Release
JIM NANTZ WILL BE HONORED AS THE 2007 SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR BY THE ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SPORTS FOUNDATION ON JANUARY 26, 2008
(Costa Mesa, CA) - Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz, who has covered virtually every sport for the CBS Television Network since 1985, will be honored as the 2007 Sportsman of the Year when the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation (OCYSF) roasts him at a special banquet set for Saturday, January 26, 2008, at the Anaheim Marriott hotel starting at 7:00 pm
Nantz currently serves as the lead play-by-play announcer for The NFL on CBS having joined lead analyst Phil Simms on the Network's number one NFL announce team in 2004; anchor of CBS's golf coverage, including the Masters®, the PGA Championship; and lead play-by-play announcer for college basketball, including the Final Four and Championship game. In 2007, Nantz completed a rare broadcasting triple in a 63-day span. Starting with his call of Super Bowl XLI on Feb. 4, 2007, he became the first commentator in history to broadcast the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four and the Masters®.
"Jim Nantz is an outstanding broadcaster and we are delighted that he has made himself available to us for this year's banquet" said Ed Halverson, President of the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation Board of Directors. "The evening is a lot of fun and the money we raise helps make a difference in the lives of young people who live in Orange County."
Since 1971, the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation has enjoyed a proud tradition of celebrating the accomplishments of sports figures as a means of raising funds for boys and girls in the Orange County, CA community. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated well over a $1 million dollars to youth sports in the county. This includes scholarships to college bound scholar-athletes, field trips and improvements in sports facilities.
Last year, OCYSF honored Angels great Tim Salmon and more than 800 fans and friends packed the ball room to share memories with the baseball star. OCYSF past honorees include local and national sports greats like Tom Lasorda, Jerry West, Pete Carroll, Bill Walsh and Peter Ueberroth.
Nantz becomes only the second broadcaster selected by OCYSF, joining Dick Enberg who was honored in 1999.
Tickets for this year's banquet are now available. The cost for a table of 10 is $1,500, corporate tables of 10 are $2,500 each and individual tickets are $250. For more information about this year's banquet and silent auction or to purchase tickets, please call 714-250-8437 or go to http://www.ocysf.org/
About the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation
Originally named the "Orange County Sports Celebrities," a group of local Orange County residents held a banquet held each year at the Saddleback Inn in Santa Ana to have fun and raise money for young people. The founders include Paul Clearly, Bruce Gelker, Bob Hoyt, Chuck Potter and Paul Salata and their first
honoree was race car driver Dan Gurney. Later the group changed its name to the current moniker The Orange County Youth Sports Foundation. Today, more than 40 volunteers sit on the OCYSF board and help make an impact in the lives of young people in the community.
Presented every year since 1971, the Orange County Sportsman of the Year Award was established by the Foundation to honor individuals who serve as an inspiration to youth and who are leaders in both their sport and their community. The Orange County Youth Sports Foundation would also like to recognize The First American Corporation and Westar Associates for their longtime support.
PAST SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
2006 Tim Salmon -- Baseball
2005 Matt Leinart -- Football
2004 Pete Carroll -- Football
2003 Carson Palmer -- Football
2002 Bob Baffert - Horse Racing
2001 Mike Scioscia -- Baseball
2000 Bill Walsh -- Football
1999 Dick Enberg -- Sportscaster
1998 Jerry West -- Basketball
1997 Jackie Slater -- Football
1996 Terry Donahue -- Football
1995 25th Year Anniversary
1994 Bert Blyleven -- Baseball
1993 Jim Abbott -- Baseball
1992 John McKay -- Football
1991 Nolan Cromwell -- Football
1990 Augie Garrido -- Baseball
1989 Tom Lasorda -- Baseball
1988 John Hall -- Sportswriting
1987 John Robinson -- Football
1986 Tommy John -- Baseball
1985 Greg Louganis - Diving & Edwin Moses -- Track
1984 Peter Ueberroth -- Olympics
1983 Jack Youngblood -- Football
1982 Bill Mulligan -- Basketball
1981 Hal Sherbeck -- Football
1980 Gene Autry -- Baseball
1979 George Yardley -- Basketball
1978 Paul Salata - Bon Vivant, Football
1977 Donn Moomaw -- Football
1976 Sammy Lee - Olympic Diving
1975 Del Crandall -- Baseball
1974 Eddie West -- Sportswriting
1973 Clare Van Hoorbeke -- Football
1972 Rod Laver -- Tennis
1971 Dan Gurney - Auto Racing