When are the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards? How to watch on Rock Sports Network
The annual ceremony recognizing the best athletes in the Cleveland sports scene will air on the Rock Entertainment Sports Network (Channel 22.1 over-the-air) and WUAB (Channel 43) from 7-10 p.m.
The ceremony will feature presenters and appearances from those who've played significant roles in Cleveland sports with this year's ceremony featuring a tribute to late Cleveland sports broadcasting legend, Jim Donovan, the voice of the Cleveland Browns who died this fall.
Also on tap: a reunion of the 1995 American League Championship Cleveland baseball team. Cleveland Cavs owner Dan Gilbert will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Pre-show coverage begins at 7 p.m.
Akron-Canton athletes up for awards include:
Harold Fannin Jr. (male collegiate athlete of the year), who starred at Canton McKinley High School and was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference.
Melissa Holzopfel (female collegiate athlete of the year) who starred at Perry High School and is the currently playing for the Cleveland State University softball team.
Denzel Ward (professional athlete of the year) who stars at cornerback for the Cleveland Browns and is the team's 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year who attended high school at Nordonia.
Single tickets for the awards in sections 112-114 are available for $75 (loaded with $10 in concessions, on-site games and activities and exclusive after party with cash bar, dessert stations and disc jockey). Tickets can be purchased on their website.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Greater Cleveland Sports Awards to air live across local channels
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Eric Allen turns 14-year career as a standout cornerback into a Hall of Fame nod
Among all of the impressive accomplishments that helped Eric Allen make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the fact that he maintained his elite level of play so he never had to move from cornerback in his 14 seasons stands out. From his first game as a rookie as part of Buddy Ryan's fierce defenses in Philadelphia in 1988 to his final game as a savvy veteran for the Oakland Raiders in 2001, Allen shut down opposing receivers as well as anybody. 'I take tremendous pride in that,' Allen said. 'But to be able to be on the corner from day one to the last game of my career, being a starter and being an effective player, it means a lot. ... I'm not a DB, I'm a corner. I'm not going to be all snobby. But it's different positions.' And few played it as well as Allen and now he had gotten the ultimate recognition when he will be officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday. "I played against a lot of really good corners. I think Eric was one of the smartest I've played against," said Rich Gannon, who played against Allen early in his career and was a teammate at the end with the Raiders when Allen and Charles Woodson would match up against Jerry Rice and Tim Brown in heated practice sessions. 'He was really clever. He jumped certain routes, recognized certain things. He's one of those guys, if you're going to throw in his direction, you better see him. You just can't put your foot in the ground and think the receiver's got separation. He'd bait you. He'd act like he got beat or he was off. He had great recovery skill, good recovery speed. There just wasn't a lot of weakness in his game.' Allen credits his preparation for his success that included six Pro Bowl berths, one All-Pro selection in 1989, two second-team selections and 54 interceptions. Allen grew up playing both ways and envisioned himself as being Marcus Allen, growing up in San Diego. Those running back skills paid dividends in the NFL with nine interceptions returned for touchdowns, including one in a playoff win for Philadelphia over New Orleans in the 1992 season and a league-leading four in the 1993 season alone. "That always seemed like a requirement for the position, don't just intercept it but when you catch it, run. That's your opportunity to show your moves," he said. 'So when you get the ball, it's your time to turn to Marcus Allen. It was a requirement. If you play the cornerback, if you catch the ball and you get to try and score.' Allen's career started in Philadelphia in 1988 with his rookie season ending with a playoff loss in the famous 'Fog Bowl' game at Chicago. It ended with another famous playoff loss when the Raiders lost to New England in the 'Tuck Rule' game following the 2001 season. 'That's crazy,' he said. 'I talk about that a lot too. Two things that were definitely beyond our control.' Allen's biggest memory of the Tuck Rule game came just before that fateful play when he overheard Tom Brady and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis discuss the play call that had a slant as the first option. Allen told linebacker William Thomas to cover the first open widow and Allen was there to jump the route if Brady waited — which is exactly what happened but Woodson forced what was called a fumble on the field only to get overturned on a replay that still haunts the Raiders from that game today. When coach Jon Gruden was traded away from Oakland a few weeks later, Allen decided it was time to retire and missed the Raiders run to the Super Bowl in 2002. 'I just thought that was maybe the perfect time to book end my career,' he said. All that was left was the wait for the call from the Hall of Fame that came earlier this year when former Arizona State teammate Randall McDaniel delivered the news. 'The people around me, my circle, it really kind of relieved for them,' Allen said. 'I was never panicked or ever in a situation where, oh, man, I'm not going to get in. I came to peace about this a long time ago, Whenever I get in will be perfect.' ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
Eric Allen turns 14-year career as a standout cornerback into a Hall of Fame nod
