Giroux Wins an Award at the PSWA Dinner, Wait What?

Yesterday the Flyers hit the practice ice, but minus Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell. 

Don't see any of the guys who played in the ASG yesterday, but Read and Couturier are here.

— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) January 30, 2012

You figured these two All-Stars were fresh getting back from Ottawa -- a place of fun time hockey and partying it up with other NHLers. Peter Laviolette gave 'em a maintenance day to recover from the excitement, travel and the exorbitant inhalation of Ottawan stripper dust. 

Then this morning I wake to learn Claude had attended last night's Philadelphia Sports Writers Association (PSWA) Dinner where he received the Pro Athlete of the Year award. 

Let's take a step back. 

'The hell is the PSWA Dinner? Well it was founded in 1905 and ever since then it's been an annual awards banquet for this city's sports writers, held by.....you guessed it....the writers. It's even governed by the dramatists. Sam Carchidi - for example - is the association's Vice President.

They've got a website, and even a Facebook fanpage! 

Nevertheless, even our star center needed a bit of background on the event and award --

“I’ll be honest, at first I wasn’t too sure what the award was. After, when they told me what it was, it’s pretty impressive and I feel honored to receive it.”

Other awards presented during the evening are the Outstanding Amateur Athlete, Team of the Year, Outstanding Penn Relays collegiate performer (Frank Dolson/Penn Relays Award), Living Legend, Native Son, Humanitarian, Good Guy Athlete, and Most Courageous Athlete.

It's great to see Giroux getting all of this recognition in our city. Before this season began, even the ex-Eagle Donovan McNabb was a wider known name in Philadelphia than Claude Giroux. 

Nowadays, #28 is the cock of the walk. He pisses excellence. He bowls......overhand. 

And, ladies, did I mention he's the #1 Bachelor in Philly?

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You can follow Michael DeNicola on Twitter: @MikeyD_OandBP

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