Seahawks DE Michael Bennett disses Cam Newton, wins sports star of year award

Michael Bennett accepts the 2016 Male Sports Star of the Year Award during the 2016 MTRWestern Sports Star of the Year Awards, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 at the Paramount Theater. Michael Bennett accepts the 2016 Male Sports Star of the Year Award during the 2016 MTRWestern Sports Star of the Year Awards, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 at the Paramount Theater. Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 59 Caption Close Seahawks DE Michael Bennett disses Cam Newton, wins sports star of year award 1 / 59 Back to Gallery

In one quip, Michael Bennett drew perhaps the loudest laughs inside the Paramount Theatre Wednesday night at the 2016 MTR Western Sports Star of the Year Awards .

"I hope you guys aren't sore losers like Cam Newton," the Seahawks defensive lineman told the finalists nominated for the Male Sports Star of the Year honor.

Bennett, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod this past season, continued to bring in accolades by winning Male Sports Star of the Year over Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey, Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz, Washington State quarterback Luke Falk, former Washington golfer Cheng-Tsung Pan and Seattle U soccer's Pete Fewing.

Bennett's joke came during his acceptance speech, but afterward, backstage, he let loose another one-liner.

"There's a lot of stars in this town," he said. "I just happen to be the best one."

Bennett, who made the night's biggest fashion statement with a custom-tailored plaid suit, quickly admitted it meant more to earn an award in his own city rather than somewhere else. He also mentioned that he would have dove for the fumble Newton opted to ignore.

"When you get awards from any other place outside your city it doesn't mean as much," he said. "When you get it from your city it makes a big difference."

Therein lies the point of the event -- a local awards ceremony to honor local stars. Wednesday marked the 81st annual Sports Star of the Year Awards, an event spawned by Royal Brougham and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 1936. This year's nominees were selected by a special committee comprised of sports historians, media members and others in the industry. Winners were chosen by fans.

The nearly two-hour long program, hosted by Seahawks play-by-play announcer Steve Raible and Root Sports' reporter Jen Mueller, served to honor the region's most influential figures that defined the sports landscape over the last year.

The other award winners included:

The Female Sports Star of the Year: Seattle Reign FC 's Megan Rapinoe

Rapinoe, a midfielder, helped guide the U.S. women's national team to a World Cup win last summer in Vancouver, BC. She was named a World Cup All-Star, tallying two goals and two assists, as the U.S. beat Japan, 5-2, in the title game. For the Reign, Rapinoe was equally instrumental while leading it to a second consecutive National Women's Soccer League regular season title.

The Sports Story of the Year: UW men's crew rows to fifth consecutive national title

In perhaps the biggest upset of the night, the UW men's crew team took home "Sports Story of the Year" honors over the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, the Seahawks' comeback overtime win over Packers in the NFC title game, right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma's no-hitter last August, the Reign's regular season title and UW women's volleyball's trip to the Elite Eight.

Paul Allen Award (given for philanthropic contributions): Ginger Ackerley

Ackerley, the wife of late Seattle Supersonics owner Barry Ackerley, was honored for her role in launching the Seattle Storm and her work in the Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation, which gives grants to organizations that help pre-K learners in the Puget Sound.

Keith Jackson Award (given to media member for excellence in communicating sports stories of our state): Kevin Calabro

Calabro was the voice of the Supersonics for 19 years before they left for Oklahoma City in 2008. He opted against moving with the Thunder, instead serving various roles, including as a host of a radio show on 710 ESPN Seattle and a play-by-play announcer for the NBA. During his time calling games for the Sonics, Calabro made famous calls such as "Flying chickens in a barnyard!" and "Good golly miss Molly!"

Wayne Gittinger Inspirational Youth Award: Katie Collier, center for the UW's women's basketball team

Collier, a fourth-year junior, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in 2011 during a recruiting trip to UW, tore her ACL the next year during her freshman season at Montlake, then, three years later, worked her way into a starting role for a Huskies team threatening to make the NCAA women's tournament.

Royal Brougham Award (lifetime achievement): Former UW and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon

Moon, the current color commentator for the Seahawks radio broadcast, led the Huskies to a Rose Bowl win in 1978, won five consecutive Grey Cups in the CFL for the Edmonton Eskimos and earned nine Pro Bowl selections in the NFL.

Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle sports news. Contact sports reporter Adam Lewis at adam lewis@seattlepi.com or @AdamLewisPI.