Teddy Atlas Dinner Is ON; Thursday, Nov. 19, The (Virtual) Show Will Take Place

Regarding the 24th Annual Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation Dinner…it will take place.

The podcaster-analyst-trainer-philanthropist put out word that on Thursday, Nov. 19, the dinner will unfold, COVID be damned.

“I know 2020 has been one of the worst years in recorded history, dealing with the economic downturn from the Covid 19 virus,” Atlas said in a press release. “Many of us can’t even attend Thanksgiving Dinner with family. I know many of you are feeling a pinch in the pocketbook too. The country is stressed out and in the past one place we could all unite in a common human cause was at the annual Dr. Atlas Dinner where kindness for those less fortunate than ourselves as the holidays approached made us all part of the same American family.”

The ex ESPN analyst has transitioned nicely. You may know that after ESPN and Top Rank decided to shuffle their on air talent deck, Atlas kept striding. He showed a knack for video-podcasting, and his “The Fight With Teddy Atlas” boasts 138,000 subscribers.

“Sadly this virus that has socially distanced us from loved ones will prevent us from gathering at our usual banquet hall at the Staten Island Hilton Garden Inn,” Atlas continued in the release. “But where there is good will there is a way to help others. So the show must go on virtually on Thurs., Nov. 19, from 7-8:30 PM ET, when Teddy Atlas and Ken Rideout will host a cavalcade of celebs at the Atlas Dinner, including Daniel Cormier, the UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion.

Others take part include Dick Vitale, legendary hoops sportscaster and coach, Phil Simms, NY Giants QB legend and Super Bowl MVP, Evander Holyfield, three-time world Heavyweight champion, actor and ex pro boxer Tony Danza, comedian Rob Magnotti, and UFC host and ESPN commentator, Ariel Helwani. The auction will be hosted by Bob Papa, voice of the NY Giants and Golf Channel, and Brian Kenny, host of MLB network.

Click here to read about the 2013 dinner, on the ESPN NY website. And here is the clip hyping the 2012 dinner, on ESPN.com. In 2014, I wrote about “the Teddy dinner” while I ran TheSweetScience.com.

“But the real stars are YOU, the good-hearted donors of the Dr. Atlas Foundation, who have been coming to this dinner for the past 24 years and donating hard-earned money to people who have been dealt a lousy hand in the midst of this treacherous pandemic which has placed a greater demand on our foundation and fewer fundraising opportunities. We know the virus has hurt most of you too; some have lost earnings, profits, businesses, jobs and worst of all loved ones. But if you can manage to spare a few bucks this year there are desperate people out there who have run out of options for rent, food, medical needs, or just to keep the lights on and steam in their radiators and winter coats on their kids’ backs as winter approaches,” Atlas continued.

“Yes, we’re asking you to help put turkeys on empty Thanksgiving tables, a toy in a poor kid’s hands, and hope in the eyes of a widow left suddenly alone after a breadwinner gasps his last breath alone in a Covid ward. We’re asking you to give us 90 minutes, no traffic jams this year, from a comfortable chair at home where you can sip an adult libation and make the holidays of this terrible year just a little better for those down on their luck. We’re asking YOU, the Dr. Atlas Family, to pass the gravy at our virtual pre-Thanksgiving Teddy Dinner so that others can have a holiday season with just a little more cheer and enough hope to answer the scary bell of 2021.

Please hit the link on Thurs, Nov. 19, at 7 pm and eat, drink, bid, laugh, wipe a tear, and bless yourself with the gift of giving in the Yuletide of 2020. I promise that you will feel better about this terrible year just by showing up and giving thanks that we can still offer a helping hand to a people in true need.

God bless all of you and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You’re simply the best, always have been, always will be.”

He signed the note simply,

“Teddy”

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