John Flaherty, Dave Maloney to be Honored at Irish American Sports Good Guy Luncheon March 15

March 2, 2010 - PRLog -- Two beloved New York sports figures of Irish American heritage who recently passed away will be remembered at a St.  Patrick’s week benefit luncheon. On Monday afternoon, March 15, at 12:00 noon at Gallagher’s Steak House in  New York City, Dick McGuire, the legendary St. John’s and New York Knicks star and NBA Hall of Famer, and John Halligan, the Rangers and NHL public relations executive, historian and author, will be honored with the creation of the “Halligan-McGuire Irish American Sports Good Guy Awards.”  Teri McGuire, Dick’s loving wife of 54 years; John Flaherty, former Yankee and YES Network analyst; Janet Halligan,   John’s loving wife of 41 years; and Dave Maloney,  the former Ranger/MSG Network-1050 ESPN Radio Broadcaster,  will be the inaugural honorees at the luncheon to benefit Fordham University.

Tickets are priced at $75, and include a three course luncheon menu and a donation. For information and tickets call Cirillo World at 212-972-5337 or email johnnycigarpr@aol.com. Gallagher’s Steak House is located at 228 West  52nd Street (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue) in New York City (212.245.5336).

Born in the Bronx, a product of the Rockaways and a long time Dix Hills, Long Island resident, McGuire was a part of the Knicks organization for 53 seasons as a player, coach and scout. The St. John’s University star was one of the most selfless players in NBA history. The deft-passing McGuire was a five-time all star and led the Knicks to three straight NBA Finals in the fifties. His number 15 was retired to the Madison Square Garden rafters in 1992, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame the following year.

A native of Bergenfield, NJ, and a longtime resident of Franklin Lakes, Halligan began his career in the Rangers publicity office in 1963, upon graduation from Fordham University. Over the next 20 years his role expanded to include vice president of communications and business manager.  Halligan left the Rangers for a public relations position with the NHL in 1983, before returning to the Rangers in 1986. He went back to the NHL in 1990 before retiring in 2006. He wrote several books, including "100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters" and "Game of My Life: New York Rangers."