Michael Phelps Honored as SI “Sportsman of the Year” as NY Giants Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, NY Ranger Legend Mike Richter and Olympic Silver Medalists Tim Morehouse and Jason Rogers Turn out to honor Him

Tuesday night at the Gehry designed IAC building, legends of New York City sports and several hundred guests turned out to honor Michael Phelps as the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

Special guests included New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, (perhaps a long lost brother of Phelps?), running back Brandon Jacobs, NHL Hall of Fame Ranger Mike Richter, Super Mom Deborah Phelps, NY Giants legend Harry Carson, several NHL players and yours truly Olympic Medalists/Good Guys/Fencing Promoters Jason Rogers and Tim Morehouse.

Why the rave reviews? Cabanas, amazing food, synchronized swimmers performing in the pool mid-party (seriously!), women’s soccer team members doing conga lines with their gold medals, every athlete in attendance(post competition of course!) and the list goes on and on…

Sadly, in Beijing there were no SI parties (although any rumor of one spread like wildfire), but luckily they had this one in NYC!  And true to form, the party did not disappoint. The AIC space was decked out with the SI logo (pillows on the couches to the logo on the napkins), the music was rocking and a cool electronic wall sported various sponsors logos and Olympic highlights. And as would be expected, copious amounts of the Michael Phelps SI issue were strategically placed throughout the space.

Super Bowl Ring Meets Olympic Medal

Brandon Jacobs proudly showed off  his super bowl ring (so big  that it would be a bracelet for most people), Eli Manning was extremely gracious, staying long after most athletes had left to talk to fans, take pictures and sign autographs. Mike Richter chatted about the good old days of the Rangers, and super mom Deborah Phelps was even in attendance and she mixed and mingled with all the athletes like a true pro while keeping a motherly eye on her son .

Where will we be next?

You can catch up with us from 6:30pm-9pm on Friday at our Holiday Cocktail Party at Rock N Sake (139 W. 25^th).

Long lost brothers???

Olympic Medalists Cullen Jones, Tim Morehouse, James Williams and Emily Cross honored at Jets Game; Donnie Klang sings the National Anthem

It was pouring and cold, but nothing could damper the amazing experience of being honored on the field before the New York Jets played the Denver Broncos at the Meadowlands.

Along with fellow Olympians from Beijing and previous games from the tri-state area we had our names announced before the coin toss and then got to stay for the game.(which unfortunately the Jets lost!)

Donnie klang, from Making the Band 4, Olympic Silver Medalist Tim Morehouse and Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer Cullen Jones

Donnie Klang from making the Band 4 sung the national anthem and then we got to spend some quality time with Olympic Gold Medalist Cullen Jones and his mother, both amazingly nice people, in a luxury box with some of our friends from the NFL.

Olympic Medalists in Fencing Tim Morehouse, James Williams and Emily Cross on the 20-yard line at the NY Jets Game

Paul Rudd, from the recently released hit movie Role Models, was also in attendance, but we unfortunately missed getting a chance to meet him and to tell him how much we all had died laughing from the movie we had just seen the night before! Thanks to the Jets, NFL and our new friends from the game!

Tri-State Olympians on the field at Jets Game