Kyrie Irving, Mentor football team win at 13th Annual Cleveland Sports Awards

CLEVELAND - The 13th Annual Cleveland Sports Awards ceremony at the Renaissance Hotel downtown was another huge success.

The stars came out on a cold winter’s night to participate in what has become the hottest ticket in Cleveland sports.

"This night is not about celebrating championships, it’s all about celebrating Cleveland as a sports city,” said David Gilbert, the head of the Cleveland Sports Commission.

The event was sold out for the second straight year and featured something for every Cleveland sports fan. The event featured today’s stars like Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving as well as stars of years past from the Browns and Indians.

Irving had what he called "The greatest night of my life.” Earlier in the night, the 20-year-old found out he had been selected as a reserve to his very first NBA All-Star team. Irving was gushing when he came on stage Thursday night to pick up the award for Cleveland’s best professional athlete, beating out Phil Dawson and Anderson Varejao.

Irving accepted the award from head coach Byron Scott and Cavs general manager Chris Grant.

"I couldn't be more proud of him, it is a well deserved honor,” Scott said.

“I’m truly blessed and thankful for the opportunity that the NBA has afforded me,” Irving said. “This is more of a blessing for our team and the city of Cleveland, and that’s what it’s mainly about. I’m just really happy and excited for this opportunity.”

The Mentor football was well represented, as senior quarterback Mitch Trubisky won the award for top Cleveland high school athlete and his football team captured the award for best Cleveland sports moment with their thrilling triple overtime win over St. Ignatius in the Division I Regional Final.

The collegiate athlete of the year award was presented to the Kent State Baseball team, which made a historic run to the College World Series in Omaha in 2012.

Amateur athlete of the year award went to Tianna Madison of Elyria, who won gold at the London Olympic Games.

Maybe the best group of presenters on the night had to be pro boxing promoter Don King who was teamed with Indians President Mark Shapiro and Cleveland State head basketball coach Gary Waters.