In 2005, Cincinnati honored NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson with the Red, White & Blue Award, celebrating his steadfast devotion to the city he has championed for over four decades. An Olympic gold medalist and one of the most admired figures in sports, Robertson remains revered not only for his achievements on the court but for his role as a labor leader, entrepreneur, and community activist. Named “Player of the Century” by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, he is widely regarded as the greatest college basketball player in history.
The award ceremony took place at Cincinnati's historic Taft Theater, where Robertson’s childhood hero, Harlem Globetrotters legend Marques Haynes, presented him with the honor. The event featured a stirring performance by multi-platinum artist Brian McKnight and benefited the National Kidney Foundation, a cause close to Robertson’s heart since he donated a kidney to his daughter Tia in 1997.
CINCINNATI SALUTES
OSCAR "THE BIG O" ROBERTSON
The 2005 Red, White & Blue Award was presented to NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who was honored for his unwavering support of Cincinnati for over four decades. An Olympic Champion, Oscar is one of the most enduringly popular and respected athletes in the history of sports.
Regarded as the greatest college basketball player of all time, The National Association of Basketball Coaches voted him “Player of the Century.” He has also distinguished himself as a labor leader, an entrepreneur and a community activist.
Oscar’s boyhood hero Marques Haynes of the Harlem Globetrotters presented the Red, White & Blue Award to Oscar at a benefit concert at the historic Taft Theater in downtown Cincinnati that featured a performance by Multi-Platinum artist Brian McKnight. Since Robertson donated a kidney to his daughter Tia in 1997, he chose the National Kidney Foundation as the event beneficiary.
