MLSE Chair LARRY TANENBAUM will be honored on May 20 with SBJ's Lifetime Achievement Award for his numerous contributions to professional sports, as he has "been a consistent believer in the power of sports" throughout his career. Tanenbaum had a "long-standing interest in sports and entertainment, first working to bring pro basketball to Toronto" in the early '90s. While that bid was "unsuccessful when the NBA went with JOHN BITOVE, Tanenbaum acquired a limited interest in the Maple Leafs." Tanenbaum in '98 "made his big move by playing a pivotal role" in acquiring the Raptors and Air Canada Centre, "forming Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and instantly becoming one of the largest sports organizations in the world." In '03, Tanenbaum's "profile grew" when he started in his current role. Over the years, he became "increasingly active in league affairs," serving as the NBA BOG Chair, while also having an "influential voice across the NHL and MLS." In addition, Tanenbaum and his wife, JUDY, have been "active and generous contributors to the Toronto community, donating hundreds of millions of dollars to various medical, health and social causes" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/2 issue).
