Jamal Crawford Honored with Thurman Munson Award

Feb. 5, 2008

Knicks guard Jamal Crawford earned one of the highest honors bestowed on New York athletes on Tuesday night, as he received the prestigious Thurman Munson Award for all of the off-court work he has done in the community.

Other honorees at the 28th annual Munson Awards Dinner included Yankees third baseman and AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, Mets All-Star third baseman David Wright, Yankees centerfielder Melky Cabrera, Astros great and Brooklyn native Craig Biggio and Olympic figure-skating gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi.

Crawford received the award at a banquet benefiting the AHRC NYC Foundation, which works with children who struggle with developmental disabilities. The Knicks star as visibly touched throughout the evening.

"I first found out I was going to be honored right before training camp started, and I was very excited," Crawford said. "I'm honored to be here. I've gotten a lot of awards for a lot of different things, but this is right at the top. When I found out I'd be getting this award I was ecstatic and this day couldn't come fast enough.

"When you have a platform as you do with sports, sometimes it makes you put things in perspective that's bigger than wins and losses. When you have this platform, it's to use it for good. And my fellow athletes and myself getting this award, we're just trying to continue in (Munson's) footsteps."

Munson, the great Yankees catcher and captain who died in an August 1979 plane crash, was known throughout the New York area for his work with kids. Crawford said he credits Munson for helping mold him into the person he is today.

"He was so selfless,” explains Crawford. “He wasn't worried about being a big star or team captain. He was more concerned with the effect he had on the community, especially children and his devotion to that. I look to have those same goals. We are doing stuff all the time (via my foundation)."

At the ceremony, Crawford was introduced by Knicks legend Walt "Clyde" Frazier, a previous winner of the Munson Award. Frazier spoke glowingly of the Knicks guard and mentioned the approximately $200,000 worth of donations Crawford has made to help those less fortunate in both New York and his hometown of Seattle.

In naming Crawford's accomplishments, such as completely renovating a library at P.S. 58 in the Bronx as well as constructing a new basketball court at his alma mater, Rainier High School, Frazier said he has been rejuvenated and motivated to make an even bigger difference in the community himself.

"(This award is) very special because it shows he's concerned about other people" Frazier explained. "So many athletes are maligned because they are supposedly selfish, flamboyant, rich and not worrying about other people, but Jamal is an aberration for athletes. And he is such a young guy, which amazes me. Only 28 years of age, and he formed his foundation. He wanted to give back and make a difference in kids' lives, so I think it's really extraordinary."

Crawford's generosity was mentioned by other honorees on Tuesday. Wright said he has long heard stories about the kind of person Crawford is, and is a fan of what the Knicks star does on the court as well.

"Tonight was the first time I formally was introduced to him," said Wright, "But I've become pretty good friends with David Lee and he speaks very highly of Jamal. I like going out to the Knick games to root him on, and he's what you pay money to come see. He's a guy that can light it up, plays with energy and is very athletic. He puts points on the boards and I enjoy watching him."

John Starks, another former Knicks star who has also won the Munson Award, was also thrilled for Crawford.

"I think it means a lot for Jamal to win this award," said Starks. "The Thurman Munson Award exemplifies players just like Jamal. He has a big heart and does things outside the court to help others. What Thurman Munson meant to New York, especially in sports, and what he did in the community, to be able to receive this award is a great feeling. You get rewarded on the basketball court for what you do with your athletic ability, and sometimes what you do outside the court can go unnoticed. So to receive such a prestigious award, in my book, is an incredible feeling."

An extremely humbled Crawford said he doesn't see himself doing anything extraordinary, but rather is living up to what he expects out of himself as a pro athlete.

"When I was a kid, how I was raised, this was my vision of a professional athlete. Anybody in the spotlight, that's their responsibility. You shouldn't do it because you are going to have a lot of press, you should do it from your heart. And I think people can spot out what's real and what people are doing for attention. This is the 28th year [of the Munson Awards). This shows that work in the community is paying off and that we're touching a few lives."