Former President Bill Clinton featured speaker at Sportsman of the Year gala

Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States and founder of the Clinton Foundation, will be the featured speaker and among the dignitaries that will be attending a gala on Tuesday night to honor the 2014 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner.

Bumgarner will be honored on Tuesday in New York City during a celebration that includes a tribute to Mo’ne Davis, the 2014 Sports Illustrated Kids Sportskid of the Year, and Clinton’s close friend, Magic Johnson, the Sportsman Legacy Award winner.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and incoming MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will also be speaking at the event. Silver will be presenting the Legacy award to Johnson and Bumgarner will receive his award from Manfred.

Whether hosting championship teams at the White House or hosting the Humana Challenge in conjunction with the PGA as a private citizen, Clinton has a long, familiar history with sports. He even appeared on the cover of the March 21, 1994 issue of Sports lllustrated with the title, "Whooo, Pig Sooey," as his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team began its run in the NCAA tournament, eventually winning the national championship with a thrilling victory over Duke.

Clinton has taken on some social issues in sports as well, praising former NBA player Jason Collins after he became the first openly gay athlete to come out in an May 2013 issue of SI.

Since leaving office in 2001, President Clinton and his Foundation have worked to improve global health, increase opportunity for women and girls, reduce childhood obesity and preventable disease, create economic opportunity and growth and help communities address the effects of climate change all over the world.

The ceremony will be hosted by former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason.

• 2014 SI Sportsman of the Year: Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner

New MLB chief financial officer Bob Starkey, San Francisco Giants owner Larry Baer, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum and “Miracle on Ice” hockey player and former Sportsman Mike Eruzione, are also expected to attend, along with the honorees.

Sportsman of the Year Covers

Sportsperson of the Year Winners

2022

Stephen Curry

2021

Tom Brady

2020

Naomi Osaka

2020

LeBron James

2020

Patrick Mahomes

2020

Breanna Stewart

2020

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

2019

Megan Rapinoe

2018

Golden State Warriors

2017

José Altuve and J.J. Watt

2016

LeBron James

2015

Serena Williams

2014

Madison Bumgarner

2013

Peyton Manning

2012

LeBron James

2011

Pat Summitt and Mike Krzyzewski

2010

Drew Brees

2009

Derek Jeter

2008

Michael Phelps

2007

Brett Favre

2006

Dwyane Wade

2005

Tom Brady

2004

Boston Red Sox

2003

Tim Duncan and David Robinson

2002

Lance Armstrong

2001

Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson

2000

Tiger Woods

1999

U.S. Women’s Soccer Team

1998

Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa

1997

Dean Smith

1996

Tiger Woods

1995

Cal Ripken Jr.

1994

Bonnie Blair and Johann Olav Koss

1993

Don Shula

1992

Arthur Ashe

1991

Michael Jordan

1990

Joe Montana

1989

Greg LeMond

1988

Orel Hershiser

1987

Rory Sparrow, Patty Sheehan, Reggie Williams, Chip Rives, Bob Bourne, Judi Brown King, Dale Murphy and Kip Keino

1986

Joe Paterno

1985

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1984

Mary Lou Retton and Edwin Moses

1983

Mary Decker

1982

Wayne Gretzky

1981

Sugar Ray Leonard

1980

U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

1979

Willie Stargell and Terry Bradshaw

1978

Jack Nicklaus

1977

Steve Cauthen

1976

Chris Evert

1975

Pete Rose

1974

Muhammad Ali

1973

Jackie Stewart

1972

John Wooden and Billie Jean King

1971

Lee Trevino

1970

Bobby Orr

1969

Tom Seaver

1968

Bill Russell

1967

Carl Yastrzemski

1966

Jim Ryun

1965

Sandy Koufax

1964

Ken Venturi

1963

Pete Rozelle

1962

Terry Baker

1961

Jerry Lucas

1960

Arnold Palmer

1959

Ingemar Johansson

1958

Rafer Johnson

1957

Stan Musial

1956

Bobby Morrow

1955

Johnny Podres

1954

Roger Bannister

- Scooby Axson

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