Bay area leaders and role models in the sports world are getting some much deserved recognition.
The Tampa Bay Sports Commission honored those individuals during its seventh annual Sneaker Soiree event.
- Steve Duemig, Susan Harmeling among honorees
- Sneaker Soiree was held for seventh year
- Watch entire event Saturday at 8 p.m. on Spectrum Sports (1147)
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It is probably one of the most comfortable formal events all year. This year some of the award winners included a one handed high school pitcher and a cancer survivor who is known by everybody in the Tampa Bay sports community.
One of the Sneaker Soiree award winners was Steve Duemig, also known as the "Big Dog" in sports radio. He's fighting cancer, yet he still returned to work at WDAE 620 AM to make sure we're up to date on the latest in Tampa sports.
"I've been in this town for a long, long time. I'm very honored," he said.
Duemig said he learned he had a brain tumor after having a seizure in February. He said he's feeling better after taking three months off.
Kevin Ewing was honored for his perseverance in obtaining a scholarship to play college baseball despite being a one-armed pitcher.
"I had a lot of people doubting me, a lot of people telling me I couldn't do it," Ewing said. "But the important thing for me to remember is nobody can tell you what you're capable of doing. So I kept that in my mind and kept striving to achieve my goal."
The lifetime achievement award winner was Susan Harmeling, the longtime director of the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic.
You can watch the entire awards ceremony on Spectrum Sports (1147) at 8 p.m. Saturday.