Team Tampa Bay's Take with Joey Johnston - Show-Stopping Soiree
Tampa Bay Celebrates the 11th Annual Tampa Bay Sneaker Soiree
By Joey Johnston
The Sneaker Soiree’s most innovative angle is pretty simple. Wear your best stuff. Dress to the nines. Show up and show out. Look like you’re meant to walk that red carpet. But … you have to wear sneakers. That move keeps everyone grounded. It highlights the event’s deeper purpose.
Sports, maybe more than anything in the Tampa Bay area, create the forces that unite us, giving us a common reference point, a shared mission and a platform that has evolved into #TeamTampaBay.
Those sneakers took us on a journey Friday night when the 11th annual Sneaker Soiree (the Gasparilla Edition) commenced before a sold-out crowd at Armature Works.
With Tampa Bay Sports Commission executive director Rob Higgins dressed in his best pirate garb, joined by co-host Paul Wight, the 7-foot, 383-pound wrestler known as “The Big Show,’’ the Sneaker Soiree was filled with laughs, gasps, hugs, a dozen standing ovations, tears of happiness, tears of sadness, and, most of all, community pride.
Thank goodness for those sneakers. It was a long walk, one that touched every emotion. At the finish line, we were reminded how the Buccaneers, Lightning, Rays, Rowdies, USF, University of Tampa, local events, local athletes and community activists continually create a tapestry of accomplishments that make “Champa Bay’’ into more than a catchy slogan. It’s now our identity.
A closer look at all of Friday night’s feels:
Star-Gazing Awe — You could catch the likes of Bucs legend Derrick Brooks (Black Nike’s with Brown accents), Pro Football Hall of Fame-in-waiting defensive back Ronde Barber (Red Manchester United’s), former Yankees slugger Tino Martinez (White Nike’s), new USF football coach Alex Golesh (White Adidas), Lightning songbird Sonya Bryson-Kirksey (Black Adidas), Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan (Purple Converse), Lightning coach Jon Cooper (White Adidas) and Savannah Bananas player Dan Oberst (White Nike’s with special Bananas logo), who will be part of the sports and entertainment spectacle on April 28-29 at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field.
Humbled By His Humility — University of Tampa volleyball coach Chris Catanach (Red Nike’s), who had no idea he was about to be recognized, received the Lee Roy Selmon Lifetime Achievement Award.
Catanach, a Hall of Famer who has 1,145 victories and four NCAA Division II national championships in 38 seasons, has built the Spartans into a powerhouse program with a complete absence of ego, fanfare or self-promotion. As one of his all-time best players, Berkley Whaley, pointed out, one of her favorite Catanach memories was arriving early for practice and noticing her coach sweeping the floor while all alone in the gymnasium.
“He has the most integrity of anybody that I've ever known,’’ said Catanach’s wife, Linda. “If you asked him about all the success, he doesn’t see himself that way. I think he knows that he’s accomplished, but I don’t think he understands the magnitude of what he has accomplished and who he has reached in his career.’’
When Catanach sheepishly received his award and expressed his appreciation, he said, “I love the fact that a little ol’ coach and Division II University of Tampa is getting recognized.’’
Remarkable Resilience — USF softball player Alexis Buchman, who was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent surgery to remove a tumor in 2021, was presented with a Sneaker Soiree Community Hero Award (sponsored by Jones Lang LaSalle).
Buchman (White On-Cloud’s) has continued as a student and helped to coach the softball team throughout her medical hardships. USF softball coach Ken Eriksen (White Adidas with Green stripes) said he draws daily inspiration from Buchman’s ongoing battle.
“She’s a true warrior,’’ Eriksen said.
Tireless Advocate — Longtime community leader Bob Morrison (Black Under Armour), executive director of the Hillsborough County Hotel and Motel Association, was presented the Tom McEwen Community Advocate Award (sponsored by Synovus).
Morrison, of course, represents the hospitality industry, which is so vital to the success of all sporting endeavors. He’s also an attorney who was one of two Black players who performed on the fabled 1968 Jesuit High School state football championship team. He has been involved with sports and community events at all levels.
Friends and associates came to rely on him as a local encyclopedia — or, in modern terms, the Internet — because he knew of the key events that happened in the Tampa Bay area. What’s more, he was familiar with the ordinances, rules and laws that shaped key organizations, while knowing all the key players and how to contact them personally.
Knowledge, wisdom and relationships — those are his calling cards. For two decades, it made him uniquely qualified to serve as executive assistant to Tampa’s mayor.
“I have seen the impact of youth athletics,’’ Morrison said. “And I’ve seen the impact of those who have given back.’’
Morrison was in high school during the 1967 race riots that broke out in Tampa’s Central Park neighborhood and he witnessed the burning and destruction of an eight-block area along Central Avenue.
“How do you begin to meld and mesh and feel the pain of a broken community?’’ Morrison said.
He saw the work of his father and other community leaders, who formed the Belmont Heights Little League, which has produced major-league players and successful professionals everywhere.
“I think it was my father’s crowning achievement,’’ Morrison said. “To be a business sponsor for one of the teams. To watch his pride of seeing a young man who didn’t have a whole lot to look forward to … and all of a sudden, he’s wearing a baseball jersey with ‘Morrison’s Pharmacy’ on the back. This is what youth athletics can do.’’
Perseverance and Power — Plant High School basketball player Jayden Spencer (White Jordan’s with Red accents) and Hillsborough High School track and field athlete Erriyon Knighton (Black Alexander McQueen’s) were each presented with Sneaker Soiree Community Hero awards.
