SHARKEY-IMAGES

Thanks to everyone that came out for the OPA Awards Celebration.

Thank you Smitty, Augie, Louie and the latest OPA Season Sponsor OPTIMUM BATTERIES.

Congratulations to Jimmy Winters on winning the GODFATHER CUP AWARD and all of the OPA 2010 CHAMPIONS

Photos from the event can be found at:

http://www.sharkey-images.com/index.html

imax

Great to see you Tim... Guess we both had a little time this afternoon...

Take care,
Bruce

Catastrophe

Love the comraderie in the pics Tim.

What is the Godfather Award about ??

TeamSaris

Heres the 3 things that i heard most last night
1. Smitty shouldnt wear red
2. Boomer needed a haircut
3. Jim (Optima guy) is my long lost uncle

SHARKEY-IMAGES

Likewise Bruce.

Spent all morning and early afternoon processing and uploading the pics. Then I realized how much of the day had gone by and not spent any time with my family...

My wife and oldest daughter ended up going out as they were no longer waiting for me to get done...

At that point I pulled the plug on the computer and took my youngest daughter shopping in the Mall. Now there's a 1st !

Just got in now to finish up a few things and then chilling with them all tonight to watch some TV ...

SHARKEY-IMAGES

Thanks! That's what OPA is built on, the camaraderie.

As for Bruce and I, we share the same passion and are always willing to help each other any way we can.

The Godfather Award isn't won it is earned.

It is earned by sportsmanship, camaraderie, reaching out to those in need in and out of the sport of offshore.

There is a whole story behind Jimmy Winters and his # 1 fan Julia and I think Jimmy was really caught off guard by this Award.

From the time in Ocean City 2008 this little girl Julia had become attached to the Talkin Trash team. Perhaps it had something to do with Oscar on the side of the boat but she really loved the team. A friendship had started and they have been great friends ever since.

Rather than get into all of the details here, see the story "The little girl who stole the Offshore Racer's heart." by Dave Patnaude.

I believe this last December, when Jimmy stood in for Julia's grandfather while he was in the hospital, and took her to an Ice Show that he was supposed to do, it touched a lot of people.

No one would have known anything about it, but when pictures started showing up on Face Book of this trip to Washington, people were curious and questions started being asked.

Jimmy would have been just fine without the publicity of as he was not looking for that.

For many people that know Jimmy, sure he can be Oscar the Grouch, but this was another side of Jimmy probably no one would have expected to see.

Many of us contribute to several things to make a difference in someone's life and never a thought of expecting anything in return but maybe bring a smile to a person's face.

I can assure you, that was all Jimmy wanted was to be a friend to Julia and her family and when the time came for Jimmy step up, he did out of the goodness of his heart.

That was enough of a gesture for the ones that decide who gets their name on the Godfather Award this year and it was decided to go to Jimmy Winters.

Congrats Jimmy !

SHARKEY-IMAGES

Johnny I heard that and a little more....

Obviously things ran a bit long with the awards as they usually do.

But if what I heard is true, I'm sure there will be an opportunity for you to perform at some point through the 2011 season.
I am looking forward to it and I am sure Scotty will love it !!

TeamSaris

SHARKEY-IMAGES

Thank you once again Hering Propellers and Headlines Direct for your support !

SHARKEY-IMAGES

Haggin always has his hands full.....