Z Receives Cavs Austin Carr Good Guy Award

[wuck]

The most redundant award designation ever. They should just rename it to the "A.C. and Z Good Guy Award" when Z retires.

Well-deserved congrats to Z.

Ilgauskas Receives Austin Carr Good Guy Award

CLEVELAND, OH - April 16th, 2009 - Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is the recipient of the fourth annual Austin Carr Good Guy Award, presented by the local chapter of the Pro Basketball Writers Association (PBWA).

The award, named after Cavaliers legend Austin Carr, is designed to recognize the Cavaliers player who is cooperative and understanding of the media, the community and the public. Carr, who played nine seasons with the Cavaliers, was the number one pick of the 1971 NBA Draft by Cleveland and was selected by 32 members of the media in Northeast Ohio to the Cavaliers’ All-Time Starting Five during the Cavaliers 30th anniversary season of 1999-2000. He is now the television analyst for FSN Ohio and the team’s Director of Community and Business Development.

Ilgauskas, a first-round draft choice of the Cavs in 1996 who overcame numerous foot injuries to become a two-time All-Star, has spent his entire career with the team. This season the Lithuanian became the team's all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots.

The award, which is presented annually, was voted upon by the local writers in Cleveland’s chapter of the Pro Basketball Writers Association.

Austin Carr Good Guy Award Recipient Winners:
2008-09 -- Zydrunas Ilgauskas
2007-08 – Damon Jones
2006-07 – Drew Gooden
2005-06 – Larry Hughes

SOURCE



Bob Finnan offers some reflections:

Gentle Giant

Bob Finnan / News Herald blog

I've been around Zydrunas Ilgauskas since he was drafted in 1996. I wrote about him before that draft. Scouts were high on the 7-3 Lithuanian, especially after his performance against Kentucky in an exhibition game the year before.

When he arrived, he spoke broken English and could barely put sentences together. He came aboard with another European in that draft, Wright State forward/center Vitaly Potapenko, who had the luxury of playing two years in college before coming to the NBA. It was an absolute nightmare to interview the pair. :chuckles:

But along the way, Z has emerged as not only one of the best interviews on the team, but one that has a good sense of humor and a bit of sarcasm and wit.

I was honored to present him with the Austin Carr Good Guy Award before the game on Wednesday. At midcourt, nonetheless, with the PA announcer alerting the sold-out crowd what was taking place.

Z got a nice round of applause. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Seriously. He's one of my favorite Cavs in the 15 years I've covered the team.

I ran into him in the hallway after the game and he thanked me again. No, thank you, Z.

SOURCE

 

[Warren G.]

Austin Carr Good Guy Award Recipient Winners:
2008-09 -- Zydrunas Ilgauskas
2007-08 – Damon Jones
2006-07 – Drew Gooden
2005-06 – Larry Hughes

One of these things is, most definitely, not like the others...

 

[Chris]

larry hughes, rofl

 

[breanna]

:rofl: at Larry Hughes getting the award in years past.

 

[Karma]

_amon _ones good guy???

More like goodbye present.

 

[camakazee]

:rofl: at Larry Hughes getting the award in years past.

Larry is actually a pretty decent dude.

He does a lot of charity work (pumped gas for Clevelanders a few years back around the holidays when families were strapped for cash), has the Larry Hughes foundation for families looking for organ transplants for their children, and runs a basketball camp. Certainly a good guy.

Now a good Cavalier...

 

[breanna]

Larry is actually a pretty decent dude.

He does a lot of charity work (pumped gas for Clevelanders a few years back around the holidays when families were strapped for cash), has the Larry Hughes foundation for families looking for organ transplants for their children, participates in a lot of charity work, and runs a basketball camp. Certainly a good guy.

Now a good Cavalier...

I know that it's just that it's Larry Hughes. AKA the chucker.

 

[Man Called X]

Well, if he's such a nice guy, why can't I get the time for a beer with him? I kid, I kid. Go Big Z. What a great ****ing guy.

 

[Dr. Gymbo]

This is all well and good, but it raises a question in my mind. It's not like Z magically became a good guy all of a sudden. What's taken so long for him to get this award? I mean we're on year four now. Drew Gooden > Z? Get that weak stuff outta here A.C.

~Jim

 

[BigErieCavsFan]

This is all well and good, but it raises a question in my mind. It's not like Z magically became a good guy all of a sudden. What's taken so long for him to get this award? I mean we're on year four now. Drew Gooden > Z? Get that weak stuff outta here A.C.

~Jim

I was thinking the same thing when I looked at the past winners. I'm surprised Snow wasn't a past winner too. Z more than deserves it, I love the big guy!...

 

[Dr. Gymbo]

It's also kind of interesting how none of the previous three award winners are current Cavalier members. I would say that being a winner of the Good Guy award means you are not very talented and are not a Good Cav, but Z breaks that trend (despite what some people around here may think or say about Z).

There's another trend that I don't want to think about: Z would no longer be a Cav by the time next year's award comes out. Here's hoping he breaks that trend as well.

~Jim