The Jewish Community Centre (JCC) rolled out the red carpet for Gibsons' favourite son last Thursday night.
Chicago Cubs closer Ryan Dempster was honoured with the Jack Diamond Sports Personality of the Year award for 2006 at the 13th annual JCC Sports Dinner, Feb. 9 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver.
The award recognizes an individual who has consistently demonstrated a competitive and co-operative spirit, who has excelled in the field of sport and who has made a positive contribution to the community.
Diamond was a leader in business, a devoted family man, an inspiring community citizen and, to the world of sports, the father of modern-day horse racing in B.C. He passed away in 1991. Past recipients of the award include: Bob Ackles, president and CEO of the B.C. Lions; Jack Poole, chairman and CEO of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bid Corporation; Vancouver Canucks legend Stan Smyl; Vancouver Whitecaps player Bob Lenarduzzi; and current Canuck Trevor Linden.
When receiving the award, Dempster offered his thanks to his family and friends and his many coaches.
"It's the people I grew up with who made me the person I am today," Dempster said. "I'd like to share this award with all of them.
"Anytime you're recognized by your fellow countrymen and your peers for an honour and award like this, it's really a surprise. To have my name associated with the past winners is very cool. "I was such a huge Stan Smyl fan growing up. To be mentioned in the same breath as him and associated with this award is truly something."
Former baseball coach Don Stewart introduced Dempster at the ceremony.
Stewart recalled stories of Dempster as a young kid and his dreams of becoming a Major League ball player.
"He sacrificed a lot, and those sacrifices are paying off," Stewart said. "Ryan was never handed anything except a healthy body and a pitching arm. He dreamed about being a Major League ball player. He realized those dreams with lots of hard work and dedication.
"Last year I was fortunate to see Ryan close a game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Chicago. After the game, I joined a half dozen of Ryan's friends near the locker room. We were standing outside waiting for him and Ryan emerged. After greeting everyone, Ryan excused himself. He walked over to a line of kids standing nearby waiting for an autograph. Ryan signed an autograph for everyone and spent time with all the kids. The moment stuck with me. Ryan is a special person and a special athlete for many to look up to," Stewart said.
In an interview with Coast Reporter prior to the awards ceremony, Dempster talked about the upcoming baseball season.
He reported to spring training in Arizona on Wednesday.
Dempster, who signed with the Cubs as a free agent in 2004, looks to pitch his first full season since 2002. Dempster began the 2005 year in the Cubs' rotation and went 1-3 with a 5.35 ERA in six starts. He was then switched to the closer's role and excelled. He led the National League in save percentage and closed 33 games in 35 opportunities.
In December, the Cubs signed Dempster to a three-year $15.5 million contract extension, which locks him up until 2008.
The Cubs had a busy off-season making several key acquisitions - acquisitions that Dempster feels are the missing pieces to a championship run.
"I said this last year that I felt we were just missing a few things," Dempster said. "We have two great guys in the bullpen. Bob Howry turned down closer jobs in other places to come set up in Chicago. Scott Eyre chews up the innings. He's a durable guys and one of the top lefties out there. These guys also bring experience, which is a huge help.
"Offensively, we've added Juan Pierre, who I think is the best leadoff man in baseball. Jacque Jones is a great young outfielder. You get those guys on base stirring things up and set the table for Lee [Derrek] and Ramirez [Aramis], it's going to be a lot better team. But like any team, it's going to come down to starting pitching. If we can get our starters to make their starts and stay healthy, I think the people in Chicago and all the Cubs fans will be pleasantly surprised."Dempster said all the new guys are also great guys in the clubhouse - another key when building a contender.
"We've got four guys, Jones, Pierre, Howry and Eyre, and then we have John Mabry coming off the bench. Not only do we have great baseball players, we have good teammates. That's the stuff that brings championships," Dempster said. "You hear about so many teams that are stacked with players and people wonder why they're not winning. You need chemistry on and off the field. We're so tight as a team. We'll go out for dinner and it sucks some times because you're stuck with the bill because we usually have 15 guys. I've been stuck with that a few times and that's not a lot of fun."
Dempster was asked by Team Canada to play in next month's World Baseball Classic, but he declined the invitation. It wasn't because he wasn't honoured to represent his country - he just felt he would not be ready for the regular season."For me, with my arm and having surgery before, I cherish my bullets. I only have so many left," he said. "I'm just thankful I can play again and be successful. The bottom line is I don't think I could be ready. I want to win a World Series more than anything else. I've wanted to do that ever since I was a little kid. To do that I need to be as healthy as I can to contribute and play a big role with this club come October, not in just in March."
Besides Dempster's award, the JCC presented its Sports Dinner Merit Award to current Philadelphia Phillies GM Pat Gillick.
The JCC of Greater Vancouver decided to create the first and unprecedented award to recognize Gillick for his consistent support, consultation and friendship since the establishment of the dinner.
There was also a large silent and live auction, and the evening wrapped up with an entertaining stint by guest speaker Jim Bouton.
Bouton played for the New York Yankees, winning 21 games in 1963. In 1964 he won 18 games and beat the Cardinals twice in the World Series. He's probably more famous for his book Ball Four, the funny and controversial all-time best seller that revealed baseball players as human beings. Ball Four was recently selected by the New York Pubic Library as one of the "Books of the Century." The latest update, titled Ball Four: The Final Pitch, is now entertaining baseball fans everywhere.
Bouton is also famous for creating Big League Chew, shredded bubble gum in a pouch, so ball players could look right without getting sick. Big League Chew, introduced in 1980, has replaced chewing tobacco at many high schools and colleges.
