Dear Sports Fan - The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association invites you to join us in a salute to the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies and much, much more when we host our 105th annual awards dinner on Jan. 26.

This storied banquet, the oldest sports dinner of its kind in the country, never fails to provide local sports fans with plenty of entertaining moments.

The dinner this year, at the Crowne Plaza on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, will be an especially up-beat affair as we honor the Phillies for their dream season with the Team of the Year award. Manager Charlie Manuel will accept the Team of the Year hardware for the second straight season.

A “perfect” addition to the dais is Phil’s closer Brad Lidge, who held every lead he was given all season to earn our annual Outstanding Pro Athlete Award.

Also, the Phillies will be displaying their World Series trophy for the fans to view; for a fee, you can even have your photo snapped with the distinctive trophy.

Other highlights will be:
* Sheldon Brown, hard-hitting cornerback of the Eagles, will receive the Good Guy award
* Former Flyers great Bernie Parent is our Living Legend
* Adam Taliaferro, out of Eastern Regional H.S. in Voorhees and Penn State, who made an inspirational recovery from a devastating spinal injury suffered in a game, is honored as Humanitarian of the Year
* Record-setting receiver Mike Washington, from West Chester University, will receive the Outstanding Amateur award
* Steve Sabol, the man behind NFL Films, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award
* The dais will include Temple University basketball star Dionte Christmas; Ryan Kulik, of Marlton, N.J., a star pitcher for Rowan University who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals; and other college and professional athletes
* Sports comedian Joe Conklin
* Much more

For the most up-to-date information about the dinner, or to purchase tickets ($75 each), click here.

You can also get tickets by mailing a check (payable to PSWA) to: Robbie Kenney, PSWA Tickets, 110 Harrogate Dr., Lumberton, NJ 08048

Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., and prior to the banquet, there will be a silent of auction of sports memorabilia, and book-signings by Philadelphia Sports Writers Association members.

Thank you,

Robbie Kenney
Ticket chairman

Mailed: January 7, 2009

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 at 5:58 pm.
Categories: Letters.

8 Comments, Comment or Ping

  1. Richard Heyman

    Is seating first come first serve or do the tickets have assigned seats? I ask since I’ve never attended before and am curious how close (or far back) we’d be sitting?

    Thanks

    Richard

    Jan 9th, 2009

  2. PSWA

    Seating is assigned by table: In other words, 12 people will get a ticket for table 17; 12 people will get a ticket for table 18 … and so on …

    I can tell you, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.

    We have been doing this for 105 years, and everybody seems to come away happy, year after year.

    I hope this helps.

    Robbie Kenney
    PSWA ticket chairman

    Jan 9th, 2009

  3. David

    Will Brad Lidge sign autographs?

    Jan 12th, 2009

  4. Chrissy

    What is the dress for the event?

    Jan 12th, 2009

  5. PSWA

    Will Brad Lidge sign autogrpahs?

    I tried to answer that very common question - about autograph opportunities - on the FAQ page …

    “Can I get autographs or photographs?
    Yes … and no. We have had some guests who have gone above-and-beyond, signing autographs late into the night. Wilt Chamberlain and Hershel Walker were especially accommodating. But our guests are under no obligation to sign autographs; they are not paid to appear at our dinner, and the dinner is not designed or marketed as an autograph-signing event. We ask that you treat our guests with respect, and do not approach the dais during dinner or the speaking portion of the evening.”

    I hope that helps!

    Jan 12th, 2009

  6. PSWA

    What is the dress for the event?

    I’d say, dress for a job interview. Most men in attendance will have a jacket and tie, but some will go casual with a pair of dockers and a sweater. Anything in between is acceptable. For the women, the range is from business casual to Sunday dress.

    Jan 12th, 2009

  7. chris florentino

    Are children the age of 11 allowed at this dinner.

    Jan 15th, 2009

  8. PSWA

    They certainly are, unfortunately, there is no youth discount for tickets.

    In earlier times, the Sports Writers dinner was a bawdy affair, neither fit for children nor easily embarrassed women.

    But times have changed, and now, although there may be a rough joke now and again, the atmosphere is fine for all, and some of our most loyal ticket-buyers are female sports fans!

    You’re 11 year old would fit in just fine.

    Jan 15th, 2009

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