New England Sports Legends to Tell Their Stories at Boston's AARP Event in May

BOSTON, April 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New England sports legends Mike Eruzione, Steve Grogan, Bill Russell and Luis Tiant, will speak on a panel moderated by James "JB" Brown at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on Friday, May 9, 2014, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm as part of AARP's bi-annual Life@50+ National Event & Expo taking place in Boston from May 8-10, 2014.  Additional sports-related panels, speakers, and a free movie preview for Life@50+ attendees are detailed below.  More speakers will be announced in the days ahead of the national event including today's most renowned celebrities, lifestyle, health, travel and financial experts.

A separate Life Reimagined panel moderated by journalist Soledad O'Brien on Friday, May 9, at 2:00 pm, will feature Jeff Bauman and Carlos Arredondo.  Bauman lost both legs in the 2013 bombing attack near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, and was photographed being carried away from the wreckage by Arredondo. 

If you are a member of the media and would like to attend, please register here: http://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/events/national_event/press-registration/.

On Friday, May 9, from 4:00pm - 6:00pm, The AARP Movies for Grownups Film Festival will feature a pre-release screening of Million Dollar Arm, which recounts the real-life story of sports agent JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm), who concocts a scheme to find baseball's next great pitching ace in a last ditch effort to save his career. Admission to Movies for Grownups Film Festival films is included in the price of registration for the AARP Life@50+ National Event and Expo. This screening is open to the media but reviews must be embargoed until May 16, 2014.

Other world famous athletes in attendance will include AARP Life Ambassador and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, who, along with James "JB" Brown will help kick off AARP's three days of volunteer activities in and around Boston on Thursday, May 8.

As one of the world's largest member organizations with nearly 38 million members, and the leading organization for people 50+, AARP will host its bi-annual Life@50+ National Event & Expo in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center at 415 Summer Street in Boston from Thursday, May 8 to Saturday, May 10, 2014.  This national event for AARP members and their families will give the community access to some of today's most renowned celebrities including sports, lifestyle, health, travel and financial experts. Attendees will discover new possibilities for their lives through community service activities, innovative exhibits, seminars and an exciting line-up of entertainment to be announced.

Biographies for announced panel members:

Mike Eruzione – Mike Eruzione served as captain of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team who led his team to a stunning defeat of the Soviet Union en route to a gold medal victory over Finland in Lake Placid, New York.  In 1999, Sports Illustrated voted the U.S. Olympic hockey team's "miracle on ice" over the Soviets as the top sports moment of the 20th century.  Eruzione subsequently provided broadcast commentary on  several Olympics games. In 2004, he and his teammates were featured in the Disney movie, Miracle.  A native of Massachusetts, Eruzione was a stand-out hockey player at Boston University (BU). He now he serves as BU's director of development for athletics.

Steve Grogan – New England Patriots Quarterback Steve Grogan, revered as one of the hardest hitters and toughest players ever to take the field for the Patriots, played in 149 games from 1975-1990, rushing for an NFL-record 12 touchdowns in 1976 and for 35 during his career. Grogan ranks among the leaders in team history in nearly every passing category, and lead the 1976 Patriots to the AFC Championship game as well as to their first AFC Championship in 1985.  Grogan was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1995.

Bill Russell –  Bill Russell is an NBA legend and best-selling author whose life defines the word "champion." His uncompromising defensive play and leadership as team captain helped the Boston Celtics achieve nine NBA championships between 1957 and 1967, including eight in a row. Overall, Russell won an unprecedented 18 championships during 21 years of basketball. In 1967, he was named the Celtics' coach, making him the first African American coach in major league sports. His many honors include induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and receipt in 2010 of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Russell has authored several best-selling books, including Second Wind with Pulitzer Prize-winner Taylor Branch, Russell's Rules and Red and Me.

Luis Tiant - Luis Tiant is one of the most beloved pitchers in the history of the Boston Red Sox. The Cuban native is remembered for his charisma, his eccentric delivery and his prominent role in the 1975 World Series match-up between the Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds.  A member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame, Tiant continues working with the team as a pitching advisor.

James "JB" Brown – As a standout basketball player, James "JB" Brown received All-Ivy League honors at Harvard University and captained the team in his senior year before being drafted by the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.  James Brown is now an award-winning broadcaster who hosts The NFL Today on CBS and Inside the NFL on Showtime. He is also a founding partner of the Washington Nationals baseball team.  He is particularly proud of his ongoing commitments to numerous charitable, community and national causes and is the AARP Community Ambassador.

Registration
If you are a member of the media and would like to attend, please register here: http://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/events/national_event/press-registration/.

Admission to Life@50+ for AARP members is $25, $35 for non-members. The entry fee includes access to the Exhibit Floor, the opening show, and workshops/sessions for all three days. Non-Member registration includes a 1 year membership to AARP.  Online registration is open now at www.aarp.org/events or by phone at 1-800-650-6839. 

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.  The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

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SOURCE AARP