Boston, Mass. – on Monday, June 4, former Patriots wide receiver Stanley Morgan was honored at the TD Banknorth Garden along with Ray Bourque, formerly of the Bruins; Cedric Maxwell, who played for the Celtics and local legend Harry Agganis, who played football at Boston University and baseball for the Red Sox. Each of these outstanding athletes received Legacy Awards during the sixth annual "The Tradition" event, and exhibits dedicated to their careers will now be displayed at the arena, which is home to the Bruins, the Celtics and The Sports Museum.
Hosted by Dale Arnold and Michael Holley of WEEI radio fame, the charitable event featured sit-down interviews with the athletes, their introducers and the radio personalities, as well as highlight footage of each athlete.
There to introduce Morgan was his former quarterback, Steve Grogan, who received a Legacy Award at the event in 2003.
"The Sports Museum does a really nice job with the event," said Grogan. "It's changed somewhat since I got mine, the way they bring the guys onto the stage and sit them down and tell stories. I think its kind of fun for the fans. It's a great evening."
After presenting Morgan with the award, Grogan sat down with his No. 1 receiver in front of the packed house to share stories about Morgan, lauding the receiver's little-talked-about but impressive career. Morgan, 52, was the franchise leader in career receptions (534) until last season, when wideout Troy Brown broke the record. Brown, currently an unrestricted free agent, was the team's most tenured player last season, and can't even get a whiff of Morgan's career receiving yards mark (10,352). Morgan currently owns five Patriots franchise records, and Grogan doesn't think anyone will ever come close to matching his 19.4-yard average over 13 seasons with the Pats.
"It won't happen. Not only the way the game's played, but I've never seen anybody faster than him playing the position," Grogan said. "He really did have an extra gear that allowed him to separate from people and get those extra yards. I'm so happy to see him starting to get the recognition that he's deserved around here for a long time. For me to be the guy that introduced him and be the guy that put the Legacy Award around his neck was pretty special."
After all the Legacy Awards were handed out, The Sports Museum honored the entire 1967 "Impossible Dream" Red Sox team with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Proceeds benefited The Sports Museum, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Morgan was joined by his wife, Rholedia. Included in his exhibit at the Garden is a helmet he wore when the Pat Patriot logo still graced the side of the players' helmets.
