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Hundreds of sports fans came out to honor some of the best athletes in Fairfield County, past and present, Monday night at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich at the sixth annual Fairfield County Sports Commission SportsNight. Honorees from 15 towns as well as six new inductees into the commission's Hall of Fame were recognized for their achievements in front of family, friends, and the many people who make quality sports possible in the county.
"It was a terrific turnout and a great show of support from the community, which is what we always hope for," commission Chairman Tom Chiappetta said. "We're fortunate the community rallies around this event."
The commission inducted Stamford natives Amanda Pape, Garry Cobb and the late Mickey Lione Jr. into its Hall of Fame. Pape was a record-setting basketball player for Trinity Catholic (1999-2003) and Sacred Heart University (2003-07). Cobb was a three-sport standout at Stamford High in the mid-1970s and was part of two Rose Bowl-winning University of Southern California football teams. He spent 10 seasons in the NFL with the Lions, Eagles and Cowboys. Lione, who died in 1999, was head baseball and hockey coach at Trinity Catholic.
Sports Persons of the Year were named in 15 towns, including Tony Farren of Darien, Tyler Colby of Easton, the Fairfield American Little League All-Stars for Fairfield, Cam Atkinson of Greenwich, the New Canaan girls ice hockey team, Kevin Pierre-Louis and Silas Redd Jr. of Norwalk, the Westhill girls soccer team, Brian McMahon of Weston and Bob Davis of Westport.
Main Street Connect's own sports editor, Tom Renner, was awarded the 2010 Bill Gonillo Local Sports Media Award. The commission recognizes members of the media who emulate Gonillo's passion for local sports.
"We've had honorees come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, Texas and Florida," Chiappetta said. "They have their roots here and their family and friends here, so this is an opportunity for us to combine the two. That's really what is the pleasure for us."
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