At this year’s National Lacrosse League Players’ Association’s Annual General Meeting, the NLLPA announced the winners of two new awards. Ron Jaros was named the recipient of the inaugural Ron Jaros Distinguished Member Award and Drew Belgrave of the San Diego Seals was given the Player Representative of the Year Award.
The NLLPA Ron Jaros Distinguished Member Award is presented each year to a deserving recipient who has made significant contributions toward the advancement of professional lacrosse.
The NLLPA Player Representative of the Year Award is being developed this year to recognize the outstanding efforts put forth by NLLPA Player Representatives throughout the season and off season.
When the Buffalo Bandits joined the NLL (then MILL) in 1992, Jaros, a Buffalo native, had the opportunity to get to know players after games. Upon learning of Jaros’ line of work and respected reputation players would seek his advice on what their rights were as players and what compensation they might be entitled to.
Beyond the box, Jaros spent decades representing unions in the public and private sector and was the former chair of the Labor Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. When it came to lacrosse, Jaros was one of the founders of the PA back in 1993. From that moment and then for almost 30 years, Jaros worked tirelessly whenever needed to fight for players’ rights.
“The NLLPA would not exist nor be anywhere near where we are today without Ron Jaros,” NLLPA Vice President and Executive Director Reid Reinholdt said. “Ron has guided the PA through numerous CBA negotiations and labour disputes. Additionally, Ron has created meaningful relationships with the other professional sports associations that still exist today. Ron perfectly embodies this award and we could not think of a better person to name it after.”
Having been retired from his work for the PA for a handful of years now, Jaros was not expecting this recognition. He was incredibly honored not only to receive the award but for the award to be named after him.
“I assumed my days in the limelight were history, and so the award brought tears to my eyes, literally,” said Jaros.”
Belgrave was also honored to be the first recipient of his award. Belgrave, who has been a member of the San Diego Seals since Day One, has given his heart and soul to one of the younger franchises in the NLL. He has spent every year since 2018 trying to be a positive role model and a leader for his organization. His efforts paid off.
“It’s the first one for the union, and it’s something that Reid and [NLLPA President] Zach [Currier] have started up with trying to acknowledge our union reps and all the work they do, so I’m really grateful to the two of them.”
Belgrave went on to express why he takes his role a a player rep as seriously as he does. He has set a standard for the how player reps should represent their clubs.
“For me, I just want to make sure that every player on my team is aware of what’s going on, whether that’s CBA negotiations,” Belgrave said. “Whether that’s their rights as a player, whether that’s what we do as a team in total. It’s just making sure that everybody’s adequately represented, and for myself personally, I like being kind of ahead of everything that goes on with the league and what’s upcoming.”
A union is only as strong as the members it is made up of. Representatives such as Ron Jaros and Drew Belgrave have shown the sporting community what can be achieved when individuals are passionate about working together to create a more promising and fruitful future.
By Adam Levi