NLL Names Executive Of The Year, Team Executive Awards And Writer Of The Year
Published on May 6, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
The naming of the 2008 National Lacrosse League season award winners continues today with the announcement of the 2008 NLL Executive of the Year Award, won by Minnesota Swarm President Tom Garrity. The league also announced today that Paul Tutka of NLLInsider.com has won the "Tom Borrelli Award" for NLL Writer of the Year for 2008 and the league revealed the winners of the 2008 Team Executive Award winners, honoring the individuals who work behind the scenes.
GARRITY NAMED EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Minnesota Swarm executive wins league honor
Tom Garrity has been named the 2008 National Lacrosse League Executive of the Year. Since Garrity took command as President & Governor of the Minnesota Swarm prior to the 2007 season, Swarm attendance has risen 36% from an average of 8,372 fans per game in 2006 to 11,405 in 2008. Garrity, a native of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, was named Marketing Executive of the Year in 2007.
Recent winners of the award include; Buffalo's Dave Zygaj (2007), Portland's Angela Batinovich (2006), Toronto's Les Bartley (2005) and Colorado's Steve Govett (2004).
PAUL TUTKA WINS "TOM BORRELLI AWARD" FOR WRITER OF THE YEAR
NLLInsider.com writer has given league unprecedented coverage in 2008
The 2008 winner of the "Tom Borrelli Award" presented to the Writer of the Year, is Paul Tutka of NLLInsider.com, a division of Inside Lacrosse Magazine. Tutka has established himself as one of the leading journalists covering the league, providing thorough and insightful coverage to the readers of both Inside Lacrosse Magazine as well as NLLInsider.com throughout the 2008 season.
Previous winners of the "Tom Borrelli Award" for Writer of the Year, include; Ty Pilson (2007, Calgary Sun), Sal Maiorana (2006, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle) and Mike Korreen (2005, Toronto Sun). The award is named in honor Tom Borrelli, the NLL Hall of Fame recognized beat writer for The Buffalo News and Lacrosse Magazine. Borrelli was the first member of the media to be recognized by the NLL Hall of Fame.
LEAGUE ANNOUNCES TEAM EXECUTIVE AWARDS
The National Lacrosse League has also announced the winners of the 2008 Team Executive Awards, which were created to honor those who work behind the scenes.
2008 Team Executive Awards:
Ticket Sales Executive of the Year - Joel Jordan, Minnesota Swarm
Marketing Executive of the Year - Brian Kitts, Colorado Mammoth
Operations Executive of the Year - Jimmy Butler, New York Titans
Sponsorships Executive of the Year - Dave Reeder, Colorado Mammoth
Public Relations Executive of the Year - Terri Workman, Toronto Rock
Additional 2008 Team Awards:
Equipment Manager of the Year - Jimmy Butler, New York Titans
Athletic Trainer of the Year - Sherri Lashomb, Buffalo Bandits
The National Lacrosse League will announce the winners of the league awards for the 2008 season from now until May 15th. The announcements continue on Wednesday with the Goaltender of the Year Award, presented by the US Navy. The announcements will continue over the next nine days, leading up to the announcement of the Most Valuable Player for the 2008 NLL season on Thursday, May 15th. The MVP announcement comes just prior to the weekend of the 2008 Edge NLL Championship Game, to be played on the weekend of May 16-18.
The schedule of announcements is as follows:
2008 NLL Season Awards
Monday 5/5
Sportsmanship Award, presented by Dodge (Dan Carey, Colorado Mammoth)
Community Service Award, presented by Progressive (Chris McElroy, Edmonton Rush)
Tuesday 5/6
Executive of the Year (Tom Garrity, Minnesota Swarm)
"The Tom Borrelli Award" for Writer of the Year (Paul Tutka, NLLInsider.com/Inside Lacrosse Magazine)
Ticket Sales Executive of the Year (Joel Jordan, Minnesota Swarm)
Marketing Executive of the Year (Brian Kitts, Colorado Mammoth)
Operations Executive of the Year (Jimmy Butler, New York Titans)
Sponsorships Executive of the Year (Dave Reeder, Colorado Mammoth)
Public Relations Executive of the Year (Terri Workman, Toronto Rock)
Equipment Manager of the Year (Jimmy Butler, New York Titans)
Athletic Trainer of the Year (Sherri Lashomb, Buffalo Bandits)
Wednesday 5/7
Goaltender of the Year, presented by the US Navy
Thursday 5/8
"Les Bartley Award" for Head Coach of the Year
General Manager of the Year
Saturday 5/10 Divisional Final Games
Monday 5/12
Defensive Player of the Year (for a defenseman, non-goaltender)
Transition Player of the Year
Tuesday 5/13
Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie Team
Wednesday 5/14
All-Pro Team
Thursday 5/15
NLL 2008 Most Valuable Player Award, presented by Reebok
(end of award announcements)
Friday 5/16 -- Sunday 5/18
2008 Edge NLL Championship Game (Date/Time TBD)
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 6, 2008
- NLL Honors Kroenke Sports Marketing And Sponsorship Personnel - Colorado Mammoth
- Swarm's Tom Garrity Named NLL Executive Of The Year And Joel Jordan Honored As Well - Minnesota Swarm
- NLL Names Executive Of The Year, Team Executive Awards And Writer Of The Year - NLL
- New York Titans' Quest For The Cup - Orlando Titans
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