NSMA to Honor NBA Star and WSSU Alum Earl "The Pearl" Monroe with 2nd Annual Ann Spencer Sports Connector Award April 26

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Sports Media Association (NSMA), a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to honoring past, present, and future excellence in sports media, will recognize famed basketball player and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) alum Earl "The Pearl" Monroe with the organization's second-annual presentation of the Ann Spencer Sports Connector Award ("The Annie") Dinner next month in Winston-Salem.

Tickets are on sale now to attend The Annie award celebration honoring Monroe, who led the WSSU Rams to the 1966-67 NCAA college division National Championship before taking his game to the NBA, where he played for the Baltimore Bullets and New York Knicks. In his senior season with WSSU, the Rams' home games had to be moved from their tiny on-campus gym to the bigger Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum — opening the door for Monroe to leverage his star power for the betterment of his community. In a city that was still largely segregated, this marked the first opportunity for many to see Monroe and his Rams.

Now in its second year of presentation, The Annie annual award and event honors leaders who have impacted the Winston-Salem community for the better, by connecting area residents through sports. In addition to welcoming Monroe "back" to Winston-Salem for the evening, the NSMA's April 26 event program also features:

• A keynote address from ESPN senior editor John X. Miller;

• Remarks from Boston Globe sportswriter Bob Ryan; and

• An appearance by college basketball television analyst Billy Packer.

Proceeds from The Annie go to support the NSMA's dual mission of providing educational and networking opportunities to future generations of sports media, and honoring a legacy of excellence in the sports media industry.

For more information and to register for "The Annie" event, please visit: https://nationalsportsmedia.org/2019-annie. 

About the National Sports Media Association

Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the National Sports Media Association, Inc. (NSMA) is a 501(c)(3) organization of more than 1,000 members that honors excellence in the sports media industry, while passing along its members' collective knowledge and history through the generations.

For regular updates, please visit NSMA online at nationalsportsmedia.org and follow NSMA on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE National Sports Media Association (NSMA)

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