Legendary basketball player, author, U.S. Cultural Ambassador, civil rights icon and social justice advocate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will receive the Los Angeles Press Club’s Legend Award. The ceremony will take place at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards Gala on December 3 at the Biltmore Hotel, downtown Los Angeles.
Following Mr. Abdul-Jabbar’s award presentation, he will sit down for an in-depth conversation with the 7 time Emmy Award winning sports commentator and renowned interviewer Roy Firestone in what promises to be the zenith of a momentous evening.
The Legend Award honors individuals within the Entertainment Industry for both their Lifetime Achievement and their Contributions to Society– artistically as well as on a humanist level.
“I am honored just to be in the presence of professional journalists because in these dark times of alternate truths from our elected officials and their immoral minions, you are America’s best hope for the voice of reason and truth to nurture our democratic ideals,” said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“We are honoring a man who is not only a basketball Titan but, a paragon of strength, courage, humility and social justice. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an institution in Los Angeles. He has contributed to the betterment of our society since arriving here,” said Press Club President Robert Kovacik.
On the same evening, New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, who broke the Harvey Weinstein story, will be bestowed with the Los Angeles Press Club’s Inaugural Impact Award; Sesame Street’s Co-Creators Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett will receive the Club’s Distinguished Storyteller Award and Variety’s Co-Editors-in-Chief Claudia Eller and Andrew Wallenstein will be honored with the Club’s Luminary Award for Career Achievement.
Photo Credit: Dan Winters
