THE CROWD:Making sports possible with Hank

Legendary baseball great Hank Aaron was honored by Westcoast Sports Associates with the 11th annual Roy Firestone Award. The sports hero joined his wife Billye for multiple standing ovations before a sold-out crowd at the Omni Hotel, Los Angeles. The dinner event, sponsored by Westcoast Sports Associates, a nonprofit organization established in 1995 dedicated to assisting underprivileged youth by “making sports possible” raised a net amount of $150,000. Funds earmarked for various projects around Southern California provide uniforms, shoes, coaches and referees, transportation, park restoration and more to enable young people to participate in sports programs that might help to improve their lives.

Westcoast Sports was founded by four prominent Southern California businessmen — W. Chip Eggers, Mike Rosenberg, Allen Lynch, president of the organization, and Newport Beach resident Mike Gottlieb. They share a bond of growing up involved in sports. Westcoast Sports Associates has grown into a powerhouse of financial as well as hands-on action to make a difference in the lives of economically disadvantaged children. The organization funds multiple youth sports programs in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Benefactors include AYSO, Team Prime Time Sports, Students Run LA, Pepperdine University, Salvation Army Sports Camp, and View Park Prep Leadership Camp.

From the outset, respected sports broadcaster Roy Firestone joined the team and he has become the celebrity cornerstone of the annual fundraiser. Firestone is an impassioned and dynamic emcee who has delivered major sports stars to front the awards banquet that was inaugurated in 1996 with Firestone as the first honoree. Organizers decided to name the award in his honor, and it has subsequently been given to Jim Brown, John Wooden, Sugar Ray Leonard, Wayne Gretzky, Howie Long, Cal Ripken Jr., Terry Bradshaw, Arnold Palmer, and Steve Young. A most impressive roster.

Even more impressive is the format. In addition to the traditional biographical presentation and tributes from contemporaries, Firestone sits down on stage with the honoree and conducts a one-on-one, up-close-and-personal interview with the sports legend. The crowd of more than 700 guests eavesdrops on what is, at times, a serious personal conversation.

With Hank Aaron, no punches were pulled, with all due respect to one of the greatest baseball heroes in American sports history. Firestone questioned Aaron on racism in baseball in his early career, steroid use, and stratospheric salaries for today’s players and more. Aaron was candid. “There is no question that my career, my life, was subject to racial barriers,” he said with quiet dignity. The man who holds a major league batting record of 755 home runs and 2,297 RBIs was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N.Y., in 1982. Today, with his accomplished wife Billye, Aaron oversees the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation which also benefits underprivileged youth. Westcoast Sports Associates will contribute a significant portion of funds raised at the event to Aaron’s charity.

Prior to the dinner tribute, a massive silent auction and cocktail meet and greet kicked off the party. Executive committee members of Westcoast Sports Associates welcomed the large turnout. In the crowd were Alex Marr, Debbie Spander, an entertainment attorney with Comedy Central, and dedicated volunteer responsible for much of the event production, Jason Turner, Nick Westley, Bernie Zaia and Tony Pritzker. Also up front for the organization were Newport’s Paul McDonald, a former football star representing Orange County’s First American Title Corp., Sam Lagana of Pepperdine University, Gregg Kirkpatrick, Martin Morgenstern, also of Newport Beach, Ann White, Tim Tessalone of USC Sports Information, Blain Skinner of the Los Angeles Lakers, and high-profile Newport attorney George Wall.

Major underwriting sponsorship for the event, which also included a live auction of sports memorabilia and travel opportunities, came from Wells Fargo Foothill Corporate Headquarters, Union Bank of California, Griffin Industries, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Lakers, GE Commercial Finance, the Pritzker Group, Credit Suisse, Milbank, US Trust, and Barrington Investment Bankers, to name only a few.

It was an evening of toasts, tributes, and plenty of nostalgia honoring a great athlete helping to pave the way for the next generation of kids chasing their own dream.

To find out more about the work of Westcoast Sports Associates, call Mike Gottlieb at (714) 546-3465.

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