81st annual Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction
When and where: Wednesday night at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.
For the recipients of the Dapper Dan awards, it may seem as though they are walking through history. After all this prestigious awards show has seen Mickey Mantle walk the red carpet in his day, and more recently Franco Harris, among other legendary sports stars. “I feel like I should pinch myself, this is a big part of Pittsburgh’s history,” said Lifetime Achievement Award winner Rocky Bleier as he scanned the room. What words of wisdom would he tell his younger self? “Don’t be so insecure,” he said with a smile. “The key is to be more confident in your choices, and to learn from your mistakes.” Mel Blount, the Dr. Freddie Fu Leadership Award winner, came over to shake hands with Mr. Bleier and added his thoughts: “I would’ve told myself to appreciate Pittsburgh more. I wasn’t here very much during the off season, and the time I spent here, I came to realize how beautiful the city and the people were. I wish I would have spent more time here earlier on in my career.”
#RowLikeAGirl: The Sportswoman of the Year awardee, Amanda Polk, an Oakland Catholic alumna, went on to row her way to a gold medal during the 2016 summer Olympics. What was it like realizing that dream with her teammates? “I really loved the team dynamic. You have to be in rhythm and in solidarity with everyone around you. It’s a selfless sport.” And how did she stay focused knowing that a gold medal could be in the future? “I didn’t think about it like that,” she said. “The key for me was to make small attainable goals and hit those first, like markers along the way. Stay present, be present.”
#SEEN: Dapper Dan Sportsmen of the Year general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins Jim Rutherford and head coach, Mike Sullivan, who helped put the Penguins back on top; Cindy Citrone who donned a cowboy hat to introduce Mel Blount (in his signature style) during the awards ceremony; #SEENMostDapper: Steelers linebacker Steven Johnson; Bob Nutting; former Steeler Robin Cole; former wrestler Bruno Sammartino; Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald; Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon CEO Patrice Matamoros; Chip Ganassi; Ned Schano and Becca Rozic; Tara Rieland; Don and Trice Micheals; and Brady Smith. Also attending were the Post-Gazette’s Lisa and John Hurm, Sue Smith, David Shribman, Tracey DeAngelo and Jim Iovino.