ST. MARYS, Ont. -- Cincinnati Reds slugger Joey Votto is the winner of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fames Tip ONeill Award for the third straight year. The award is given to the Canadian player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseballs highest ideals. Votto, an all-star first baseman from Toronto, had a .337 batting average with 14 homers and 56 RBIs last season. "I thank the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame for recognizing my contributions to our division championship team," Votto said Wednesday in a release. "This spring, I am very much looking forward to representing our country in the World Baseball Classic and having the opportunity again to play alongside the best baseball players in Canada." The Hall does not release vote totals. Major leaguers Scott Diamond, Ryan Dempster, Justin Morneau, Brett Lawrie, Russell Martin, Jim Henderson and Michael Saunders were also considered by Hall voters and online supporters. "We had more Internet participation and debate about who should win this years award than any previous year and we were happy about that," said Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame operations director Scott Crawford. "We were heartened to see so much passion for Canadian players. This year, we had at least 10 players who were legitimate contenders for this award. "It was extremely close, but in the end, Joey Votto, who had another all-star season and helped lead the Reds to the post-season, was slightly ahead of the rest of the pack." National team members Jimmy Van Ostrand and Stephanie Savoie also received consideration. Votto, who missed seven weeks of the season due to a knee injury, led all Canadian major-league players in several categories including batting average, on-base percentage (.474), slugging percentage (.567), walks (94) and doubles (44). Votto, who shared last years award with Milwaukee Brewers closer John Axford, is the first player to win the award three years in a row. Hes the third player to win the award at least three times, joining three-time winner Jason Bay and nine-time winner Larry Walker. Votto will be presented with the award in a pre-game ceremony in Cincinnati early in the 2013 season. The award is named after James (Tip) ONeill. The Woodstock, Ont., native set several major league records with the St. Louis Browns in 1887. Wholesale Jerseys . In an interview with Pittsburgh radio station 97.3 The Fan this week, Crosby talked about the NHLs labour woes, and discussed his level of patience with the work stoppage. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . With a looming and frightful deadline of January 11 ticking ever closer – league-imposed date to save a 48-game season – the NHL and NHLPA appear to be furiously game-planning for positioning at this late stage in the exhausting lockout process. http://www.nflwholesalecheap... . - Offensive lineman Joel Reinders and the Toronto Argonauts agreed to a contract on Tuesday, the CFL club announced. [url=http://www.nflwholesalecheapjerseysonline.com/]Cheap Jerseys . Foley won the honour after the Argos beat the Calgary Stampeders 35-22 at Sundays championship game. Cheap Jerseys From China Online . The Reds scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th on a wild pitch, but closer Aroldis Chapman gave up Asdrubal Cabreras two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the inning that sent Cincinnati to a 3-2 loss.ATHENS, Greece - Greece has removed triple jumper Voula Papachristou from the countrys team at the London 2012 Olympic Games over her comments on Twitter mocking African immigrants and expressing support for a far-right political party. The Hellenic Olympic Committee says in a statement Wednesday that Papachristou was dropped from the Olympic team "for statements contrary to the values and ideas of the Olympic movement." Papachristou later sent out another Tweet apologizing for her remark: I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account. I am very sorry and ashamed for the negative respoonses I triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human rights.dddddddddddd My dream is connected to the Olympic Games and I could not possibly participate if I did not respect their values. Therefore, I could never believe in discrimination between human beings and races. I would like to apologize to all my friends and fellow athletes, who I may have insulted or shamed, the National Team, as well as the people and companies who support my athletic career. Finally, I would like to apologize to my coach and my family. Papachristou is in Athens. The committee says she was supposeed to travel to London shortly before the track events started. ' ' '