Sports Museum to honor Fryar, Havlicek
When Irving Fryar started his professional football career with the Patriots in 1984, he had difficulty keeping his name away from negative headlines.
But during his eight years with the team, Fryar grew as a person and an athlete, and learned to embrace the Boston-area fans.
"Early in my career, I had some negative headlines," Fryar said. "But before I left, New England people got to see me grow and mature from a guy in a man's body with a boy's mentality."
Twenty-four years after the negative introduction, Fryar will be honored tonight by the Boston sports community at the annual Tradition fund-raiser presented by the Sports Museum at TD Banknorth Garden. Organized around the theme of "giving back," the event begins with a 5:30 p.m. reception, followed by a ceremony at 7:15 that, in addition to Fryar, will honor Dominic DiMaggio, Peter and Abby Fuller, Darryl Williams, Bob Lobel, Cam Neely, and John Havlicek.
"When you're dealing with Boston sports, there is a large pool of people you want to honor," said Rusty Sullivan, executive director of the Sports Museum. "There is such a rich heritage and a rich tradition not only from the four main teams, but also when it comes to collegiate sports. There are a lot of people in Boston sports worthy of being honored."
Havlicek will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Bob Knight.
"We knew it was going to be a big Celtics year," Sullivan said. "And John Havlicek may be the ultimate Celtic. He was unselfish and really represented the epitome of Celtics pride."
DiMaggio will receive the Baseball Legacy Award but because of health concerns, he will be unable to attend.
"He was looking forward to being there - he's just having trouble getting around," said Sullivan.
"Dominic DiMaggio is one of the most underrated Red Sox of all time. He's a guy who was at the core of some great teams. He's a living link to both Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, and he's someone who has done an enormous amount of charity work since his retirement."
For the first time, the event will feature a Special Achievement Award, to Darryl Williams, a former high school football player who was shot in 1979, then became a mentor for Boston-area kids.
Williams is being honored "for all he has done in turning a tragic incident into something positive," said museum curator Richard Johnson. "He has spent the last 25 years speaking to kids about the power of forgiveness and understanding."
Fryar will received the Football Legacy Award, Lobel the Media Legacy Award, the Fullers the Horse Racing Legacy Award, and Neely the Hockey Legacy Award.
Tickets range from $150 for general admission to $250 for preferred seating. Ticket sales and proceeds from a live auction go to The Sports Museum's educational programs and general operations. The event should gross about $300,000, Sullivan said. 