Larry Litwin's Public Relations Blog

It all began in 1904. This year marks dinner 104. Once again this year it is being held at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, N.J. on the final Monday in January, Jan. 28. Here is a summary of the info followed by stories on some of this year's recipients:

What?
The 104th annual Awards Dinner, presented by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. This is the longest continuous sports banquet in the country.

When?
Monday night, Jan. 28, 2008. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the festivities begin at 6:30.

Where?
The Crowne Plaza on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, "just minutes from the bridges."

Is it open to the public?
By all means!

How much?
Tickets are $75; bring your friends and get a table for 12 for $900.

How do I get my tickets?
Send a check made payable to PSWA to Ticket Chairman, 110 Harrogate Dr., Lumberton, NJ 08048. Include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address...pswadinner@yahoo.com

Who is going to be there?
Each year, the PSWA assembles an all-star dais of local talent and hall-of-famers. Nearly 50 athletes and coaches are seated at our head table.
Many receive awards and/or speak.

Jimmy Rollins...

Jimmy Rollins, National League MVP and the man who led the Phillies' charge to the playoffs, heads the list of honorees who will be on the dais when the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association holds its 104th annual Award Dinner on Monday evening, Jan. 28, 2008.

Rollins will be recognized by the Association as the OUTSTANDING PRO ATHLETE for 2007, following teammate Ryan Howard, who won the award for 2006.

From his pre-season prediction that the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East to his performance in game 162, Rollins personified the phrase "Most Valuable Player."

When he receives his award, he'll be linked with some of the great athletes who have been recognized by the Association since the award was first presented in 1937, including first-winner Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Steve Van Buren, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax,Wilt Chamberlain, Bobby Orr, Mike Schmidt, Carl Lewis and Muhammad Ali.

While Rollins will receive an individual honor, the Phillies team will also be recognized as the Association's TEAM OF THE YEAR, and manager Charlie Manual will be in attendance to accept that award.

Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies will highlight the award winners, but the final list of honorees will again be a who's who of local and national sports stars for the past year.

The Sports Writers Asssociation Dinner will again be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Route 70 in Cherry Hill.

Tickets cost $75.00, and can be purchased by sending a check made payable to PSWA to Ticket Chairman, 110 Harrogate Dr., Lumberton, NJ 08048. Include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.

For more information, send e-mail to swadinner@yahoo.com.">pswadinner@yahoo.com.

Jon Runyan...

Jon Runyan, who has not missed a game since joining the Eagles before the 2000 season, has also not missed an opportunity to give his time to numerous causes.

The Eagles' big right tackle, who will start his 194th consecutive NFL game on Sunday against Buffalo, will be recognized for his untiring charitable efforts as the recipient of the Humanitarian Award at the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association's 104th annual Award Dinner on Monday, Jan. 28, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill.

Among the many organizations Runyan works with are the American Cancer Society, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the Children's Miracle Network, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and St. Jude's Children Hospital.

Runyan will join a star-studded dais that already includes Jimmy Rollins, Kyle Korver, Matt Ryan, Daniel Briere, Charlie Manuel and Herb Magee, with more to come, with Harry Kalas again serving as Master of Ceremonies.

Tickets ($75 apiece; $900 for a table of 12) are available to the public, and can be purchased by sending a check made payable to PSWA to: PSWA Tickets, 110 Harrogate Dr., Lumberton, NJ 08048.

For more information, e-mail swadinner@yahoo.com.">pswadinner@yahoo.com.

Matt Ryan...

Matt Ryan, recent winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as college football's top senior quarterback, will receive the Outstanding Amateur Athlete Award at the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association's 104th annual Award Dinner on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008.

Ryan, a 2002 graduate of Philadelphia's William Penn Charter School, has had a brilliant collegeiate career at Boston College. His career numbers going into the Champs Sports Bowl against Michigan State on Dec. 28 are 9,064 passing yards (785-1300), with 53 touchdowns. This season Ryan has completed 366 passes in 607 attempts for 4258 yards and 28 TDs.
Matt Ryan is the latest person to join what will be another outstanding head table at the Sports Writers' Dinner. Among those with him on the dais will be National League MVP Jimmy Rollins, the Association's Outstanding Professional Athlete; Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who will be accepting the Team of the Year honor; and former Phillies closer and one of the stars of the 1993 pennant winers Mitch Willliams.
The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Dinner, the longest-running sports-award event in the United States, will again be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Route 70 in Cherry Hill.

Tickets ($75 apiece; $900 for a table of 12) are available to the public, and can be purchased by sending a check made payable to PSWA to: PSWA Tickets, 110 Harrogate Dr., Lumberton, NJ 08048.