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Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction honors Hines Ward
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From left, Mike Tomlin, Clint Hurdle, Jamie Dixon and Dan Bylsma. -
Bill Cowher and Hines Ward. -
Andrew McCutchen and Taylor Schram. -
Andrew McCutchen signs a ball for a fan. -
Veronica Stigeler, Bill Cowher, Hines Ward and Lindsey Georgalas. -
Cleave Randolph. -
Jason Hendricks, Devin Street and Ryan Mundy. -
Jimmie Sacco, Tracey DeAngelo and Dr. Freddie Fu. -
Post-Gazette president Joe Pepe and Vince Sands of BYN Mellon. -
Larry Richert and Manny Sanguillen. -
Rich Fitzgerald, Frank Coonelly and Bob Nutting.
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"My life is truly a modern-day Forrest Gump -- a box of chocolates," quipped Hines Ward as he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from his former coach Bill Cowher at the 77th Annual Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction on Wednesday. In addition to his 14 seasons as a Pittsburgh Steeler, Mr. Ward learned the art of ballroom dancing well enough to win "Dancing With the Stars." Then he laced up his oven mitts for "Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off," making it to the semifinals last week.
"My whole life has been about what I couldn't do in life -- that's why I go out and do these crazy TV shows," he told the crowd of 1,000 that packed the David L. Lawrence Convention Center ballroom. Growing up and not fitting in was a source of great motivation for Mr. Ward. "The Korean kids didn't want to play with me because I was black, the back kids didn't want to play with me because I was Korean, and the white kids didn't want to play with me because I was black and Korean!"
And after he donned the Steelers jersey, a lot of people didn't want to play against him because he was too good, holding the team record for catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He retired as a Steeler rather than join another team, citing his love for "the Steeler nation, this organization and this city." The crowd howled when he nodded to Mr. Cowher and added, "The one thing I don't miss at all is him spitting on my face all the time."
Joining Mr. Ward on the dais were sports figures including Dan Rooney, Art Rooney II, Pirates owner Bob Nutting and president Frank Coonelly, University of Pittsburgh athletic director Steve Pederson, former Pirates Bob Friend and Manny Sanguillen, Pittsburgh Passion owner Teresa Conn, John Banaszak, Steelers Antonio Brown and Ryan Mundy, coaches Mike Tomlin, Clint Hurdle, Dan Bylsma and Jamie Dixon and emcee Bill Hillgrove.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald were also in attendance, as were sponsors including Vince Sands of BNY Mellon and Tracey DeAngelo, president of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Dapper Dan Charities.
The dinner, which grossed $350,000, was preceded by cocktails and a VIP reception, where patrons got a chance to meet Mr. Ward and his fellow honorees. Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen was the Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year and Penn State soccer player Taylor Schram was honored as Sportswoman of the Year. Jimmie Sacco, Heinz Field's executive director of stadium management, received the Dr. Freddie Fu Sports Leadership Award.
Cleave Randolph was selected by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, the evening's beneficiary, as the Eat'n Park Dapper Dan Youth Athlete of the Year.
First Published February 12, 2013 12:00 am
