BEAVERTON — Graduated University of Portland women’s soccer players Christine Sinclair, Stephanie Cox and Michelle Enyeart are among the nominees for awards at The Oregon Sports Awards, an annual show honoring the state's best performers and performances held at the Nike World Campus.
The two-hour event, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Tiger Woods Center, salutes the state's top athletes, coaches, teams and more for their efforts in 2009 or lifetime achievements. Winners will be announced in 16 categories. A total of 80 finalists and winners were chosen by a statewide panel.
Enyeart is a finalist for the Bill Hayward Female Amateur Athlete of the Year, while Sinclair and Cox are finalists for the Harry Glickman Professional Female Athlete of the Year.
Ahmad Rashad, Emmy-winning broadcaster and former football star, will be the host for the fourth consecutive year. Rashad, a wide receiver and running back for the University of Oregon from 1969-71, played in four Pro Bowls and one Super Bowl during a 10-year NFL career.
Bill Schonely, the Portland Trail Blazers' founding broadcaster/ambassador, is back as show ambassador.
Doors open at 5 p.m., with hors d'oeuvres and a hosted bar before the show. Desserts and coffee will be available afterward.
Tickets are $50. To order, call Chelsea Corrado at SportsOne, 503-721-7477, ext. 24.
This will be the 58th year of the awards show. The event began in 1948 as the Hayward Banquet of Champions. It was discontinued after 1996 but returned in 2002 and has been held as the Oregon Sports Awards for the past nine years, with a new, stage-show format and many added award categories.
The event is sponsored by Nike, the Portland Tribune, Comcast SportsNet, Les Schwab Tires, Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors, Portland Trail Blazers, Dick’s Sporting Goods and SportsOne.
Comcast SportsNet will air this year's Oregon Sports Awards on several occasions: Tuesday, Feb., 2, 8 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 7, 9 p.m.; Monday, Feb. 8, 8 a.m.; Friday, Feb. 12, 9:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, Feb. 17, 6 p.m.
In addition, the show can be seen via Comcast On Demand beginning Feb. 13. Comcast Cable of Oregon digital cable customers may view it at no additional charge by going to Channel 1/sports and fitness/Comcast SportsNet/Oregon Sports Awards.
Categories with UP Ties…
Bill Hayward Amateur Athlete of the Year (female)
Ashley Charters, University of Washington softball
Michelle Enyeart, University of Portland soccer
Brianne Thiesen, University of Oregon track and field
Rebecca Ward, Duke University fencing
Rachel Yurkovich, University of Oregon track and field
Recent winners – Mariel Zagunis (2008), Stephanie Cox (2007), Brianne McGowan (2006), Christine Sinclair (2005), Mariel Zagunis (2004), Becky Holliday (2003), Christine Sinclair (2002), Felicia Ragland (2001)
Harry Glickman Professional Athlete of the Year (female)
Amy Yoder-Begley, track and field
Stephanie Cox, Los Angeles Sol/U.S. national soccer team
Kara Goucher, track and field
Christine Sinclair, FC Gold Price/Canadian national soccer team
Mariel Zagunis, fencing
Recent winners – Kara Goucher (2008), Kara Goucher (2007), Christine Sinclair (2006), Inge de Bruijn (2004), Maria Mutola (2003), Marla Runyan (2002), Tiffeny Milbrett (2001)