Golfer Billy Andrade has been named this year’s recipient of the PGA Tour’s Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern CompanyGetty Images
Golfer BILLY ANDRADE has been named this year’s recipient of the PGA Tour’s Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company. The award is presented annually by the PGA Tour to a progolfer who best exemplifies Stewart’s values of character, charity and sportsmanship. "It is the highest honor in my golfing career," said Andrade, who told SBJ that he was speechless when he was told he won the award. "To be recognized with this amazing award from a guy I knew very, very well, it's really special. I'm going to be the 25th person on that board. I played against all those guys -- and they all did it the right way. They're part of this group that I can now put myself with. That's really special" (Eric Prisbell, SBJ).
ACKERMAN HONORED: Big East Commissioner VAL ACKERMAN is one of this year’s recipients of the Joe Lapchick Character Award. The award, presented by the foundation that bears its name, goes to "those who have shown the character traits of Lapchick." Ackerman and the other recipients will be honored at a luncheon on Sept. 16 in N.Y. (AP, 7/12).
NAMES: Under Armour founder KEVIN PLANK and Ravens owner STEVE BISCIOTTI have invested in Conscious Venture Partners, a fund “aimed at supporting companies that use technology to break down barriers in areas" such as health care, food and education (BALTIMORE SUN, 7/13)....Warriors F DRAYMOND GREEN joins Pro Football HOFer HERB ADDERLEY as members of the 2022 Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame Class. Inductions will take place September 9 (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/13)....Cardinals WR DEANDRE HOPKINS is part of a four-person ownership group that has bought the Women's National Football Conference's Houston franchise (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/13)....Paradigm Sports has signed Turkish Gold Medal-winning wrestler TAHA AKGÜL for representation. Paradigm combat sports manager DAVID FISH is representing him. Akgül was not previously represented by an agency, but Fish will work alongside Akgül’s longtime advisors MARKUS WIRTH and SERDAR TOPCU (Liz Mullen, SBJ).