Among all of the impressive accomplishments that helped Eric Allen make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the fact that he maintained his elite level of play so he never had to move from cornerback in his 14 seasons stands out. From his first game as a rookie as part of Buddy Ryan's fierce defenses in Philadelphia in 1988 to his final game as a savvy veteran for the Oakland Raiders in 2001, Allen shut down opposing receivers as well as anybody. 'I take tremendous pride in that,' Allen said. 'But to be able to be on the corner from day one to the last game of my career, being a starter and being an effective player, it means a lot. ... I'm not a DB, I'm a corner. I'm not going to be all snobby. But it's different positions.' And few played it as well as Allen and now he had gotten the ultimate recognition when he will be officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday. 'I played against a lot of really good corners. I think Eric was one of the smartest I've played against,' said Rich Gannon, who played against Allen early in his career and was a teammate at the end with the Raiders when Allen and Charles Woodson would match up against Jerry Rice and Tim Brown in heated practice sessions. 'He was really clever. He jumped certain routes, recognized certain things. He's one of those guys, if you're going to throw in his direction, you better see him. You just can't put your foot in the ground and think the receiver's got separation. He'd bait you. He'd act like he got beat or he was off. He had great recovery skill, good recovery speed. There just wasn't a lot of weakness in his game.' Allen credits his preparation for his success that included six Pro Bowl berths, one All-Pro selection in 1989, two second-team selections and 54 interceptions. Allen grew up playing both ways and envisioned himself as being Marcus Allen, growing up in San Diego. Those running back skills paid dividends in the NFL with nine interceptions returned for touchdowns, including one in a playoff win for Philadelphia over New Orleans in the 1992 season and a league-leading four in the 1993 season alone. 'That always seemed like a requirement for the position, don't just intercept it but when you catch it, run. That's your opportunity to show your moves,' he said. 'So when you get the ball, it's your time to turn to Marcus Allen. It was a requirement. If you play the cornerback, if you catch the ball and you get to try and score.' Allen's career started in Philadelphia in 1988 with his rookie season ending with a playoff loss in the famous 'Fog Bowl' game at Chicago. It ended with another famous playoff loss when the Raiders lost to New England in the 'Tuck Rule' game following the 2001 season. 'That's crazy,' he said. 'I talk about that a lot too. Two things that were definitely beyond our control.' Allen's biggest memory of the Tuck Rule game came just before that fateful play when he overheard Tom Brady and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis discuss the play call that had a slant as the first option. Allen told linebacker William Thomas to cover the first open widow and Allen was there to jump the route if Brady waited — which is exactly what happened but Woodson forced what was called a fumble on the field only to get overturned on a replay that still haunts the Raiders from that game today. When coach Jon Gruden was traded away from Oakland a few weeks later, Allen decided it was time to retire and missed the Raiders run to the Super Bowl in 2002. 'I just thought that was maybe the perfect time to book end my career,' he said. All that was left was the wait for the call from the Hall of Fame that came earlier this year when former Arizona State teammate Randall McDaniel delivered the news. 'The people around me, my circle, it really kind of relieved for them,' Allen said. 'I was never panicked or ever in a situation where, oh, man, I'm not going to get in. I came to peace about this a long time ago, Whenever I get in will be perfect.' ___ AP NFL:
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
The Browns are making an obvious Joe Flacco error in training camp
Day 3 moments from #Browns QB Joe Flacco:Flacco got first 11-on-11 reps today The Cleveland Browns have maybe the most interesting quarterback battle we've ever seen taking place at training camp this summer; a four-way competition between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. But if the Browns are being real with themselves, this battle isn't nearly as interesting as they're making it seem. Let's be honest here. The Browns won't win many games in 2025 -- and that's a generous way of saying they're going to stink. They're projected to finish last in the AFC North at BetMGM and have -1100 odds to miss the playoffs. Looking at the QB battle through that lens crystallizes what Cleveland should be trying to do: finding out who can stick beyond 2025. Which brings us to Flacco. Why is he out there taking reps from players who need them a lot more? That question is mostly rhetorical. After trading for Pickett in March, the Browns signed Flacco in early April before knowing the opportunity to draft both Gabriel and Sanders would present itself. They were never going to cut him on account of two rookies who remain question marks. Besides, even the Browns have to give the impression of hope going into a new season, and Flacco provides the most as a chiseled vet and former Super Bowl champion. But the reality is he's not good enough to elevate this team, which means he's only in the way. Even as the best QB on the roster, which isn't a high bar to clear. Pickett still has potential upside as a 27-year-old former first-round pick who the Browns gave up a fifth-rounder to acquire from the Eagles. The other two also have untapped potential. Especially Sanders, who was a projected first-round pick before sliding to the fifth and becoming un-passable for a team as QB-desperate as the Browns. The Athletic's Zac Johnson wrote this morning that Flacco "has been up and down and has rarely strung completions together," which doesn't exactly sound like somebody head and shoulders above the competition. If anything, Flacco is just a good vet for the Browns to have during the preseason. Especially with Pickett now nursing a hamstring injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. NFL HELMET RANKINGS: See where the Browns' new alternate look ranks in 2025 Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday's practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources. Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps… In a QB battle full of uncertainty, Flacco is the one known quantity. And what we know about him is enough to say he's not worth blocking opportunities for the others to play, show what they can do and grow. So, unless the Browns plan to trade Gabriel or Sanders, it wouldn't make much sense for them to keep Flacco into the regular season. In 2025, he doesn't need to be anything more than an insurance backup for a team actually playing for something. Ichiro got jokes The National Baseball Hall of Fame enshrined five new members Sunday, with Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dave Parker and Dick Allen all part of the 2025 class inducted into Cooperstown. Ichiro used his speech to crack a few jokes, including one aimed at the lone voter who left Ichiro off his ballot. "3000 hits or 262 hits in one season are achievements recognized by the writers, well, all but one of you"Ichiro Suzuki I'm glad he made it a point to highlight the ridiculousness of one person (out of 394!) leaving him off the ballot, though I really wish Ichiro could've put a name on that zinger. Unfortunately, he couldn't because baseball writers don't have to make their ballots public, which is a shame. It's the exact reason Ichiro wasn't the first snub as a unanimous selection and he won't be the last. Quick Hits: Terry McLaurin update ... Commander in Cheat ... and more Thanks for tapping in with us. We'll be back with more tomorrow. This was For The Win's daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here.
