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Sports Club Banquet: A Night To Celebrate

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

jjohnston@tampatrib.com

Published: February 14, 2009

TAMPA - Somewhere between his salad and dessert, Bucs coach Raheem Morris found himself surrounded by a line of autograph-seekers, about 15 deep, on Friday night.

While posing for a photograph, Morris noticed a man seated behind him.

It was Angelo Dundee, once the trainer of Muhammad Ali, now making his home in the Tampa Bay area.

"And these people want my autograph," Morris said. "Are you kidding me? Where am I?"

It was the Sports Club of Tampa Bay's 48th annual awards banquet, a collection of the best and brightest at Higgins Hall. Morris got the most attention, but even he had to dish off the credit.

"When you look at the people winning these awards, it's awfully impressive," Morris said. "And it speaks well for this area."

Two of the night's primary award winners attended the same high school. Three years apart, track athlete Damu Cherry and NFL wide receiver Michael Jenkins graduated from Leto. But they have something else in common - disappointment.

Cherry was two one-hundredths of a second from a medal last August at the Beijing Olympics, clocking a 12.65 in the 100-meter hurdles to finish fourth.

Jenkins enjoyed a turnaround season and had visions of competing in Tampa's Super Bowl XLIII, but his Atlanta Falcons were bounced from the NFC playoffs.

It wasn't Olympic gold or the Lombardi Trophy, but Cherry and Jenkins still collected some hardware from their hometown.

Cherry was named Outstanding Amateur Female Athlete, while Jenkins was recognized as the Outstanding Professional Athlete.

Jenkins, Atlanta's first-round draft choice from Ohio State in 2004, had 50 receptions for 777 yards and three touchdowns.

Cherry, competing in a track and field event in Paris, was unable to attend. But her parents, Don and Hassie Cherry, said they have been overwhelmed with the local support for their daughter.

"Everybody who goes to the Olympics wants a medal," Don Cherry said. "But getting an award like this means a lot."

Clearwater's Zach Railey, an Olympic silver medalist in sailing, was named the Outstanding Amateur Male Athlete.

Plant High's Class 4A state football champions were named the Outstanding Amateur Team, while the Town 'N Country 9-and-under baseball national champions captured the Outstanding Amateur All-Star Team award.

Additionally, the Coca Cola Golden Helmet Awards were presented to the top football players in Hillsborough County. Award winners were Lennard's Andrew Burdick (Class 1A-2A), Hillsborough's Lindsey Lamar (Class 3A-4A) and Chamberlain's Dontae Aycock (Class 5A-6A). Tampa Bay Tech's C.C. Culpepper was named Coach of the Year.

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