Ready for Prime Time — Sports Writers annual Dinner

[To comment:larry@larrylitwin.com]

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR STAR-STUDDED PHILADELPHIA SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION AWARDS DINNER

 Tickets are still available for the star-studded Philadelphia Sports-Writers Association’s 109th annual Sports Awards Dinner this coming Monday, January 28, 2013, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, on Route 70 in Cherry Hill , NJ , it was announced by PSWA president Ron Corbin, of KYW NewsRadio.

 Heading the dais will be Los Angeles Angels centerfielder Mike Trout (Pro Athlete of the Year), Phillies pitching ace Cole Hamels and his wife, Heidi (Humanitarians of the Year), the 2012 U.S. Women’s Olympic Gold Medal-winning soccer team (Team of the Year to be represented by Carli Lloyd), Eagles offensive lineman Todd Herremans (Association’s Good Guy), unbeaten WBA and WBC Super lightweight boxing champion Danny Garcia (Philadelphia Pro Athlete), and University of Delaware basketball star Elena Della Donne (Outstanding Amateur Athlete.)

Phillies Manager Charlie Manual and Phils General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., will also be at the head table.

The most coveted award—Most Courageous—is kept secret until the night of the dinner, the oldest continuing sports awards banquet in the nation.

 [The recipient of the Most Courageous award will participate at a news conference at 4 P.M. preceding the dinner. Those members of the media interested in attending the news conference should meet Joe Juliano, of The Philadelphia Inquirer,in the hotel lobby at 3:45 P.M. Joe will escort the group to the room where the conference will be held.]

Ed Snider, chairman of the Flyers’ parent company, Comcast-Spectacor, will receive a lifetime achievement award for his humanitarian work. Retired Philadelphia 76ers forward Bobby Jones will be recognized to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1983 NBA champions, and former Phillies pitcher Tommy Greene will be honored as the representative of the 1993 Phillies National League champions.  

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, longtime La Salle University and St. Joseph’s Prep basketball coach Speedy Morris, and retired college basketball referee Hank Nichols will receive Special Achievement Awards as will former Philadelphia Daily News baseball writer Paul Hagen, currently with MLB.com,  who was elected the 2013 winner of the  J.G. Taylor Spink Award by  the Baseball Writers Association of America—to be presented during the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend in July.

 Also being honored will be Navy freshman quarterback Keenan Reynolds as the Most Valuable Player of the Army-Navy game in December. He scored the winning touchdown on an eight-yard run to cap an 80-yard drive in the closing minutes of Navy’s 17-13 victory. West Chester University ’s National Championship field hockey and baseball teams will also receive Special Achievement awards.

Tickets for the dinner at $95 apiece are available at the door or online at www.PSWA.org. Fans can also friend PSWA on Facebook. Doors to the banquet open at 5 P.M. with the dinner starting promptly at 6:30 P.M.

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[To comment:larry@larrylitwin.com]