The San Pedro Sportswalk Annouces 2007 Inductees

The Sportswalk to the Waterfront, San Pedro’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, announced this year’s slate of athletic inductees. They include legendary sports figures such as Baseball Hall of Fame member George Brett; former Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Reggie Smith; former Los Angeles Lakers star and UCLA head basketball coach Walt Hazzard; Jim Obradovich, who played for USC and was also a nine-year NFL tight end. Local stars include Harbor College football coach Scrappy Rhea, who will receive the Trani Award for contributions to local athletes, and Peninsula High's Amanda Augustus,a four-time All-American women's tennis star at the University of California, Berkeley and current coach of the Golden Bears.

In addition, awards will be given to the families of two young athletes who died during the past year. Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr., a defensive All-League football player at South High in Torrance, was killed May 23 this year while serving in Iraq. He will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Courage. Mario Danelo of San Pedro, a talented place kicker for USC, fell from the cliffs at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro near his family home during the early morning hours of Jan. 6. On New Year's Day, Danelo helped the Trojans to a 32-18 win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Danelo will be inducted on the same plaque with his father, Joe, a 10-year NFL kicker. It will be the first plaque to include two names together.

The induction ceremony, which takes place at 10 am on October 8th, will recognize these great athletes with the installation of a bronze plaque for each honoree into the sidewalk of downtown San Pedro on Sixth Street between Palos Verdes and Centre Street. Immediately following at the same location is a noon luncheon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Ticket reservations are $40 and can be made by calling the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce at 310-832-7272.

Sportswalk to the Waterfront is an integral part of recent efforts to revitalize San Pedro’s historic downtown and create linkage to its waterfront. Along those lines sponsorship of the event has been well supported by harbor businesses.

Sportswalk was initially launched in 1978 by the Trani brothers in the old Majestic Café. Past honorees include legends such as UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, Olympic Champion, Rafer Johnson, and Los Angeles Lakers superstars Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. In addition, local San Pedro greats such as Super Bowl champion Tim Wrightman, NBA great Willie Naulls and Major League Baseball stars, Alan Ashby, Joe Lovitto, and Garry Maddox all have their plaques on the walk.

For more info, call Tony Rodich at (760) 766-2002 or Bob Bradarich at (310) 427-3543.