Comcast SportsNet was founded in 2004, yet is hosting its 22nd Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards dinner Thursday night at the Hilton Chicago. Some think it makes no sense that a six-year-old TV network could be hosting its 22nd annual award show, but Comcast SportsNet Chicago President Jim Corno doesn’t care.
“Just because something doesn’t make sense won’t prevent us from doing it,” said Corno. “We gave Mike North a daily TV show and continued it after the convicted con artist bankrolling it was again busted for running a Ponzi scheme. That sure didn’t make sense, but by god, we did it anyway.”
The event benefits March of Dimes and will be emceed by former radio talk jock Steve Dahl. Among the award recipients are Alex Brown, A.J. Pierzynski, Ryan Dempster and John Salmons, none of whom were their team’s top performers last year.
“They were the best from each team that we could get to show up,” said Corno. “Sitting through a four-hour award show hosted by an out of work radio host in the dead of winter isn’t an easy sell to most athletes, even if we’re trying to honor them.”
Also to be honored is Jon Busch from the Fire, a local team that apparently plays a sport called “soccer” prohibits most players from using their hands and is popular everywhere in the world except the United States.
By Brad Zibung, founder and editor in chief
