Sports

AT&T has fashioned a Latino-targeted ad push for the summer as part of a multicultural, multiplatform media buy that showcases Hispanic siblings Steven, Mark and Diana Lopez of the U.S. Olympic Taekwondo Team.

The marketing push via TV, radio, online, digital and direct mail is part of the telco’s sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Team and is the first time that AT&T has developed Olympic-themed messaging aimed at Hispanics. Omnicom’s Dieste, Harmel & Partners, Dallas, handled creative duties and WPP’s Mediaedge:cia was responsible for media.

The Lopezes of Sugarland, Texas, are known by martial arts aficionados as the “First Family of American Taekwondo.” They are the first sibling group to make the U.S. Olympic team in 104 years after U.S. gymnastics brothers Edward, Richard and William Tritschler competed in the 1904 games in St. Louis, per ESPN.com.”*

I mentioned this family a while back.

McDonald’s(R) is preparing for another year of world class soccer action as sponsor of the Mexican National Soccer Team’s (MNT) five game U.S. Tour. The sponsorship includes the McDonald’s youth soccer clinics and Player Escort Program before each game. In 2004, McDonald’s began a sponsorship agreement with the MNT that culminates at World Cup in 2010.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: www.prnewswire.com/mnr/mcdonalds/32695/

“McDonald’s has been an active partner in the Hispanic community for many years,” said Cristina Vilella, director of marketing, McDonald’s USA. “We are committed to offering experiences and opportunities — like the soccer clinics — that encourage Hispanic youth to pursue their dreams and aspirations,” said Vilella.

The first matches were held in Seattle April 16th against China and in San Diego on June 4th against Argentina. The remaining games are in Chicago on June 8th against Peru, September 24th in Los Angeles, and November 12th in Phoenix, Arizona. Game opponents will be confirmed at a later date.

“We are thrilled that McDonald’s is continuing its longtime support of the Mexican National Team,” said Kathy Carter, executive vice president of Soccer United Marketing. “This renewal is another example of how McDonald’s continues to be an integral part of the soccer family, not only in North America, but worldwide.”

This year, McDonald’s has signed Missael Espinoza, former MNT star and World Cup player to lead the remaining youth soccer clinics at each of the U.S. tour stops where more than 500 children in total are expected to participate. The clinics provide kids with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of playing on a professional field and training side-by-side with a professional soccer player. At the end of each clinic, 22 children in each participating city will be selected to return on game-day to serve as McDonald’s(R) Player Escorts. As player escorts, each child will escort a player onto the field and stand alongside them during the national anthem.

Since 2002, more than 3,000 children from throughout the world have been given the opportunity to be McDonald’s Player Escorts at prestigious international tournaments, including the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea-Japan(TM), UEFA EURO 2004(TM) and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005(TM). McDonald’s sent a total of 1,408 player escorts from around the world, including 18 from the United States, to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany(TM).
“*

Funny, eh? The man who was voted American League Most Valuable Player in 1988, after posting the first 40-40 season in the big leagues, has scheduled a boxing match. Having extended invitations to anyone who dared to accept his challenge, he is scheduled to fight Vai Sikahema, the former Philadelphia Eagle who now is a TV sports anchor.

I wish this were a publicity stunt. A way for Jose to get his name in the papers and on ESPN.

It’s not. He’s had so much publicity - of all kinds - in recent years that it’s coming out of his ears. Many of those who didn’t know of his tape-measure homers have been introduced to the retired ballplayer prostituting himself, burying any dignity he once had.”*

One kick stands out in Danny Villanueva’s memory.

Game-winning field goal.

Nov. 13, 1966, at DC Stadium.

Cowboys 31, Redskins 30.

He has total recall of that game, right down to the fan who walked into the visitors’ locker room and handed him the ball.”*

Known throughout his life by his distinctive nickname “Millito,” he played shortstop and second base for the Cuban Stars in the Eastern Colored League from 1928-1929. He subsequently co-founded the Puerto Rican baseball team, the “Ponce Lions,” for whom he played and coached.

After completing his playing career, he taught physical education in the public schools in Spanish and, surprisingly, in English. In 1992, he was elected to the Puerto Rican Hall of Fame and in 2004 the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame.

Today, he can proudly proclaim his illustrious career is finally complete.”*

Verónica Pérez’s heart has always been with soccer, and thanks to that passion she has been selected to take part in this summer’s Olympic Games in China.

The 28-year-old Pérez, the oldest in a family of five siblings, was among three female referees in California soccer leagues selected by FIFA to represent the United States in Beijing.”*

The charismatic Sammy Sosa plays by his own rules. He always has and he always will.

