Each year, the United States Sports Academy honors leaders in
\nsport through its Awards of Sport program. Recipients come from
\nall arenas and positions in sport, but share the common characteristic
\nthat they are leaders in their area and have made outstanding
\ncontributions to national or international sport through education,
\nresearch, or service.<\/p>\n
There are twelve awards in the Medallion Series, each honoring
\na different aspect of sport.<\/p>\n
They are: The Eagle Award<\/p>\n <\/strong> is the Academy’s highest award. The eagle <\/p>\n The Ronald Reagan Media Award.<\/p>\n <\/strong> Named for the 40th president, The Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award.<\/p>\n <\/strong> The Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award.<\/p>\n <\/strong> Stagg, “The The IOC President’s Disabled Athlete Award.<\/p>\n <\/strong> His Excellency, The Dwight D. Eisenhower Fitness Award.<\/p>\n <\/strong>Named for the The Jackie Robinson Humanitarian Award.<\/p>\n <\/strong> Robinson broke The Theodore Roosevelt Meritorious Achievement Award.<\/p>\n <\/strong>Hero The Carl Maddox Sport Management Award.<\/p>\n <\/strong>Named for the The Jim Thorpe All-Around Award.<\/p>\n <\/strong> Thorpe, a Native American, The Dr. Ernst Jokl Sports Medicine Award.<\/p>\n <\/strong> Jokl, an outstanding In addition, the USSA awards several Distinguished Service Awards The finalle of the Awards of Sport are the Athlete of the Year
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nwas chosen as the focal point of the logo and seal because it
\nis emblematic of the institution’s quest for excellence in its
\nunique academic endeavor. The soaring eagle exemplifies man’s
\nstriving for new heights, so symbolic of the aim of education
\nand athletic competition. Past winners include Nelson Mandela,
\nPresident of South Africa, and H.S.H. Prince Albert of Monaco.<\/p>\n
\nReagan, the “Great Communicator,” who began his career
\nbroadcasting sporting events. Past winners include Howard Cosell
\nof ABC Sports and Dick Ebersol of NBC Sports.<\/p>\n
\nOne of the greatest track and field Olympians, as well as a professional
\ngolfer who overcame cancer to return to the winner’s circle.
\nPast winners include jockey Judy Krone and Jim Abbott, baseball
\nplayer for the California Angels.<\/p>\n
\nGrand Old Man” of the gridiron, was the most winning coach
\nin college football and also had great records as a track and
\nbasketball coach. Past winners include Eddie Robinson, Head Football
\nCoach for Grambling University, and John Wooden, the great UCLA
\nBasketball Coach.<\/p>\n
\nJuan Antonio Samaranch, the President of the IOC, authorized
\nthis award in honor of the development of the Paralympics. Past
\nwinners include Linda Mastandrea, Wheelchair Athlete, and Tony
\nVolpentest, Track and Field Paralympian.<\/p>\n
\n34th U.S. President, Supreme Allied Commander in WWII and founder
\nof the President’s Council for Youth and Sport which served as
\na catalyst to the nation’s fitness movement. Past winners include
\nPresident George Bush and Arnold Schwartzeneggar.<\/p>\n
\nthe baseball color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers by displaying
\nhis skills, while at the same time subjugating his pride, to
\nprove an awareness of our failings as well as his abilities.
\nHe was also a great athlete at UCLA as football and track star.
\nPast winners include Joe Morgan of the Cincinnati Reds and the
\nHouston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon.<\/p>\n
\nof the Spanish-American War by virtue of his Rough Riders, he
\nwas named the 26th president of the United States. Roosevelt
\nhad a successful career on the playing field and in the boxing
\nring. He developed the National Parks System, and was responsible
\nfor the establishment of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
\n(NCAA). Past winners include Senator Bob Dole and Senator Bill
\nBradley.<\/p>\n
\nlong-time athletic director at both LSU and Mississippi State.
\nMaddox is also a former Chairman of the USSA Board of Trustees.
\nPast winners include PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem and David Stern,
\nCommissioner of the NBA.<\/p>\n
\nwas voted the greatest athlete of the first 50 years of this
\ncentury. He was outstanding as a football and baseball player,
\nand as an Olympian at the 1912 Stockholm Games, won both the
\npentathlon and decathlon. Past winners include Bo Jackson, baseball
\nand football star, and Danny Ainge, baseball and basketball star
\nand coach.<\/p>\n
\nGerman Olympian, is commonly known as the “Father of Sports
\nMedicine.” Jokl came to the U.S. in 1952 and served as the
\nDirector of the University of Kentucky Rehabilitation Center.
\nJokl was a prolific author and researcher in sports medicine
\nas well as psychology and sociology. Previous winners include
\nJacques Rogge, M.D., IOC Chairman of Sports Medicine, and Sir
\nRoger Banister.<\/p>\n
\neach year. Given annually since 1979, DSAs honor those individuals
\nwho have made outstanding contributions to national or international
\nsport through education, research or service. Former recipients
\ninclude Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball and
\nPhillip Knight, CEO of Nike.<\/p>\n
\nAwards, run in conjunction with USA Today, CNN\/SI, WPMI-NBC 15
\nand Alabama Live, who placed the ballot on their web sites. With
\nover 10,000 people voting each year, Michael Jordan and Martina
\nHingis have dominated the awards in the recent past, though Mark
\nMcGwire and Tara Lipinski won last year.<\/p>\n