Milka wins something

Really. It's not a race, but it's a major award.

IndyCar driver Milka Duno, the first Hispanic woman to compete in the Indy 500 and the IndyCar Series, has won the 2009 American Latino Award in the "Favorite Alternative Athlete" Category in the 3rd annual American Latino TV Awards.

The American Latino TV Awards serves to recognize excellence and achievement in the American Latino community and is a tribute to the individuals, organizations and projects that have been featured in their seven-season library of multi-award winning and groundbreaking television shows.

The nominees were selected by the producers of American Latino TV " but the winners were decided by online fan voting. Videos of the nominees and winners in each category are available at http://www.americanlatino.tv/awards/.

(MORE from MilkaDuno.com)

I don't know what criteria defines an "Alternative Athlete", as if Milka was nominated with Hispanic skateboarders and skeet shooters, but whatever the case she was the winner. And since she isn't winning much else it's newsworthy. However, I am completely befuddled by American Latino TV viewers who voted, because although I am not an American Latino (despite being able to cook some fan-ta-bulous tomatillo and chicken enchiladas) I can say without hesitation she is not even the most interesting "Alternative Athlete" in her home nation of Venezuela.

You think I'm going to say it's EJ Viso, right? *BUZZER* Wrong! No, I think I found Viso's "Alternative Athlete" mentor. He's a 42-year-old baseball player by the name of Omar Vizquel.

Last winter, Vizquel and some buddies went to a wildlife refuge in Venezuela in the search for anaconda and to view other wildlife as well. About four hours into their trip, they found their snake.

In a video that Vizquel shared in the Rangers clubhouse during spring training, the group's guide stepped into shallow water to grab an 11-foot anaconda by the tail and pulled it onto dry land.

The Texas Rangers infielder... plans to try bullfighting when he goes home to Venezuela this winter.

I'm sure driving at over 200 miles per hour - and yes, there are times when Milka actually exceeds that speed - is quite a thrill, but when viewed as a skill I would rather take a chance at racing over Bullfighting or bare-handed Anaconda hunting. But that's just me.

Maybe next year Omar can rightly claim his award, although I suppose he has no shot at being determine a "favorite" unless he looks like this.