Strong-willed, stubborn, borderline selfish, but always competitive and almost always with a smile on his face, his strong personality is part of the reason he is loved.

And loathed.”*

Needing to catch a flight back to the United States, Oscar De La Hoya had been bombarded by dozens of repetitive questions, and he was starting to get slightly irked by constantly having to spell out details of a November fight involving one of his boxers, British light welterweight Ricky Hatton.

The creases immediately dropped from De La Hoya’s brow when the subject switched to the Houston Dynamo.

In another step in the expansion of his burgeoning business, De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions acquired a significant stake in the two-time defending MLS Cup champions earlier this year. He could not wait to share some of his soccer philosophy.”*

The Mariners have celebrated Latinos in baseball annually in recent years. In 2008, they will do so as Los Marineros.

Players will don the same white home uniforms Saturday afternoon against the Detroit Tigers at Safeco Field, with one distinguishable difference — the front of their jerseys will say “Marineros,” the Spanish translation of the team name.

It will be the first time the team has done so, and is the most prominent gesture of all of the team’s previous yearly salutes to Latin American “beisbol.”"*

As good and marketable as she is, could Lorena Ochoa’s status as the No. 1 woman golfer in the world attract more Hispanics to golf?

Perhaps, if Ochoa stays on top long enough, but as yet locals in the golf community aren’t seeing what might be called a “Tiger Effect.”

Remember those days a decade ago, when Woods first burst onto the PGA Tour scene, won the 1997 Masters by an astonishing 12 shots and rocketed to No. 1? Suddenly, it seemed every kid in the land - particularly kids of color - wanted to check out golf, in person or as spectators at tournaments.”*

Azteca América, the only U.S. broadcaster airing programming from Mexican giant TV Azteca’s three national networks, announced today that they will be airing the Mexican Soccer League Finals games “live.”

Thursday, May 29th at 9 pm E / 8C / 6 PST Cruz Azul will face off against Santos Laguna in Mexico City and on Sunday, June 1st at 6 E pm / 5C / 3 PST the two teams will meet again for the final showdown in the stadium at Torreón.

“During last year’s airing of the final game between Pachuca and América, nearly 2.2 million viewers tuned in,”* said Azteca América President, Adrian Steckel. “This year, we hope to exceed those numbers and outdo our previous record.”

Azteca América is the only U.S. network with the exclusive rights to air live the 2008 Clausura of the Mexican Soccer League Finals games.

Visit: www.aztecaamerica.com “*

Detroit Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez is in the final season of his five-year, $50 million contract. Some speculate that, at 36, this could be the final season for an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.

“Is this going to be my last year?” Rodriguez said. “I don’t think so. Anybody who says that is not telling the truth.”"*

Maybe if the Mets were winning a few more ballgames, there wouldn’t be this much conversation about the demographics of the clubhouse, which you are now supposed to believe are more complicated - and fragmented - than the Democratic Party’s.

Maybe if the Mets were in first place in the National League East the way they have been for a couple of years, up there in the standings instead of closer to last place, you wouldn’t be hearing about this great wide cultural divide that is supposed to exist in the Mets clubhouse, and between the Mets players and their manager.

And maybe you would never even hear this much about race on a team that doesn’t have a Dominican-born general manager and an African-American manager out of Brownsville, Brooklyn. But you sure hear it around here lately. Suddenly, the clubhouse is the reason why the Mets have the record they do instead of the way they have played and especially the way they have pitched, even with Johan Santana on their side.”*

GolTV Scores Exclusive North American Rights to Televise Live from China and Australia Italy’s FC Juventus Promotional Tour Matches

MIAMI, FL – May 22, 2008 – GolTV, the only live bilingual channel delivering 24/7 soccer, will televise live exclusive coverage of Italy’s FC Juventus Asia-Pacific Tour 2008 for North American soccer fans. Exclusive coverage kicks off today as the “Bianconeri” take on South China FC at 9 p.m. EST. GolTV will also televise two other friendly matches against Shenhua FC in Shanghai, China and Melbourne Victory FC in Melbourne, Australia.

“GolTV earned the TV rights to the tour on account of the network’s tremendous ability to draw an outstanding audience of passionate North American soccer fans,” said Carlo Pozzali, CEO of MP & Silva USA branch, the leading international sports agency that owns, manages and distributes television and media rights for the Juventus Asia-Pacific summer tour.

The APAC tour match in Shanghai will be the first competition against Shenhua FC in the Italian club’s history, and this will also be the first time Juventus has visited Hong Kong since the club’s Japan Tour in 2005. The “Bianconeri” has not played in Australia since 1984.

