After 16 years, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is stepping down as honorary co-chair of a local, annual event benefiting Best Buddies International, the organization announced Tuesday.
After 16 years, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is stepping down as honorary co-chair of a local, annual event benefiting Best Buddies International, the organization announced Tuesday.
“It has been one of my greatest honors to serve as an Honorary Co-Chair of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port,” Tom Brady said in a press release announcing his decision. “This organization has become a part of my life. I love meeting the inspiring buddies at events, seeing their smiles, and hearing them talk about how Best Buddies has changed their lives for the better by helping them make friends at school and find meaningful jobs in their local communities.”
The organization’s founder, chairman, and CEO, Anthony Shriver, said, “We are forever thankful for Tom’s commitment to our cause and mission-driven initiatives.”
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While Brady is choosing to cut ties with the local event, it was simultaneously announced that his relationship with the organization will continue in a new role: global ambassador.
“I am incredibly proud of all the great things that we have accomplished with the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port over the years and I look forward to continuing to support the organization as a Global Ambassador,” Brady said.
“We look forward to seeing all of the phenomenal things he will help us accomplish as a Global Ambassador,” Shriver said of Brady's new role with the organization.
Brady, who had served as an honorary co-chair of the event since 2003, "has proven himself to be a relentless and committed advocate for individuals with disabilities, always going above and beyond the call of duty to help promote a world of inclusion and opportunity for this population,” Shriver said.
With Brady’s departure from the Cape Cod event, two local sports stars, including a good friend of the Pats QB, will join current event co-chairs celebrity chef Guy Fieri and Congressman Joe Kennedy III.
nKEY PLAYERS: Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Troy Brown, Adam Vinatieri, Stephen Gostkowski, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Rodney Harrison, Devin McCourty, Tedy Bruschi, Vince Wilfork, Deion Branch, Mike Vrabel.n
nFRONT OFFICE: Owner Robert Kraft gave coach Bill Belichick nearly complete control over the team's football operations when he hired him in 2000, basically also making him the team's general manager.n
nWHAT MADE THEM GREAT: It all starts with Belichick and Brady and goes from there — year after year after year. The cast on the field has changed several times, of course, except for Brady. The five-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP has been the constant in an unprecedented string of success in the league, playing at an elite, record-breaking level even into his 40s. Belichick has also been masterful at restocking and reshuffling his roster and still having a perennial contender. The Patriots, who have won 10 straight AFC East titles and 15 out of 16, even have two "mini-dynasties" within this 18-year span. They won three championships in four years from 2002-05 and are now looking for their third in five years — a stretch that includes three straight appearances in the Super Bowl.n
nSHINING MOMENT: Little did the sports world know at the time, but New England's first Super Bowl win to cap the 2001 season was just the beginning of what has become the most impressive stretch of consistent winning in NFL history. A victory this year over the Rams — fittingly, also the Patriots' opponent in that first one — would tie Pittsburgh for the most Lombardi Trophy wins in the league with six. Nine of New England's NFL-record 11 Super Bowl appearances have also come during this 18-season span.
nKEY PLAYERS: Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewartn
nFRONT OFFICE: Coach Geno Auriemman
nWHAT MADE THEM GREAT: Auriemma built the team into the best in the sport, having won 11 national championships in the past 23 years, including four straight with Stewart. Even more impressive, in the past decade the Huskies have gone 388-15, with six of their titles. It's easy to say he's had the best players in the sport, but he's also developed them into some of the best in the world. The coach has built a culture of winning where one loss is seen as a bad year. How impressive have they been? They haven't lost consecutive games in more than 25 years. That's right: UConn has not had a losing streak since 1993.n
nSHINING MOMENT: Lobo led UConn to its first national championship in 1995 and the first of six undefeated seasons. During this 23-year run, UConn has had a 111-game winning streak and a 90-game winning streak — the top two all-time in men's and women's college basketball.
nKEY PLAYERS: Julio Jones, AJ McCarron, Derrick Henry, Rolando McClain, Minkah Fitzpatrick.n
nFRONT OFFICE: Coach Nick Sabann
nWHAT MADE THEM GREAT: Alabama was a storied program long before Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa after venturing into the NFL. Since his arrival, the Crimson Tide has won five national titles over the past decade and played for two more. Alabama has gone 139-15 over the past 11 seasons using his famed "Process" built with his unwavering focus and intensity. It's widely regarded as the best run in major college football history. Saban has consistently brought in the nation's top recruiting classes, replenishing the roster annually after his biggest stars move on to the NFL, often as underclassmen. Alabama's only two Heisman Trophy winners, tailbacks Mark Ingram and Henry, have come during his reign. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was the runner-up last season.n
nSHINING MOMENT: Alabama won the 2009 national title, the first under Saban, with what remains his only undefeated season as a head coach. It was a vintage performance for the Tide, with an overpowering defense and a running game led by Ingram and Trent Richardson, both eventual first-round draft picks.
