Utican on sports weekly's 2002 list
D'Alessandro one of sports' 'most powerful'
Originally published Jan. 13, 2003

BOSTON -- Utica native David F. D'Alessandro has been named to The Sporting News' list of the 100 Most Powerful People in Sports for the eighth consecutive year.

D'Alessandro, John Hancock Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is listed No. 23 on the magazine's list. He was No. 17 a year ago.

George Steinbrenner, celebrating 30 years at the helm of the New York Yankees, is No. 1.

D'Alessandro is recognized as the chief architect behind John Hancock's sports sponsorships, including the company's current five-year Major League Baseball sponsorship, the world-wide sponsorship of the Olympic Games through 2008 and principal sponsorship of the Boston Marathon.

The Sporting News notes D'Alessandro's "clout goes beyond dollars -- he was outspoken on Olympics scandals and helped broker the Red Sox sale."

D'Alessandro, who earned varsity letters in tennis and track-and-field at Thomas R. Proctor Senior High School in the 1960s, recently donated $250,000 to Proctor's new stadium project. The facility will be named D'Alessandro Stadium.

D'Alessandro graduated from Proctor in 1968.

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