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Legendary Announcer Honored at Carlesimo Award Dinner Longtime CBS Sports college basketball announcer Bill Raftery, one of the most recognizable sports analysts in the country, was honored at the Carlesimo Award Dinner on May 22. More than 300 people attended the event in the Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J., Ballroom. Celebrating intercollegiate athletics at Scranton, the dinner honors a person who has made special contributions to athletics and Catholic education, and seeks to raise funds for the athletic department and the student-athletes that it serves. This year’s dinner successfully raised $100,000 for student-athletics at Scranton. This year, the University celebrated Raftery, a former Seton Hall University head basketball coach, whose voice and commentary have become a staple of March Madness. He has coined numerous catch phrases such as “the kiss,” “nickel-dimer” and “send it in, big fella!” that have become
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1 Bill Raftery addresses the more than 300 people in attendance at the Carlesimo Award Dinner in the Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J., Ballroom. 2 Prior to serving as a popular CBS Sports college basketball analyst, Raftery was a sensational scoring threat for La Salle University during his playing days. 3 Rocky Sawyer ’12, senior captain of the men’s baseball team, served as a student speaker at the dinner. Sawyer was named the Landmark Conference firstteam starting pitcher during his junior year.
popular among basketball fans throughout the nation. “The great thing about this particular award tonight is that the Carlesimos may have the greatest team of all,” explained Raftery, the evening’s honoree. “Those 10 beautiful kids with a wonderful mother, and a man that, from what I’ve heard from people tonight and other nights, helped make Scranton what it has become.” Raftery is a graduate of La Salle University where he was a standout basketball player for three seasons. He was also an all-state selection in basketball, soccer and baseball at St. Cecilia High School in Kearny, N.J. The dinner was formally dedicated in 2011 in honor of the late Peter. A. Carlesimo. For nearly a quarter century, Carlesimo served Scranton’s athletic department, coaching football, basketball and cross-country, as well as acting as athletic director.
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4 Alumni, parents and friends gather for a special evening to celebrate athletics at The University of Scranton. 5 2012 Carlesimo Award Dinner honoree Bill Raftery accepts an award from President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. Pictured (from left) are Father Quinn, Raftery, Toby Lovecchio ’85, director of athletics, P.J. Carlesimo and Patrick Leahy, Ed.D., former executive vice president. FA LL 2012
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