nKEY PLAYERS: Derek Jeter, newly elected Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Paul O'Neill, Tino Martinez.n
nFRONT OFFICE: GM Brian Cashman followed the George Steinbrenner model of spending big to make championship teams even better; Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre kept the egos in check in the clubhouse.n
nWHAT MADE THEM GREAT: Restored the mantle of the Bronx Bombers, putting together runs that rivaled the days of the Babe, Joe D, the Mick and Reggie. They never gave away an at-bat, never beat themselves. Roger Clemens and David Cone boosted strong rotations, games were over once "Enter Sandman" greeted Rivera. The whole team seemed to play even better once the calendar flipped to October — the backhanded flip by Jeter in the playoffs, who else does that?n
nSHINING MOMENT: Won a record 14 straight World Series games from 1996-2000 en route to four titles in five seasons. Went an incredible 125-50 overall in 1998. Came within two outs of another crown in 2001, losing Game 7 at Arizona.
nKEY PLAYERS: Hall of Famers Mike Bossy, Billy Smith, Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier, Clark Gilliesn
nFRONT OFFICE: GM Bill Torrey made brilliant draft choices and trades; coach Al Arbour went on to win 781 games. Both also are Hall of Famers.n
nWHAT MADE THEM GREAT: Versatility and camaraderie as much as talent. The Islanders had the big-time gunner in Bossy, their greatest player; the staunch and super-aggressive goalie in Smith; the creative playmaker in Trottier; the hard-hitting overseer and passing genius on defense with Potvin; and the banger who would score key goals in Gillies. Thanks to Arbour, a solid defenseman as a player, they also had a dedication to protecting their own end — sharpshooter Bossy even became a strong penalty killer. And they were deep, with such clutch performers as Butch Goring, John Tonelli, Bob Nystrom, Bob Bourne and two of the Sutter brothers (Duane and Brent) on second and third lines.n
nSHINING MOMENT: The Islanders won four straight Stanley Cups, 1980-83, and played for a fifth in '84, losing to an Edmonton team they swept in the previous year's final. Their 19 consecutive postseason series victories is an NHL record that might never be challenged.
nKEY PLAYERS: Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman; Horace Grant and Toni Kukoc.n
nFRONT OFFICE: GM Jerry Krause was the architect who wasn't beloved by the players within the organization or perhaps appreciated enough outside of it. He was not enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until a few months after his death in 2017. Coach Phil Jackson relied on the triangle offense and his calm demeanor to win an NBA-record 11 championships as a coach, following his six in Chicago with five more with the Lakers.n
nWHAT MADE THEM GREAT: The ultra-demanding Jordan is one of the leading scorers and greatest players in NBA history, and the Bulls won three straight titles from 1991-93 and 1996-98 when they had him for full seasons. That run of titles was interrupted only when he retired for 1½ years and played minor league baseball. He was also a dominant defensive guard, and when he, Pippen and Rodman were on the floor, the Bulls could simply shut down teams, with seven-time rebounding champion Rodman often chasing down the missed shots they forced.n
nSHINING MOMENT: Stung by a loss in the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals shortly after a rusty Jordan returned from his first retirement, the Bulls came back with a vengeance the next season. They won their first 37 home games and 72 overall, the latter a record that stood until Golden State surpassed it in 2016. Unlike the Warriors, the Bulls capped their season with a championship, beating Seattle in the 1996 NBA Finals to kick off their second three-peat.
“I’m also excited that my good friend Julian Edelman is stepping up, alongside Jayson Tatum, to serve as new honorary co-chairs for the new Friday night event hosted by Guy Fieri, Congressman Kennedy, and Vice Chairs Randy Greenstein and Ed Kane of Big Night Entertainment Group,” Brady said.
The Patriots wide receiver and Celtics forward will come on board for the all-new 2020 Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port, which the organization says will feature an extensive culinary experience with recipes from TB12 and Chef Allen Campbell and a private music concert in the new Big Night Live Hub on the Causeway.
Founded in 1989, Best Buddies is dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for individuals with special abilities.
