An album, a book and a podcast, Sportsman of the Year is a celebration of life, its foibles and its perfect imperfection, and tells a tale of grit and of never giving up.

An album, a book and a podcast, Sportsman of the Year is a celebration of life, its foibles and its perfect imperfection, and tells a tale of grit and of never giving up from award-winning singer and songwriter Jan Hellriegel.

I have left the trail that millions before me/have worn right down to the bitter core - "It's My Sin", Jan Hellriegel, 1992.

Sportsman of the Year - A Suburban Philosophy is a unique project.

It's an album of 12 new songs by award-winning singer and songwriter Jan Hellriegel.

But it's also a book that expands and puts flesh on the ideas and experiences captured in the songs.

And it's a podcast series, which mixes the words and the music together beautifully.

In every format, Sportsman is a celebration of life and its foibles as well as its perfect imperfection. It represents the journey, not the destination, and tells a tale of grit and of never giving up.

"My career has been nothing short of soul-destroying at times" says Jan. "And even though I have tossed my music aside on more than one occasion, I persevered. Through hardship came the wins, then more hardship, more flops, more lessons, more growth."

"Each time I failed, I learned something new and got back up and kept going."

Each episode of the podcast represents a song from the album and a chapter from the book. Sometimes it's clear which stories are related to which songs. Other times the meanings are open to interpretation. They can all be digested on their own or go hand-in hand with each other. They're not married, but they are good friends.

Sportsman of the Year - A Suburban Philosophy is not always an easy listen and some things might make you squirm. But this is how it happened for Jan. It's supposed to be a little sad, funny, perplexing and occasionally contradictory because every day the view changes while we all try to make the nonsensical comprehensible.

"If I have met you or if you have ever listened to a song of mine then you are right here in this podcast, these songs and this book, "says Jan.

"They are for you."

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In episode one of Sportsman of the Year, Jan Hellriegel argues that some of the worst things in life might just turn out to be the best.

"Looking back, I realise some of the worst things ever just happened to be some of the best things in disguise. I just didn't know how to read the signs" - Jan Hellriegel 2019.

HOUND DOG (IT'S A GOOD LIFE)

Shuffling around with my nose to the ground and my eyes all covered in scrim

I'm feeling sorry for myself and I don't know why because in truth I have everything.

What am I to choose as I fluff along this mortal coil?

What am I to lose if the road I choose is a lighter toil?

It's a good life if you want it if you let it into you.

It's a great life if you call it if you call it into you.

But it's a Hound Dog if you let it eat away at you.

So come on call it in the good life.

Let it in to you.

Days and days and hours and hours working for the man.

The rents catching up and you're going nowhere but you're doing the best you can.

What am I to choose as I fluff along this mortal coil?

What am I to lose if the road I choose is a lighter toil?

It's a good life if you want it if you let it into you.

It's a great life if you call it if you call it into you.

But it's a Hound Dog if you let it eat away at you.

So go on call it in the good life.

Let it in to you.

Days and days and hours and hours.

You watch your folks become tethered and soured.

In and out around the round.

There's no respite from the daily grind.

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la.

It's a good life if you want it if you let it into you.

It's a great life if you call it if you call it into you.

But it's a Hound Dog if you let it eat away at you.

So go on call it in the good life.

Let it in to you.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Doing something, even if it fails, is better than doing nothing.

"Doing something is way better than doing nothing, even if it's hardly doing anything at all." - Jan Hellriegel 2019.

LOVE AND CONVICTION

I've walked this earth a long time and I've done all kinds of things.

Delivered fish to fancy restaurants, sold gold and bling and rings.

I've cleaned a lot of hotel rooms, sold beer in dirty bars.

Packed records in cold warehouses and polished lots of cars.

One thing I'd like to say right here and will say it loud

Is that I've loved you with a passion in the here and in the now.

Some things I'm really proud of and I don't mind if I share.

Other things I've screwed right up, they're whispers in the air.

I've met a lot of people I know I won't meet a second time.

Some friends have now departed and I know my wrongs from right.

One thing I'd like to say right here and I will say it loud

Is that I've loved you with a passion in the here and in the now.

I say it now to all who'll listen

I've loved you long and I've loved you hard.

I say it now and with conviction

You have my love.

You have my heart.

Well there's been some pretty bad times and oh so many good.

Sometimes I've been bewildered, other times I've understood.

But I've always kept on loving you, never faulted from the path.

Sometimes I've been defeated but I knew it wouldn't last.

One thing I'd like to say right here and I will say it loud

Is that I've loved you with a passion in the here and in the now.

I say it now to all who'll listen

I've loved you long and I've loved you hard.

I say it now and with conviction.

You have my love.

You have my heart.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details