By Besa Gordon - It’s that time of year when we gear up for Seattle Sports Commissions, Sports Star of the Year Awards which is the biggest night in sports for Washington State. And although each year is a big deal, this year is a little different, as it’s their 90th anniversary. Over here on Back2Besa, we’ve had the pleasure of being the Sports Star of the Year Awards official Red Carpet host, where I’ve gotten the opportunity to talk to sports legends, figures, and more like Sue Bird, Meghan Rapinoe, Lenny Wilkins, Michael Penix Jr. Kj Wright, Bookie Gates, Beth Knox (who is the CEO of the Seattle Sports Commission) and many more.

If you’re going for the first time this year, let me tell you what you need to know, to get the full effect of the event, you have tp get there early. There is a memorabilia room, with all of the Washington State memorabilia you’ve ever wanted to see up close, there is a mixer, which is where people are able to catch up with those they haven’t seen in a while, and even make new connections, and of course, the red carpet, which is where you can always find me chatting it up with your sports favs, while also asking myself why I wore heels that day. 

And then of course you have the awards show itself, where the biggest names in Washington State sports are recognized for their hard work and contributions to the sports community they put in that year. 

Not even going to lie, my first year I was a true ball of nerves, literally sweating and fanning myself, because I really didn’t want to ask anyone the wrong question, and for the most part, everyone I interviewed, was someone I met right then and there. But I’m happy to say, after getting my first couple of interviews done on the red carpet, ya girl was in a grove, and last year was a piece of cake. I even kicked it with Buoy and the Mariners Moose at one point.

This recap of the 89th annual Sports Star of the Year Awards originally aired on Back2Besa

With this year being the 90th anniversary of the Sports Star of the Year Awards, you can just imagine the stars that will be in the room. For example, this year Marshawn Lynch, five-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion, and Seattle Seahawks Legend, is this year’s recipient of this year’s Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award presented by Microsoft. Like I kid you not, at Sports Star, at any given moment, on one side of you might be Sue Bird, and on the other side, you might see KJ Wright and Doug Baldwin, like it’s wild in the best way.

If you haven’t been to one of the Sports Star of the Year Awards, this is one to pull up to. You can learn more and grab your tickets at Seattlesports.org