Spencer’s award (sponsored by the TB12 Foundation) honored his perseverance in overcoming cancer. After ringing the bell at Moffitt Cancer Center, signifying overcoming the disease, he played in his first game at Gaither and scored a basket. The Bucs honored Spencer and his mother by presenting them with two tickets to Super Bowl 57 in Glendale, Ariz.
Knighton’s award (sponsored by Florida Blue) honored his historic run in track and field, spotlighted by his bronze medal in the 200 meters at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, making him the youngest-ever individual sprint medalist in Championships history.
Roundtable of Giving Back — Higgins ( Under Armour’s Curry 10 More Magic ) and Wight held a roundtable (sponsored by Fanatics) with big-time players from the three major professional teams — Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin (White Jordan’s), Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow (White Thursday Boot’s) and Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (Gray Jordan’s).
Each athlete has provided unforgettable championship memories on the field, diamond and ice. But clearly, they stand for more than individual glory. In their own ways, Godwin, Glasnow and Stamkos have left individual legacies in the Tampa Bay area.
“I’ve been fortunate to be around amazing mentors in my career, starting with Vinny (Lecavalier) and Marty (St. Louis) and when I was a teenager I got to watch those guys give back to the community,’’ Stamkos said. “Then I’ve been Mr. (Jeff) Vinik (Lightning owner) has done to bring the city together. I’ve seen first-hand how you can change people’s lives for the positive. I’ve been here my entire career and this is home for my family. I want to make sure we’re helping out.’’
“It has always been important and emphasized by the Buccaneers for players to get out and become active in the community,’’ Godwin said. “I want to make sure I follow in those footsteps. It’s never lost on me how fortunate I am to be in this position.’’
“It’s really cool how the players from all the franchises support each other and root for each other,’’ Glasnow said. “I think that’s rare and very special. I think all of us have the big picture in mind and we want to help the Tampa Bay area to continue being a great place to live.’’
In tribute to his 500th career NHL goal and his ongoing impact on the community, Stamkos was presented the key to the City of Tampa by Mayor Jane Castor (flats, somehow didn’t get the memo), who also proclaimed Jan. 27 as “Steven Stamkos Day” in the City of Tampa.
Profile In Courage — The evening’s most profound moment occurred when the Freddie Solomon Moral Courage Award (sponsored by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office) was presented to the Pacholke family.
Aaron Pacholke, who has worked at the Moffitt Cancer Center for 22 years, and Laurie Pacholke, the former Freedom High School girls basketball coach who has received treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma, both experienced finding the strength to move forward in difficult situations.
But when their daughter, former USF women’s basketball player Neena Pacholke, died by suicide while working as an ultra-popular television news anchor in Wassau, Wisc., their life took an unthinkable turn.
“So many people have contacted us, sent us gifts along with the story of what Neena did for them and that helped us to be really proud,’’ Aaron said. “And in some ways, it makes us happy. At the same time, it makes us sad that we couldn’t have a different outcome of what transpired.’’
The questions may never be answered. How could such a young, vibrant woman take such a drastic step, leaving the family so crushed and mystified?
“We knew Neena had some (issues) and was working on some stuff,’’ Laurie said. “But even on the day (of her death), she sounded fine. She told us everything was OK. Recognizing anyone struggling with anxiety or depression or any mental illness is half the battle. Not talking about it openly and frankly without judgment, that’s the stigma. And that’s one thing we believe Neena’s legacy can help change.’’
Aaron and Laurie Pacholke — along with their daughter and Neena’s sister, Kaitlynn — are dedicated to forming a foundation that helps people with anxiety and depression issues.
“I think it’s very easy to say ‘suck it up’ or ‘be tough’ and I’ve been guilty of that as a coach,’’ Laurie said. “I’ve been through my own crisis with this. I think everybody just needs to be a little more understanding of what mental health is. I think talking, getting it out, over and over, that’s going to help. People need to be able to stand up and say out loud, ‘I need help.’ And that’s OK.
“We have an opportunity to have a platform to make a change, to impact people’s lives. We’re just continuing a legacy of what Neena would have done and it’s how we can keep her spirit alive with us. It’s a labor of love and it doesn’t stop, even when she can’t be here in person with us. The love doesn’t end. We owe It to her to speak out.’’
The Journey’s End — The Sneaker Soiree also paid tribute to other athletes and sports figures who died during 2022, and special mention was made of Rick Nafe and Leonard Levy, who were both instrumental in the growth of Tampa Bay area sports at all levels.
“Rick Nafe’s fingerprints are all over this event as well as every sports facility in this community,’’ Higgins said. “Leonard was the godfather of Team Tampa Bay. He helped to jump-start our sports community here by helping to get our NFL franchise awarded and get every single Super Bowl that we’ve had here. We’re continuing to try and do everything the way that Leonard taught us.’’
After Godwin, Glasnow and Stamkos left the stage in the evening’s final presentation, Higgins pondered the roundtable of elite athletes, which was dubbed “The Treasures of Tampa Bay.’’
“While we’re beyond lucky to have these iconic athletes in our community, I think they would all agree that the amazing kids and heroes that we celebrated here tonight helped to steal the show, just like a good pirate would,’’ Higgins said. “From Jayden to Erriyon to Alexis to the Pacholke family to Bob Morrison to Coach Catanach, we want each of you to know, on behalf of Team Tampa Bay, that we treasure each of you.
“Your unprecedented courage, your unwavering dedication, your unique spirit … that’s what we all treasure. You inspire us more than you’ll ever know.’’
It was quite a journey of triumph and tragedy, of inspiration and hope. The Sneaker Soiree again spotlighted the strength of #TeamTampaBay — miles of amazing accomplishments and people with a renewed spirit that lets us know there’s much, much more to come in 2023.