The Fourteenth Annual Sports Legends Awards

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 26, 2005) - The 14th Annual Sports Legends Awards, presented by The Paralysis Project of America, honored football’s Eric Dickerson, auto racing’s Andy Granatelli, Olympic track and field’s Bob Mathias, horse racing’s Earlie Fires, and sports broadcasting’s Fred Roggin in ceremonies held Saturday, Feb. 26, at The Omni Hotel in Los Angeles.

Hosted by ABC Sportscaster Al Michaels, the event also featured a special tribute to basketball’s Bill Sharman, who was presented the annual Wooden Award by Coach John R. Wooden.

Honorees for the Sports Legends Awards are selected annually for their contributions to sports by the Paralysis Project of America’s Business and Sports Councils. Headed by Don Newcombe and Bob Seagren, the Sports Council includes former Sports Legends Award winners Art Aragon, Pepper Davis, Roy Firestone, Jim Hill, Julie Krone Hovdey, Ann Meyers-Drysdale, Rafer Johnson, Jim Knaub, Jack Kramer, Joe Morgan, Bill Sharman, Mark Spitz, Al Unser, Rogie Vachon, Jamaal Wilkes and John Wooden.

In addition to the six honorees, Don and Roman Reed were presented with the Shoemaker Media Awareness Award for their activism in passing legislation to fund stem cell research at the State level. Sy and Reva Alban also received the Donald Watt Award for outstanding volunteer service to the organization.

Each year, the Sports Legends Awards offer the public a rare opportunity to meet and mingle with well-loved sports greats who once electrified audiences with their athletic performances. In addition to the Awards ceremony, the festivities include a reception, silent auction, and an acclaimed multimedia program with archival film footage of each honoree, produced by Emmy Awards producer and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Vice President John Leverence.

For additional information, contact The Paralysis Project of America at (323) 663-6554. Net proceeds benefit The Paralysis Project of America, founded by the parents of young people paralyzed by spinal cord injury, along with others dedicated to finding the ultimate cure for paralysis.

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CONTACT: Anna Miranda/Bonnie Winings/Barry Smith
Shepley Winings Diamond P.R.
(818) 760-7131
amiranda@shepwinpr.com / bwinings@shepwinpr.com / bsmith@shepwinpr.com

Photos from the 2005 Sports Legends Awards

Former Legends join the 2005 Honorees for a photo.
Standing (from left) Gary Stevens, Bob Seagren, Parnelli Jones,
Bob Mathias, Al Michaels, Don Newcombe, Eric Dickerson and Earlie Fires.
Seated (from left) Roman Reed, Andy Granatelli, Bill Sharman, Fred Roggin.

Coach John R. Wooden awaits the presentation of the Wooden Award
to longtime friend Bill Sharman.

Former Legend Laffit Pincay, attending the event
along with many members of The Jockey's Guild, honor
2005 Sports Legends Award recipient Earlie Fires.

Al Michaels visits with Bill Sharman during dinner.

Bob Seagren, Olympic Gold Medallist, presents the Sports Legends Award to Bob Mathias.

Parnelli Jones (left) and Andy Granatelli share a hug, after a historic
kiss, on stage at the Sports Legends Awards Dinner.

Eric Dickerson accepts the award from Host and former honoree Al Michaels.

Bob and Gwen Mathias share stories with Coach Wooden at the reception for honorees.

Jockey Legend Gary Stevens welcomes 2005 honoree from horse racing, Earlie Fires.

Fred Roggin praises the work of The Paralysis Project during his acceptance remarks.

THE JOHN R. WOODEN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Presented by the legendary UCLA coach who insisted that the sport is just not a game, but a key process of maturation. Given for sports achievements and accomplishments, which go beyond the athletic field. The members of the Paralysis Project's Sports Legends Council nominate the recipient.

1993 Recipient -- Roy Campanella
1994 Recipient -- Dr. Jerry Buss
1995 Recipient -- Tommy Lasorda
1996 Recipient -- Alan Rothenberg
1997 Recipient -- Chick Hearn
1998 Recipient -- Roy Firestone
1999 Recipient -- Little League Baseball,
A.Y.S.O. Soccer, Pop Warner Football
2000 Recipient -- Anita De Frantz
2001 Recipient -- Not Presented
2002 Recipient -- Jack Kramer
2003 Recipient -- Not Presented
2004 Recipient -- Rod Dedeaux
2005 Recipient -- Bill Sharman

THE "SHOE" MEDIA AWARENESS AWARD

Presented by Jockey Bill "The Shoe" Shoemaker to a person or entity for their efforts in raising disability awareness. The recipient is nominated by a Sports or Business Council member.

1999 Recipient -- HBO
2000 Recipient -- Dr. Jose Sulaiman
2002 Recipient -- "Swim with Mike" Mike Nyeholt and Ron Orr
2003 Recipient -- Sam Schmidt Foundation
2004 Recipient -- Mike Utley
2005 Recipient -- Don and Roman Reed