MANUEL MARQUEZ, PAU GASOL, JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ, CUAUHTEMOC BLANCO, JEFF GARCIA, GUILLERMO OCHOA, LUIS TIANT, AMONG HISPANIC ATHLETES RECOGNIZED DURING
“TECATE PREMIOS DEPORTES” AWARDS SHOW ON UNIVISION
MIAMI (July 6, 2009) – The second annual edition of the “Tecate Premios Deportes” (Tecate Sports Awards) paid homage last night to the accomplishments and character of Hispanic professional athletes during a star-studded ceremony broadcast by the Univision Network from the historic Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. The event, which was presented by Cerveza Tecate, a Heineken USA import, was hosted by Angélica Vale, Fernando Fiore and Cristián de la Fuente.
Seventeen athletes from six sports categories were selected by a panel of distinguished current and former professional sportsmen and sports personalities to receive awards based on their statistical excellence, cumulative contributions to their team and Hispanic community during 2008. Among those recognized were Juan Manuel Márquez (Athlete of the Year and Boxer of the Year), Jeff García (American Football Player of the Year), Pau Gasol (Basketball Player of the Year), Helio Castroneves (Auto Racer of the Year) and Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Soccer Player of the Year).
Tributes were also presented to boxing champion Roberto Durán (Golden Eagle Award), MLB baseball great Luis Tiant (Sports Idol Award) and Mexican boxing marvel Julio César Chavez (Sports Legend Award) highlighting their impressive lifetime careers. Additionally, wrestler Henry Cejudo was honored for his accomplishments at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with the Triumphant Spirit Award.
The celebrity-filled audience was entertained throughout the night by performances by some of today’s biggest Latin music stars such as Mexican pop diva Gloria Trevi, Colombian singer Fanny Lu, Mexican crooner Cristian Castro, pop solo artist Pee Wee, Mexican regional acts Lupillo Rivera, Patrulla 81 and La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de Rene Camacho, and reggaetón duo Angel y Khriz.
Special appearances included Oscar de la Hoya, Luis Castillo (award nominee), Steven Goldstein (award nominee), Jim Plunkett, Antonio Pérez (award nominee), Rey Mysterio, actresses Odalys Garcia and Adriana Fonseca, TV personality Daisy Fuentes, musicians Diana Reyes, Beto Cuevas and Michael Salgado, soccer players Paco Palencia, Manuel Negrete, Eduardo Lillingston, Jorge Flores and Maykel Galindo, among many others.
Following is the complete list of winners for the second annual edition of “Tecate Premios Deportes”:
Tecate Athlete of the Year (Tecate Atleta del Año)
Juan Manuel Márquez, boxing
Boxer of the Year (Boxeador del Año)
Juan Manuel Márquez
Baseball Player of the Year (Jugador de Béisbol del Año)
Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers
Soccer Player of the Year (Jugador de Fútbol del Año)
Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Chicago Fire
American Football Player of the Year (Jugador de Fútbol Americano del Año)
Jeff García, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Basketball Player of the Year (Jugador de Baloncesto del Año)
Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
Auto Racer of the Year (Piloto de Automovilismo del Año)
Helio Castroneves, IndyCar
Rising Star of the Year (La Nueva Promesa del Año)
Víctor Ortiz, boxing
All-Star Soccer Team of the Year (Equipo Estelar de Fútbol del Año)
Goal Keeper (Mejor Portero)
Guillermo Ochoa, Club América
Fullback (Mejor Defensa Lateral)
Amaury Ponce, C.D. Guadalajara
Center Defense (Mejor Defensa Central)
Rafael Márquez, FC Barcelona de España
Defensive Midfielder (Mejor Medio Defensivo)
Gerardo Torrado, Cruz Azul
Offensive Midfielder (Mejor Medio Ofensivo)
Andrés Guardado, Deportivo La Coruña
First Forward (Delantero 1)
Salvador Cabañas, Club América
Second Forward (Delantero 2)
Héctor Mancilla, Deportivo Toluca F.C.
Rookie of the Year (Novato del Año)
Néstor Calderón, Club Toluca
Best Coach (Mejor Entrenador)
José Manuel de la Torre, Deportivo Toluca F.C.
Golden Eagle Award Tribute (Águila de Oro)
Roberto Durán, boxing
Sports Idol Tribute Award (Ídolo del Deporte)
Luís Tiant, baseball
Sports Legend Tribute Award (Leyenda del Deporte)
Julio César Chávez, boxing
Triumphant Spirit Tribute Award (Espíritu Triunfador)
Henry Cejudo
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