Musial Awards will air Christmas afternoon and again later

To The Press

The Musial Awards will deliver added holiday cheer this weekend. The show honoring extraordinary sportsmanship airs on the CBS Television Network and streams live on Paramount+ Christmas Day at 4 p.m.

Viewers will get to see the top moments and uplifting stories of kindness and selflessness celebrated at the 2021 Musial Awards, which took place last month at Stifel Theatre in St. Louis.

Included is the story of Charles City’s own Mario Hoefer, who gained national attention for an act of sportsmanship, helping an opposing player in a football game stretch out a leg cramp. The photo of the act, taken by Wendy Luft, was widely published by national media.

“The Musial Awards Presented By Maryville University recognize the year’s greatest moments of sportsmanship and those in sports who embody class and character,” according to press release from CBS.

The awards are named for St. Louis Cardinals legend Stan Musial, a beloved baseball superstar and civic icon who was the ultimate good sport.

This year’s Musial Awards honorees include, in addition to Hoefer, “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky, National League MVP Bryce Harper, Olympic high jump champions Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi, Scripps National Spelling Bee winner Zaila Avant-garde, and others who have shown remarkable sportsmanship. All will be featured in the Christmas Day broadcast.