“Our viewers love Italian fútbol, that’s why GolTV will follow one of the premiere Italian clubs across the globe to bring our loyal soccer fans the non-stop action of the Juventus APAC tour,” said Enzo Francescoli, CEO and founder of GolTV.

Ranked among the top three Hispanic cable networks in the first quarter of 2008, many of the most-watched soccer matches in Spanish-language cable households are shown exclusively on GolTV.

About GolTV

GolTV is where soccer lives in the US 24/7, 365 days of the year. Founded in 2003 and led by Chief Executive Officer and former international fútbol superstar, Enzo Francescoli, GolTV is the only bilingual US soccer network and the first channel conceived by professional athletes. GolTV is the only all-soccer network with unsurpassed exclusive soccer broadcast rights and an unmatched programming mix that speaks the universal language of soccer. The network brings viewers action from some of the world’s most competitive leagues and elite tournaments, offering over 8,000 hours of soccer action each year and more unique soccer matches than any other network. For more information, visit www.goltv.tv.

# # #

For more information, please contact:

Angela Hein

Bob Gold & Associates

310-784-1040

angela@bobgoldpr.com

South America’s Libertadores Cup has reached the quarter-finals and, for those lucky enough to see it (it’s sadly shunned by most tv networks outside the region), offers a refreshing change to the predictability of its richer European counterpart.

Only three of the eight teams reached this stage last year, there are no clear favourites for the title and all four ties remain wide open after last week’s first legs.

Titleholders Boca Juniors face a tough battle after being held 2-2 at home by Mexico’s Atlas but are far from dead and buried, especially if the mercurial Juan Roman Riquelme can hit form. They were in a similar situation last year after drawing at home with Libertad in the first leg, but hit back for a 2-0 win in Asuncion.”*

After Carlos Delgado hit two home runs in a game against Atlanta earlier this season, he made the somewhat curious decision of refusing a curtain call from the Shea faithful. Delgado said he’d only received two curtain calls before, for his 400th home run and after a four-homer game, and that his performance against the Braves simply did not merit one. It appeared that the choice came from pride — if not arrogance. Perhaps Delgado sensed in the cheers a bit of pity, as if the crowd was being extra kind to an aging player it knew would not have many games like this again. While Delgado appears to see himself as the titan he once was, the fans see someone else wearing no. 21.”*

Carlos Espinosa is the Director of Golf for the City of McAllen. The face of golf in the Rio Grande Valley for the last 20-plus years, Espinosa is a graduate of the University of Houston, which has produced golfers such as Fred Couples and Steve Elkington. Espinosa was an All-Southwest Conference selection in 1985 and helped the Cougars win the NCAA title before turning professional in 1986. Espinosa earned over $1 million dollars and won 23 Mexican PGA Tour events. He also qualified for the 1993 U.S. Open and was a member of Mexico’s World Cup teams in 1988, ‘90 and ‘92.

Espinosa has been the director of golf for the City of McAllen since May 12, 1999. He is based at Palm View Golf Course in McAllen, which will host this week’s Jalapeño Duramed FUTURES Tour Golf Classic.”*

Miguel Tejada returned to where he began his career, ready to face many of his former fans with a clear conscience.

Last month, Houston’s star shortstop told the Astros he’s actually 33, two years older than what the Oakland Athletics and everybody else thought when he signed with the organization in 1993 to escape the poverty he grew up in back home in his native Dominican Republic.

Tejada, the 2002 AL MVP, will turn 34 on May 25.”*

After waiting 10 years to be called up from the minors, Luis Maza was understandably eager to put on a big league uniform for the first time. Which is why he showed up early at Milwaukee’s Miller Park on Monday.

Problem was, the Dodgers weren’t scheduled to play there until Tuesday.

“A guy met me at the door and said, ‘No, today St. Louis is playing. Tomorrow your team plays,’ ” Maza said.

So a stadium attendant put him back in a taxi and sent him off to the Dodgers team hotel. But give Maza points for enthusiasm.”*

What Hunter and his employees are hearing from the Latino community is painfully obvious, but not easily deliverable under the MLS structure. He speaks of getting a player who will help “move the needle.”

“They want players from Mexico that are young, that are exciting on the field,” Hunter said. “If I could wave a magic wand, they’d say, ‘Well, next month bring us (Omar) Bravo, (Ramon) Morales, (Oswaldo) Sanchez.’ And then you’re a smart guy. As you know in MLS, you just can’t make moves like that.”*

The Cuban national judo team returned home Monday without one of its stars, whose weekend disappearance fueled speculation that she is defecting.

