By Lori Leath Smith
Each February, many of the area’s top high school, collegiate, amateur, professional, Special Olympics athletes, and individuals who have fostered youth activities are honored during the annual All Sports Association’s (ASA) Awards Banquet. The ASA is a Northwest Florida non-profit organization whose primary mission is to help raise money for local youth-oriented non-profit organizations with an emphasis on sports programs. The annual awards banquet is used to identify, then recognize and honor some of the finest athletes from Northwest Florida who are contributing to their sports and their community. The recognized individuals not only excel in their sports, but also are at the top in academics and community involvement.
Synonymous for attracting the likes of NFL and MLB MVPs, Hall of Fame coaches, Super Bowl quarterbacks, award-winning journalists and LPGA major champions, this year is no exception. Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, Nick Saban, Bobby Bowden, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Tim Tebow and Herm Edwards are just a few former speakers. Now add two-time Cy Young winner and first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Tom Glavine.
Glavine is an American former professional baseball player. A pitcher, Glavine played in Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves (1987–2002, 2008), and New York Mets (2003–2007). With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine earned the second-highest number of wins as a pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux’s 176. He was a five-time 20-game winner and two-time Cy Young Award winner, and one of only 24 pitchers (and just 6 left-handers) in major league history to earn 300 career wins. He was the MVP of the 1995 World Series as the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians. On January 8, 2014, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, receiving 91.9% of the votes cast.
This year, the banquet returns to its roots and will be held at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Feb. 25 from 6-9 p.m. Other events include the 2022 Buck Smith FCA Breakfast with guest speaker Willie Spears on Feb. 25 at Northwest Florida State College Arena from 7-9:15, a golf outing and fish fry.
Through the efforts of the annual All-Sports banquet and summer golf tournament, and in addition to supporting our local high school athletic programs, the association helps fund numerous worthwhile sports organizations and charitable causes. The primary beneficiaries are the Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Special Olympics Florida- Okaloosa, Eleanor J. Johnson Youth Center and Okaloosa Walton FCA.
For more information, visit allsportsassociation.org.
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