WNBA Legend Sheryl Swoopes Receives Sports Legacy Award During MLK Celebration

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Jan. 21, 2020 - PRLog -- On Monday January 21st, Six Time WNBA All Star and Naismith Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes received the Sports Legacy Award. The Memphis Grizzlies hosted their 15th Annual National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award including WNBA great Sheryl Swoopes, former NFL quarterback Doug Williams, NBA great Robert Parish and former NBA star Caron Butler on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Sheryl Swoopes, very appreciative and honored for the recognition, was very candid on her thoughts on the Civil Rights Movement conversation and the impact Dr. King had on her life. "We all made sacrifices to be the best that we could be in our field, but to me, that's not a real sacrifice," Swoopes said. "What Doctor King did was a real sacrifice." Caron Butler added, "Me and Sheryl we had a moment where we cried on the balcony where he was assassinated. It was a lot to take in at the time." Swoopes and Butler have a lot more in common than just basketball. The two sports legends are actually related and found out over this weekend. Caron Butler has known for years but his wife spilled the tea to Swoopes just yesterday. When Butler and Swoopes were asked how it feels to know they both have the same push to help others, Swoopes said, "It runs in the family. I can say that now."

For the Memphis Grizzlies, it is more than another basketball game. On MLK Day, it is all about celebrating the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the impact he had on Memphis and all over the world. The honorees took part in a series of events this past weekend including participating in the JR. NBA panel discussion, visiting the Civil Rights Museum where Dr. King was assassinated, speaking on the annual Earl Lloyd Sports Legacy Symposium, visiting the St. Jude Children's Hospital, and having their awards presented right before tip-off of the Memphis Grizzlies game versus the New Orleans Pelicans.

Celebrities and noteable guests included NBA great Grant Hill, streetball player and influencer Larry "Bone Collector" Williams, Entertainer Leslie Odom Jr., and more. The 18^th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Game hosted by the Memphis Grizzlies, National Civil Rights Museum, City of Memphis and Shelby County was presented by Ford and your Mid-South Ford Dealers.