual awards presentation Tuesday night in Brooklyn along with other honorees that includes former Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran.

Altuve and Watt are dressed in black tie dinner attire for the cover that reads: Houston Strong. Both are known for their athletic prowess — Watt is one of the most feared defensive linemen in professional football and Altuve is the American League MVP who led the Astros to their first-ever World Series title. But it's also their civic contributions off the field that helped garner this honor.

Watt helped raise more than $37 million in Harvey relief and Altuve played a significant role in the community.

Watt tweeted, "Humbled & Honored. Houston, this is for you and this is for the hundreds of thousands of people who donated from all over the world."

Past recipients include:

2016 LeBron James (led Cleveland Cavaliers to first title in franchise history)

2015 Serena Williams (Three major titles, oldest player to be ranked No. 1 in women's tennis during the Open era)

2014 Madison Bumgarner (Three-time World Series champion, World Series MVP)

2013 Peyton Manning (Five-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, single-season TD record)

2012 LeBron James (NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP, Olympic gold medalist)

2011 Pat Summitt, Mike Krzyzewski (All-time winningest coaches in women's and men's college basketball)

2010 Drew Brees (Super Bowl MVP and charity work after Hurricane Katrina)

2009 Derek Jeter (Five-time World Series champion)

2008 Michael Phelps (Eight gold medals at 2008 Olympics)

2007 Brett Favre (Led the Packers to a 13-3 season, broke Dan Marino's all-time TD record)

Image: Houston Texans football player J.J. Watt, left, greets Houston Astros' Jose Altuve at batting practice before an exhibition baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Friday, March 29, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)