CELEBRATE ALL THAT'S RIGHT IN SPORTS!
Thank you to all who watched the
2009 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards
on CBS College Sports Network.
The 2009 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards honorees represent all that’s right in sports. Recognized for their integrity, class, selflessness, perseverance, kindness and community service, they include major league superstars, local favorites, and individuals who bring with them the most inspirational, heartwarming stories. |
New York Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett (left) and Director of Media Relations Jason Zillo (right) accepted an award on behalf of the Yankees organization at the 2009 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards for their work with Camp Sundown during the organization’s inaugural HOPE Week. Camp Sundown is for kids with the rare disease known as XP – xeroderma pigmentosum. The kids cannot be exposed to the slightest amount of sunlight. After they watched a Yankees victory from a party suite, it was on to the real fun. The stadium lights were dimmed to 30 percent, and Yankee Stadium was transformed into a carnival of wiffle ball games, frisbees, clowns and magicians. Yankee players stayed with the kids until after 3 o’clock in the morning. The kids took batting practice with Burnett and played games with Derek Jeter. To read more about the Yankees’ story, click here. |
"People need to see this kind of thing and it needs to become normal," were the words of Grapevine Faith High School (Texas) football coach Kris Hogan at the AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards. Hogan and Grapevine Faith were honored for encouraging their fans to cheer for an opposing team made up of players from a correctional facility north of Dallas. Hogan wanted them to know that despite their situation, people care and believe in them. To read more about the Grapevine Faith High School story, click here. |
In February, Milwaukee Madison High School senior captain Johntel Franklin (left) lost his mother after a five-year battle with cervical cancer. Franklin came straight from the hospital and wanted to play in his team’s game that evening. One problem – he was not listed on the pre-game roster since no one expected him to come. When Franklin entered the game in the second quarter, it resulted in a technical foul against Milwaukee Madison. DeKalb (Ill.) senior captain Darius McNeal (right) intentionally missed both technical foul free throws – the second one traveled only two feet. To read more about the DeKalb High School Basketball Team story, click here. |
Maryville University President Mark Lombardi (left) presented an award to 2004 Olympic gold medalist Shawn Crawford (right). At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Crawford finished fourth in the 200-meter, but was awarded the silver medal after it was determined the second- and third-place finishers had committed lane violations and were disqualified. Crawford felt he did not earn the silver medal and gave it to Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles the week after the Beijing Games. To read more about Shawn Crawford’s story, click here. |
A record crowd of more than 700 people packed the Khorassan Ballroom at the Chase Park Plaza for the
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AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards master of ceremonies Mike Bush (left), interviews basketball coach Bill Powers (right) from Monte Vista High School. His team was defeated by McClymonds High School in the California high school basketball playoffs last March. McClymonds did not have the funds to cover travel, food and lodging costs for its players prior to the state championship game in Sacramento. The Monte Vista parents and student-athletes raised $1,100 to help McClymonds make the trip. To read more about the Monte Vista High School story, click here.
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The AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards celebrates all that’s right in sports. Hosted annually by the St. Louis Sports Commission and the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance, the event highlights the most remarkable examples of sportsmanship. It honors athletes and personalities from around the nation for their integrity, class, selflessness, perseverance, kindness, community service and overall commitment to sportsmanship. The event features a wonderful mix of major league superstars, local favorites, and individuals who bring with them the most amazing and heartwarming stories. They come together for one of the most meaningful and inspiring nights in sports.
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The AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards is the signature event of the St. Louis Sports Commission’s Sportsmanship Initiative. By recognizing outstanding individuals who set a high standard with their approach on and off the field, the organization hopes to set the tone for all parents, coaches and fans to be “good sports” and to pass those values on to children in the community. It’s the Sports Commission’s goal to make St. Louis a model community for good sportsmanship and home to America’s best sports. |
Citizenship Through Sports Alliance Members |
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