Yurisel Laborde, a two-time world champion and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, was not with the team Monday when its flight left Miami International Airport. She has not been seen since disappearing Sunday after competing in the Pan American Judo Championships.”*

Israel Hernandez has felt a strange stew of emotions simmering in his gut. He came to Miami to coach against his former comrades on the Cuban judo team. But he also came to reunite with them, to share beers and memories. He came to beat them, and to embrace them.

Hernandez has done both. On Friday, his athlete Valerie Gotay upset Cuban world champion Yurileidys Lupetey and went on to win the Pan American Championships gold medal.”*

The Boston Red Sox and Telemundo New England announced today that the Red Sox Report, the Emmy nominated television show, will now be seen in close to 270,000 Hispanic television homes on Telemundo New England as Reporte de los Red Sox. Reporte de los Red Sox will be broadcast to all four of Telemundo’s New England broadcast markets and will reach approximately 1 million Hispanic viewers as estimated by Nielsen Universe.

Red Sox Report, which currently airs on the New England Sports Network (NESN) on Sunday nights, will be re-edited in Spanish by Telemundo New England who will add a Spanish speaking on-air and voiceover presence. Reporte de los Red Sox will also feature special segments aimed towards Hispanic viewers and is slated to air weekly on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. starting May 7, 2008.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to provide our weekly television programming for the first time to the vibrant Hispanic community in New England,” said Chuck Steedman, Vice President/Fenway Enterprises and Broadcast Services for the Boston Red Sox. “This venture gives us a consistent opportunity to interact with our Hispanic fans and provide them an opportunity to look behind-the-scenes on a weekly basis.”

Telemundo is the nation’s second largest Spanish language TV network. Telemundo New England services the Boston (WNEU), Providence (WRIW), Hartford (WRDM) and Springfield (WDMR) markets with a mixture of network and local news and community affairs programming. “We are delighted to bring the Red Sox Report to our audience and advertisers for the first time in Spanish here in New England. We look forward to a long term partnership with the Boston Red Sox,” commented Michael Gillespie, Senior Vice President of Telemundo New England, ZGS Communications.

Red Sox Report is produced by Red Sox Productions, the club’s internal television and video production department. The show goes behind the scenes with Boston’s historic baseball team to tell all the stories from the field, the ballpark and the community, throughout New England and across Red Sox Nation. It originally debuted on Boston’s WSBK-TV in April, 2004; and also aired over the air in Providence, RI and Portland, ME. The show transitioned to NESN in April, 2006, and has aired year-round since. It has been nominated for seven Boston/New England Emmy Awards since 2005.

Reporte de los Red Sox will be available throughout New England via cable on the following Telemundo New England channels:

In the Boston market (WNEU): Charter Communications – Channel 99; Comcast – Channel 10, 14, 17, 19, 53,95 and 96; Metrocast Cablevision – Channel 19; RCN – Channel 16; TDS Cable – Channel 22; and Time Warner – Channel 15

In the Hartford market (WRDM): Comcast – Channel 13, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20

In the Providence market (WRIW): Cox Cable – Channel 54; Starlight Communications – Channel 4

In the Springfield market (WDMR): Comcast – Channel 11, 18; Charter Communications – Channel 96

Telemundo New England is owned by ZGS Communications, a Hispanic-owned broadcasting company headquartered in Arlington, Virginia that owns and operates the largest group of Telemundo affiliate television stations. WNEU Boston, WRIW Providence, WRDM Hartford and WDMR Springfield are proud of their commitment to service, local programming, community outreach, and the celebration of Hispanic culture and heritage. Telemundo, a U.S. Spanish-language television network, is the essential entertainment, news, and sports source for Hispanics. Broadcasting unique national and local programming for the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, Telemundo reaches 93% of U.S. Hispanic households in 142 markets.

Editor’s Note: A title graphic of Reporte de los Red Sox and a segment of the show is available for download on public-affairs.redsox.com. Username: publicaffairs Password: redsox2008″*

Delgado swatted No. 435 to move past Juan Gonzalez on the all-time list for Puerto Rican-born players, but few here in the States seemed to take notice. Even Carlos Beltran, who also is Puerto Rican and one of Delgado’s closest friends, didn’t know what he had done until he told him at dinner that night.

“It’s a great, great accomplishment,” said Beltran, who has 238 homers. “With all of the great players that have come from Puerto Rico, I know it means a lot to him. But I believe his goal is 500. That’s a lot.”"*

So did you know this? If you didn’t, perhaps you could send it to someone you know to help spread the knowledge and please tell them about HispanicTips.

View more “Did You Know?” facts in our “Did You Know?” section