Sports Legend and Broadcaster Terry Bradshaw was honored last week at the Friars Club ESPN Super Bowl Roast at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, AZ.
Jordin Sparks opened the Roast singing The National Anthem. Terry Bradshaw entered to a standing ovation, trailed by cheerleaders from Arizona State University. Host Joel McHale started the roasting as soon as Bradshaw took his seat on-‐stage.
“Terry Bradshaw’s greatest achievement is being bald while still having a mullet,” McHale joked. “And as a thank you for a long, inspiring career, you’ll be insulted for the next hour.”
Roasters included comedians, sportscasters and actors Rob Riggle, Lisa Lampanelli, Jim Norton, Frank Caliendo, Jerry Lewis, Curt Menefee, Jeff Ross, Michelle Beadle and Reese Waters.
To round out the event, Bradshaw’s NFL Sunday co-‐host Howie Long presented the Friars Club Sports Icon Award to Bradshaw to honor his legendary sports career and commitment to giving back through his charitable work.
After receiving his Award, Bradshaw thanked his Roasters, the Friars Club and his wife and daughter for supporting him and gave special recognition to Long for his kind words.
“I’m glad Howie came up here and said some nice things about me because this was starting to wear on me a bit,” Bradshaw said with a laugh.
Bradshaw added that he could still have a great outlook after two hours of jokes at his expense because the Friars Club Roast supports so many wonderful causes. Proceeds from the event benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation Arizona, The V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Gift of Laughter Wounded Warrior Program, a project of the Friars Foundation that provides uplifting entertainment to enhance and increase the wellbeing and positive attitude of troops injured in Iraq and Afghanistan who are currently in military hospitals throughout the United States and in Europe.
Additional guests included Joe Namath, Franco Harris, former Governor Jan Brewer, Jerry Weiers (Mayor of Glendle, AZ), Mel Blount and Lydell Mitchell, among many others. Eric Crown, co-founder and current Chairman Emeritus of the Tempe, Arizona based Insight Enterprises was also honored for his philanthropic work.
Redd’s Wicked Apple is the Title Sponsor of the Roast and Broadcast. Redd’s has been a friend of the Friars having sponsored previous Friars Roasts including Boomer Esiason and Jack Black. Delta Air Lines is a sponsor of the event and the Friars Club’s signature airline. Godiva Chocolatier was also a major sponsor of the Roast.
