True Heroes of Sport Honored at Sport in Society Annual Gala
(12-4-06) BOSTON, MASS. � The Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University was honored to induct tennis legend and women�s rights advocate Billie Jean King into the Sport in Society Hall of Fame at its annual True Heroes of Sport Gala, on Monday, December 4, 2006. Eli Segal was posthumously honored with the Lenny Zakim New England Hero Award, while Jean Driscoll received the Selma Black New England Hero Award. The Dick Schaap Excellence in Sports Journalism Awards were presented to The New York Times and Universal�s �Tank McNamara.� Samantha Brown, Sharrice Perkins, and Fabio Pires received the inaugural Kevin W. Fitzgerald Giving Back Award. Host of ESPN�s �Outside the Lines,� Bob Ley emceed the event.
As one of the 20th century�s most influential women, Billie Jean King has long been a champion for social change and equality. King created new opportunities for women on and off the court during her legendary career and continues to push the limits for women�s rights. On the court, King left an indelible mark. She shares the record of 20 Wimbledon titles with Marina Navratilova, won 71 singles titles (12 in Grand Slam events, including 4 at the United States Open). She was ranked No. 1 in the world five times and was in the Top 10 a total of 17 years. She was the first female athlete to have a national U.S. stadium named in here honor, the U.S.T.A. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The Sport in Society Hall of Fame was established in 1994 to recognize individuals that have made outstanding contributions to society through their participation in sport. King joined the ranks of Arthur Ashe, Red Auerbach, and Mohammed Ali when she was inducted at the annual True Heroes of Sport Awards Gala. This year�s event was made possible by our generous sponsors the Behrakis Foundation, Delphi Management, the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, and the Boston Red Sox.
Lenny Zakim New England Hero Award was awarded to the late Eli Segal. During his stint as assistant to the president, Segal made a lasting impact on hundreds of thousands of people through two highly successful service organizations, AmeriCorps and the Welfare to Work Partnership. In 2001, he received the Presidential Citizen�s Medal for service to the nation. He passed away on February 20, 2006. He is survived by his wife Phyllis; two children Jonathan and Mora; and two grandchildren. His son Jonathan accepted the award on his behalf.
Olympic gold medal marathoner Jean Driscoll knows the road to success is paved with hard work. Her dedication to persons with disabilities makes it an honor for Sport in Society to have presented her with the Selma Black New England Hero Award. Driscoll set the world record in the wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon and is the only athlete in any division to win the marathon eight times. She has won two Olympic silver medals and 12 Paralympics medals, was named Sports Women of the Year by the Women�s Sports Foundation and voted by Sports Illustrated for Women as one of the Top 25 Female Athletes of the 20th Century.
The Dick Schaap Excellence in Sports Journalism Awards honored two organizations that exemplify journalistic achievements that enhance our understanding of the impact of sport on our culture, The New York Times and Universal�s �Tank McNamara.� The New York Times� Pete Thamel accepted the award for his work on a series of articles tackling diploma mill high schools and college athletics. Creators Jeff Millar and Bill Hinds accepted the award for their work on �Tank McNamara,� a comic strip, which for more than 30 year has provided penetrating social commentary on sport�s most important issues.
Kevin W. Fitzgerald has devoted his life and career to help the children of Massachusetts. To honor his dedication, Sport in Society created the Kevin W. Fitzgerald Giving Back Award. In the tradition of community service and giving back, the award, in its inaugural year, was presented to three extraordinary youth who exemplify those values, Samantha Brown, Sharrice Perkins, and Fabio Pires.
About the Center for the Study of Sport in Society
The Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University is one of the world�s leading social justice organizations that use sport to create social change both nationally and internationally. The flagship organization located in the heart of Boston, Mass. was founded in 1984 by Dr. Richard Lapchick. Through research, education, and advocacy the center promotes physical activity, health, violence prevention, and diversity among young people and college and professional athletes. Sport in Society�s innovative programs are all staffed by former Olympic, college, or professional athletes and have been awarded America�s most successful violence prevention program by Lou Harris, the Peter F. Drucker Award as the most innovative non-profit program in the social sector, and most recently was recognized by the Boston Red Sox for its dedication and service to the community.
