By Wandoo Makurdi
The 2007 Annual Salute to Girls and Women in Sports delivered a dose of inspiration and awe to New York City on October 15. More than 60 of the planet's top athletes and a handful of celebrities, including Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter and undefeated boxer Laila Ali, gathered at the Waldorf=Astoria to celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports. The event raised more than $1.5 million that will be turned into grants and education and advocacy-related programming.
The evening kicked off with the Grand March of Athletes, recognizing superstars in more than 50 sports. Athletes ranging from track legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee to Olympic medal-winning snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler were welcomed to the stage one-by-one by distance swimming legend and NPR commentator Diana Nyad. The climax moment of the March occurred as Billie Jean King, Founder of the Women's Sports Foundation, received thunderous applause and a standing ovation.
“This is my favorite event of the year. Of all the things I get to do, watching the athletes walk across the stage is so phenomenal,” said Grammy Award winner and self-proclaimed athlete, Sheryl Crow.
The awards portion of the show included presentations and moving acceptance speeches for the following honors:
The Billie Jean King Contribution Award went to the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, Michelle Kwan. Kwan was recognized for her significant contribution to the Women's Sports Foundation and to the development and advancement of women's sports by inspiring girls and women to become healthier through sports, fitness or physical activity. Always a forward thinker, Kwan proclaimed her continued commitment, “I look forward to working with the Foundation to provide more opportunities in sports.”
The Wilma Rudolph Courage Award, which is presented to a female athlete who exhibits extraordinary courage in her athletic performance and demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity, was shared by the Rutgers women's basketball team. The Rutgers team was the subject of offensive remarks from radio show host Don Imus after making it to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. Under the passionate leadership of Coach C. Vivian Stringer, the team showed exemplary poise and dignity in the wake of such bigotry.
The
Sportswoman of the Year Award, the top honors of the evening, went to Lorena Ochoa and Monica Abbott, individual and team Sportswomen of the Year. Ochoa dominated the LPGA tour, winning six titles in 2006 and taking over the top ranking on the tour from Annika Sorenstam in 2007. This year, Ochoa broke the single-year prize earnings record, winning more than $3 million.
The Sportswoman of the Year Award for team sport went to softball's Monica Abbott of the University of Tennessee. Abbott set the record for the most strikeouts in a single NCAA Division I season and pitched to a NCAA-best 50 wins with 29 shutouts. In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Abbott said, “I hope that I can be an inspiration to girls to work hard and achieve their goals. And I challenge all female athletes, not just to be role models, but to be ambassadors for women's sports.”
Later in the evening, a special tribute was made to one of the most influential ambassadors in the history of women's sports – Dr. Donna Lopiano. Lopiano stepped down from her position as CEO of the Women's Sports Foundation after 15 years at the helm. “Donna Lopiano has made a strong and lasting impression on the Women's Sports Foundation and her never-ending commitment to advance the lives of girls and women from all walks of life will forever be part of the organization's history,” said Ilana Kloss, chair of the Women's Sports Foundation's Board of Trustees.
The spirit of the Annual Salute was poetically captured by Essence Carson, captain of the Rutgers women's basketball team. “We thank the sport of basketball for bringing 10 young women together. We thank society for making us aware. We thank the media for allowing America to hear our story. We thank the Women's Sports Foundation for what it has done for women in sports for the past 30 years and this honor tonight. And lastly, we thank God for making us women.”
A special thanks to all the guests; to Gatorade, Advanta and ESPN, Co-presenters of the Annual Salute to Women in Sports; and to Jacob Neal for 25 years of providing salon services to athletes and presenters.
Editor's Note: One significant change in this year's event was the absence of the inductees into the International Women's Hall of Fame, which has been rescheduled to coincide with the opening of the Billie Jean King International Women's Sports Center at the Sports Museum of America.