AS pays tribute to the best of 2011 and to sports legend Ángel Nieto

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Spanish basketball team, the national Davis Cup team, the women's soccer U-17 and Ángel Nieto, in recognition of his lifetime career, were honored yesterday at the AS Sports Awards 2011. The awards gala was held at the Hotel Palace in Madrid and brought together big names from the worlds of sport, politics and journalism.

The event served to honor, celebrate and reunite. Gathered in the lavish domed ballroom, football legends such as Gento, Zoco and Pachín rubbed shoulders with Iribar, Collar, Adelardo, Ovejero and Ufarte. The cyclist Igor Antón chatted with Julio Jiménez about races past and present.

José Ángel Sánchez, Fernando Fernández Tapias, Fernández de Blas, Emilio Butragueño or Miguel Pardeza were part of the institutional representatives of Real Madrid. Enrique Cerezo, Antonio Alonso and Guillermo Moraleda  were ambassadors for Atletico. Other big names included: Quico Catalan, president of Levante, Jose Luis Astiazaran, president of the Liga, Raul Martin Presa, president of Rayo ... Not to mention Vicente del Bosque, national coach. And there was no shortage of politicians, including Esperanza Aguirre, president of the Community of Madrid, Manuel Cobo, vice mayor of the capital, Javier Hernández, Deputy Minister of Sports of the Madrid regional government, and Jaime Lissavetzky, former Secretary of State for Sport and current Socialist Party spokesman in the city of Madrid.

The awards (the prestigious iron hearts by  Xavier Mascaró) were handed out in the Medinaceli room, with Carrusel presenters Manu Carreño and Jose Antonio Ponseti playing masters of ceremonies. They were joined by comedian Carlos Latre, who did convincing  impersonations of Manolete and Roncero. Florentino also raised a laugh saying: "Let's clone Cristiano and we'll have more Christians here than in La Almudena cathedral".

Stars of basketball gathered to honor, along with president, Pepe Sáez, the success of different generations of players. Vero Boquete gave the girls from the Under-17 soccer team their award and inheritance. And Angel Nieto charmed everyone as usual. José Luis Escañuela, president of Spanish tennis, and Andres Gimeno picked up the prize for past and future glories.

The Illusionist Jorge Luengo  closed the show playing with Cristiano's hands. He didn't dare go near those feet.

Source: AS