There are a few days on the calender that every sports fan has circled, the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby and for those of us here in the Northern Shenandoah Valley we've got the Apple Blossom Sports Breakfast. Hundreds showed up for the annual event at the Moose lodge in Winchester, co-sports marshals Nadia Comaneci and Gale Sayers shared inspirational tales... while emcee Ken Mease cracked jokes throughout the show. The sold out event is amongst the blooms most popular features, and while fans were pumped so where the visiting dignitaries. "I'm happy to be here for such a huge event" said Olympic Gold Medalist Nadia Comaneci, "Happy to have such great weather and so many people attending, it's my first time but hopefully not last!". Comaneci's co-marshal was equally complimentary. "I like coming to things like this because this is where the real people are" said Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers, "These are the people who support basketball and football and baseball but don't get to see the games."

Though Comaneci and Sayers are heroes to many, hands down the most inspirational speaker of the morning was special olympic gold medalist Sterling Grooms. Grooms signed autographs alongside football stars Kelley Washington and Sayers... and for the Winchester native it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. "Never in my life would I have met all these celebrities at the 81st Apple Blossom" noted Grooms, who brought home multiple gold medals from the 2007 Special Olympics in China, "I can't describe the words but I'm glad to be with all these great athletes here."

Another popular guest, Sherando High School graduate Kelley Washington, who now plays for the NFL's New England Patriots. Kelley usually makes it home for the Apple Blossom and was glad to share the Bloom spirit with his home town community. "It's always good to come back and see the parade" says Washington, who is currently in off-season training with New England. "It's a good time to come back and enjoy the community and the people who have supported me unconditionally."

While Jerry Rice did not make an appearance at the Sports Breakfast, he also raved about his time in the Apple Capital during a Friday Interview. "This is really big here in Winchester" exclaimed the 3-time Super Bowl champ, "There's a lot of people who have come out and showed their support and we are looking forward to the rest of the weekend."