ESPN Wins Three Categories At Sports Business Awards In N.Y.

Bodenheimer wins Exec of the Year at Sports Business Awards

ESPN was the biggest winner at the fourth annual Sports Business Awards, held last night at the Marriott Marquis in N.Y. The net took home the awards for Best in Sports Television, Best in Sports Media and Executive of the Year. In accepting the award for Executive of the Year, ESPN/ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer dedicated the award to the company’s 6,500 employees. “For ESPN and our culture, there is no I, only we,” he said.

The night was dotted with surprise winners, with the ING N.Y. Marathon winning Event of the Year, the NHL winning for League of the Year, and GMR Marketing taking the nod for Best in Corporate Consulting. The SBJ/SBD Lifetime Achievement Award was given to sports pioneer Billie Jean King, who was introduced in front of the 625 attendees in a surprise appearance by Chris Evert, a longtime friend and competitor.

In other highlights, the Univ. of Texas’ DeLoss Dodds won Athletic Director of the Year, and the MLB Giants won in the competitive Team of the Year category. Below is the full list of winners.

See today's issue of THE DAILY for more on the awards and the ceremony.