To Life!

AROUND TOWN

Staff photos by Armando Rios

r 81
dates

Former Detroit Pistons star and member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Vinnie Johnson and event co-chairs Kim and Jeff Sakwa, all of West Bloomfield

Former Detroit Lions star Charlie Sanders and Andrew Israel of Aspen, Colo.

Good Sports!

ADL honors athletic legends
who gave back to Detroit.

Itsy Lieberman of Birmingham, ex-Red Wing Lorraine Rimar and Bernice Handler,

Ted Lindsay and John Cueter of Ann Arbor both of West Bloomfield

Elaine and Michael Serling of

Orchard Lake

Charlie Sanders is flanked by Sandy Layne
and Rick Kovacs, both of West Bloomfield

Leonard Sahn of Orchard Lake greets former Detroit Red Wings star and NHL Hall

of Famer Ted Lindsay and his wife, Joanne Lindsay.

32

July 19 • 2007

T

hey've inspired us with their
athletic prowess on the field,
the court and on the ice. But
Detroit sports legends Willie Horton
of the Tigers, Vinnie Johnson of the
Pistons, Ted Lindsay of the Red Wings
and Charlie Sanders
of the Lions were
honored by the Anti-
Defamation League
Michigan Region for
what they've done
outside of the spot-
light and away from
cheering crowds.
"They've helped
the city, the youth
and the spirit of this
community," said ADL regional director
Betsy Kellman of Huntington Woods.
"They live the spirit of the ADL; they
exemplify our mission to fight hatred,
prejudice and bigotry."
About 300 people gathered at the
Townsend Hotel in Birmingham June
27 to mingle with the sports greats at
the first ever "ADL HeADLiners Gala."
Partygoers enjoyed ballpark foods like
hotdogs, popcorn and slushes as they bid
on silent auction items including sports
memorabilia and entertainment packages.
Many people came dressed in their favor-
ite team jersey
As a kid who grew up in the 1950s, I
remember Ted Lindsay and, of course,

Willie Horton in the 1960s," said Leonard
Sahn of Orchard Lake, a former ADL pres-
ident."This event has attracted a different
crowd, and that's really exciting."
A live auction was also held raising
thousands of dollars for the ADL. Gary
Goodman of Bloomfield Hills was the
evening's high bidder, pledging $13,500 for
a package that included four VIP tickets to
the hit FOX-TV show American Idol.
"There's so much hatred out there — I
fear for Israel, the Jewish people and all
minorities:' Goodman said. "The ADL is a
cause well worth supporting."
Emmy Award-winning sports personal-
ity and ESPN broadcaster Roy Firestone
served as the evening's emcee, entertain-
ing the crowd with impersonations of
various sports stars and even singing like
Frank Sinatra.
"The ADL fights against all racism, prej-
udice and bigotry:' said Jeff Sakwa of West
Bloomfield, who chaired the event with his
wife, Kim. "This is not just a Jewish cause,
but a community cause. It's up to us to
unite to make our community one."
Spotted in the crowd were: Jonathan
Aaron, Jennifer and Todd Goodbinder,
Lilly Epstein and Alex Stotland, all of
Birmingham; Matt Riley of Royal Oak;
Gary Goodman, and Roberta and Lou
Black, all of Bloomfield Hills; Rick Kovacs
and Elaine and Michael Serling, all of
West Bloomfield; and Michelle and Steven
Passon of Commerce Township. I I

