Red Sox President Larry Lucchino Accepts Philly Sports Writers Assoc Team of the Year Award

On Monday, January 27, the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association held their 110th Annual Awards Banquet.

The Boston Red Sox received the Team of the Year Award and Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino came down from Boston to accept the award himself.

As a board member of the PSWA, and as a transplanted citizen of Red Sox Nation, I was honored that Mr. Lucchino made the trip down from Boston to personally accept the award. The man literally landed in Philly an hour before the banquet started and then had to get on a plane to fly home before the banquet was even over.

Class act, those Red Sox.

Full List of 2014 Philly Sports Writers Association Banquet Award Winners and Honored Guests

For 109 years, The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association (of which I am a board member) has recognized the accomplishments and character of the athletes we cheer for when they’re wearing their uniform, and we benefit from when they contribute to the community.

And this year is no different.

On Monday, January 27, the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association will hold their 110th Annual Awards Banquet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, NJ. The banquet, which is open to the public, opens its doors at 5:00 pm. Tickets are $95.00 per person and can be purchased at www.PSWADinner.com.

As usual, the dais will host some of the biggest names in sports, some of whom will be receiving awards (see the lists below) and others who have accepted invitations to be honored guests of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association, such as Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr., Phillies skipper Ryne Sandberg, Phillies third baseman Cody Asche, La Salle University Men’s Basketball coach Dr. John Giannini, University of Pennsylvania Men’s Basketball coach Jerome Allen and former Philadelphia Union defender Chris Albright. Adding his humor and multiple impersonations to the night’s festivities will be banquet staple local radio personality and comedian Joe Conklin.

2014 Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Traditional Award Winners:

*Philadelphia Pro Athlete – Danny Garcia (Light welterweight boxer: Undefeated light Welterweight Champion )

*Outstanding National Pro Athlete: LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles running back)

*Native Son: Bo Ryan (head coach of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Badgers men's basketball team)

*Living Legend: Bill Barber (former Philadelphia Flyers forward)

*Athlete Good Guy: Jason Avant (Philadelphia Eagles receiver)

*Team of the Year: Boston Red Sox

*Amateur Athlete: Rondell White (West Chester University running back)

*Lifetime Achievement Award: Bernard Hopkins (Middleweight Boxer: multi-champion/belt holder)

*Ed Snider Lifetime Distinguished Humanitarian: Jim Murray (former Philadelphia Eagles general manager, founder of the Eagles Fly for Lukemia campaign, founder of first Ronald McDonald House)

*Penn Relays Frank Dolson Award: Emily Lipari (Villanova University)

*Army/Navy Game MVP: Keenan Reynolds (Navy quarterback)

*1973 & 1974 Stanley Cup Commemoration: Bernie Parent & Bob Clarke (former Philadelphia Flyers goalie and former Philadelphia Flyers captain)

2014 Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Special Achievement Award Winners:

*Wayne Hardin (Temple University & Naval Academy football coach, College Football Hall of Fame inductee)

*Tim Van Liew (Rutgers-Camden track & field: javelin)

*Denise Dillon (Head Coach, Drexel University Women’s basketball)

* Jay Greenberg (Philadelphia Flyers beat writer, Hockey Hall of Fame inductee)

*Eastern High School Field Hockey (14 straight N.J. State Field Hockey championships and this year won N.J. Tournament of Champions)

2014 Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Honored Guests:

*Lou Guzzi (PGA Teacher of the Year)


*Carolyn Gray (Philadelphia & Boston Marathon runner)


*Brandon Matthews (Temple University golfer)


*Michael Mills (University of Pennsylvania fencer)


*Alfredo Santana (La Salle University men’s track)


* John Robertson (Villanova University quarterback)


*Mo Hawkins (St. Joseph’s University women’s soccer)


*Ken Tribbet (Drexel University men’s soccer)


*Kristen Blye (Philadelphia University women’s basketball)


*Marcelin Withler (Rowan University running back)

Boston Red Sox are Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Team of the Year

To those who follow sports, and to those who understand the impact sports can have on the lives of those who follow them, it will come as no surprise that the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox have been named the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Team of the Year.

On the surface, and just on the surface, the Red Sox deserve the title for their incredible “worst-to-first” season that saw them rise from the ashes. A team in complete disarray in 2012, the Red Sox once again set the standard for hard work, excellent play, and for finding ways to win with different games turning different players into heroes throughout the 2013 season.

But the Red Sox are so much more than wins and losses to the citizens of Boston.

It is often said among the members of Red Sox Nation that baseball is not a matter of life or death, but the Red Sox are.  And immediately after two explosions ripped through the finish line of the Boston Marathon last April, the Red Sox proved that they are life to the City of Boston.

The Sox did everything right. Understanding their role to the city, they provided a distraction to help  forget the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy. Simultaneously, they made sure the victims and heroes were not forgotten. Both seemed to really drive their desire, more than usual, to bring the World Series trophy back to Boston. When they played, win or lose, Boston was happy. When they asked, Boston gave to the charities that were helping those who lost life and limb.  The Sox kept Boston in their hearts, and in their dugouts, displaying home and away jerseys with "Boston Strong" where a player's name would go. Boston was their 10th man.

The Red Sox will receive their award on Monday, January 27, at the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association 110th Annual Awards Banquet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, NJ. The banquet, which is open to the public, opens its doors at 5:00 pm. Tickets are $95.00 per person and can be purchased at www.PSWADinner.com.

As a board member of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association, I could not be happier with the selection and don't mind telling you I was VERY in favor of the Sox being the Team of the Year. I'm a transplanted Bostonian living in and around Philadelphia since 1994. I wear my Sox cap proudly, and my accent is picked on daily. I have a lot of family in and around Boston, some of which were standing at the marathon finish line, between where the bombs went off and got away unscathed. And I can tell you that after crying together in April, it was incredible to cheer together in October.

(Hey, Boston.com's Obnoxious Boston Fan column quoted me about the Sox and their Team of the Year Award. I love that column!)