New York Red Bull forward Juan Pablo Angel is among the Major League Soccer players nominated for the first-ever annual "Tecate Premios Deportes" (Tecate Sports Awards) and announced by Univision, official broadcast partner of MLS.
The "Tecate Premios Deportes" awards will be presented during a celebrity-filled "red carpet" celebration at the historic Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, and will be broadcast on the Univision Network on Sunday, July 20.
Comprised of Hispanic athletes in ten different categories, the nominees have been selected for their talent, character and perseverance, as well as their contributions to and impact on the Hispanic community. Angel has been nominated as a forward for the All-Star Team of the Year.
The "Tecate Premios Deportes" nominees were selected by a distinguished panel of current and former professional athletes and sports writers, including famed boxer and Houston Dynamo equity partner Oscar de la Hoya, legendary Mexican soccer goalie Jorge Campos, retired NFL player Tony Casillas, NFL Hall of Fame recipient Anthony Muñoz, former Mexican soccer coach Jesus Bracamontes, and Enrique Borja, legendary Mexican forward and team president of the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) Tigres.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber has been invited and will also participate as a member of the Premios Deportes Academy Executive Committee.
The judging criteria for the awards included the athletes' statistical excellence, participation in a televised professional sport in the United States during 2007, cumulative impact on their team and in the sport, and their reputation as a role model for the Hispanic community.
Sports fans have voted for four of these awards at Univision.com (keyword: Tecate Premios Deportes): Atleta Masculino del Año (Male Athlete of the Year), Atleta Femenina del Año (Female Athlete of the Year), Equipo All Star de Béisbol (Baseball All-Star Team) & Equipo All Star de Fútbol (Soccer All-Star Team). In addition, a live, dedicated mini-site provides exclusive coverage of the event and video highlights of the nominees in their finest sports moments. "Tecate Premios Deportes" is the first-ever awards event of its kind, showcasing a seamless merger of sports and entertainment that will reach countless online fans.
