Laughter leads Sports Dinner

Traditionally, the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC) Sports Dinner has been about community sports and fund-raising. However, if you asked one of the 850-plus guests at the 2004 dinner, held Feb. 12 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, they'd likely tell you it was about learning to be a winner and knee-slapping laughter.

The annual event brings together some of Canada's biggest names in sports in an effort to raise money for the JCC. With a silent and live auction serving as the backbone of the fund-raiser, the audience is treated to a big-name guest speaker, as well as the presentation of the Jack Diamond Sports Personality of the Year Award.

This year's guest speaker was boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard. Speaking with the same energy that led him to an Olympic gold medal and a career that included world titles in the welterweight, junior middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, Leonard told the crowd inspiring stories of how he defeated the odds to become a winner.

This year's Jack Diamond Award recipient was Jack Poole, who played a leading role in bringing the 2010 Olympic Winter Games to British Columbia. Poole's character and leadership were emphasized by two presentations, one by Premier Gordon Campbell and another by Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell.

At the end of the night, however, it was the master of ceremonies for the event that garnered the most post-dinner chatter. Former hockey superstar Dennis Hull, who was a guest speaker for the dinner several years ago, showed that he could compete with some of the world's best comedians. Just about everything that came out of Hull's mouth had the crowd rolling with laughter. Whether it was poking fun at his famous hockey family or just teasing many of the politicians and athletes at the event, Hull showed the type of quick wit that would make even Jerry Seinfeld jealous.

The final numbers had not been tallied as of press time, however, the annual event raised approximately $135,000 for the JCC last year.

Kyle Berger is a freelance journalist and graphic designer living in Richmond.