Award Acknowledges Bravery of Young Man Who Protected Fellow Subway Passengers
The New York Knickerbockers have announced Hassan Askari as the winner of the Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit” Award for the month of December. The award, named in honor of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, who was the first African-American to play for the Knicks, recognizes those who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. Each month, a winner is chosen by members of the Knicks front office staff and honored at center court of a Knicks game. The winner will receive a $2,000 donation in their name to a charity of their choice from the New York Knicks.
Hassan Askari, 20, was riding a Brooklyn-bound Q train when he helped defend fellow passengers as they were attacked by a group of assailants. Askari came to the rescue in an initial attempt to protect the women, and ended up serving as a distraction, so that one of the men under attack could escape to pull the emergency brake. Askari suffered two black eyes and multiple bruises before the attackers were arrested by police.
At tomorrow’s game versus the Chicago Bulls, Askari, will accept the City Spirit Award at Madison Square Garden. He will donate his award money to BRAC USA, which is involved in various relief activities for the victims of Hurricane Sidr in Bangladesh.
To nominate your hero, or to read more about this month’s winners and other past winners, please visit nyknicks.com.
The NBA’s New York Knickerbockers basketball team, in its 62nd year of operation, is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P. Cablevision Systems Corporation owns Madison Square Garden, L.P., which includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Beacon Theatre; MSG Media, which is comprised of MSG and FSN New York; fuse, the music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.
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This post was written by joepietaro on December 30, 2007
