“When I received the state award for Michigan in 1988, it was such a special moment for me as an athlete.  I’m grateful to be a part of this moment for Ema, who is truly a phenomenal student-athlete on and off the pitch,” said Lalas, former U.S. National Team and MLS standout. “Gatorade has been on the sidelines fueling athletic performance for years, so to be recognized by a brand that understands the game and truly helps athletes perform is a huge honor for these kids.”

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Boateng as the nation’s best high school boys soccer player.  A national advisory panel comprised of sport-specific experts and sports journalists helped select Boateng from nearly 400,000 boys soccer players nationwide. Boateng is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year award, to be presented at a special ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.

The 5-foot-6, 165-pound junior midfielder led the Rams to a 20-2-1 record and the CIF-Southern Section Division VII tournament championship this past season. Boateng scored 32 goals, passed for 19 assists and was a repeat selection as the Southern Section Division VII Player of the Year. A two-time Division VII First Team All-State honoree, he concluded his prep soccer career with 79 goals and 49 assists. Officially listed as a member of the Class of 2013, Boateng has earned enough credits to attend University of California Santa Barbara this fall.

Boateng has maintained a 3.75 GPA in the classroom. A student tour guide for the Cate School, he has volunteered locally on behalf of multiple school-wide community service projects in addition to coordinating and coaching a summer youth soccer camp.

“In the 14 years I’ve been coaching in Southern California, I haven’t seen anybody close to as good as Ema,” said Vishtasp Farhadi, the U.S. Development Academy Co-Director for Strikers FC. “In terms of maturity and soccer IQ, I haven’t seen anything like him. He’s a very special player. He’s very creative and has amazing vision. At the international Milk Cup in Ireland last summer, he became the only American to earn MVP honors in the 30-year history of that tournament. That puts him in the company of people like (English Premier League striker) Wayne Rooney, (LA Galaxy midfielder) David Beckham and (EPL attacking midfielder) Giovani DeSantos at the same age. Pretty good company.”

Boateng has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at the UC Santa Barbara this fall.

“Without question, Ema is deserving of recognition as the nation’s best high school boys soccer player based on his statistics on the pitch and the impact his accomplishments have had on Cate’s success,” said Gatorade President North America and Global Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Robb O’Hagan.  “But he is also a shining example to peers and aspiring young athletes of what a leader and a student-athlete should be.  He represents everything we hope for in a Gatorade Player of the Year recipient.”

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPNHS and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Former notable Gatorade National Players of the Year include:

• Five-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard
• WNBA Most Valuable Player Candace Parker
• Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning
• Two-time Beach Volleyball Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh

For more information on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of former winners, and future announcement dates, visit the Gatorade Player of the Year web site at http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com,

Digital Destination: ESPN Deportes+ por ESPN3

ESPN Deportes will launch ESPN Deportes+ por ESPN3, a digital vertical available on ESPN3, the company’s live multi-screen sports network. ESPN Deportes+ will provide the most comprehensive offering of live sports in Spanish on a multi-screen network available on computers, smartphones, tablets and Xbox. The new platform is set to launch later this year.

ESPN Deportes+ will become an extension of ESPN Deportes Television, offering an additional, exclusive Spanish-language programming lineup of more than 200 sports events that would otherwise not have been shown on television. ESPN Deportes+ will be a viable destination, reaching approximately 7.7 million Hispanic households.

Programming lineup includes: Barclay’s Premier League, International soccer friendlies, World Cup Qualifiers, Winter Baseball from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, college football, college basketball, tennis and much more.

Futbol Every Day of the Week: ESPN Deportes increases number of live matches

UEFA Europa League

This September, ESPN Deportes becomes the exclusive Spanish-language TV home of the UEFA Europa League in the U.S.  For the next three seasons, ESPN Deportes will air more than 60 matches per season, along with complementary news and information studio programming.

Previously called the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Europa League is one of the most prestigious club soccer tournaments in the world. The tournament brings together clubs that qualify based on their performance in national leagues and cup competitions. Some of the most notable clubs that have participated include: Manchester City, Manchester United, Juventus, Lazio, Sevilla, Atletico de Madrid, Valencia, PSV Eindhoven, among others.

Road to World Cup : World Cup qualifying matches & international friendlies

ESPN Deportes will air close to 80 select qualifiers and international friendlies. Both friendlies and qualifiers will feature favorites from around the world, including current World Cup Champion, Spain.

Brazilian Soccer: the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Campeonato Paulista

ESPN Deportes will continue to broadcast select matches of two top Brazilian soccer properties on the weekends. The Campeonato Brasileiro is a professional soccer league at the top of the Brazilian football league; the season runs from May to December. The Campeonato Paulista is the top-flight professional soccer league in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo; the season runs annually January to May.

More News and Information:

Social Media meets Prime-Time: Redes #ESPN

Redes #ESPN focuses on current sports topics and conversations trending in the social media space.  Hosted by Carolina Guillen, a veteran ESPN Deportes’ commentator, the show will feature global opinion and analysis from ESPN experts around the world.

Raza Deportiva : ESPN Deportes Morning Radio Show Debuts TV Simulcast

Known for its lively debate and analysis of global soccer, Raza Deportiva makes its TV debut on ESPN Deportes, becoming the network’s first live morning show.   Raza Deportiva joins hosts from three cities: legendary sportscaster David Faitelson and soccer expert Rafa Ramos in Los Angeles; Elmer Polanco and Omar Orlando Salazar in Miami; and Oscar Restrepo in Colombia. The show airs Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ET.

Original Content

El Bar

A series of ten 30-minute specials that brings together the worlds of sport and entertainment.  Set from different bars around the country and ESPN’s studios in Los Angeles, each show will be hosted by an ESPN expert and will feature two special guests: a sports personality and an entertainment star. With an intimate and relaxed environment, the show will be focused on stories, anecdotes and lighthearted discussions, making the viewer feel they are part of the conversation.

Capitales del Futbol

Capitales del Futbol are documentary-style profiles of some of the greatest soccer destinations in the world. With a strong focus on cinematography and an “in-person” feel, Capitales del Futbol uses player interviews, testimony from journalists, coaches and fans to showcase the relationship between the cities and the classic derbies that identify them as soccer meccas.

Born and Raised

Born and Raised is ESPNDeportes.com’s first original digital series. The shorts feature the world of sports through the eyes of Chuey Martinez, a quintessential Angelino and celebrated radio and DJ personality. Born and Raised focuses topics culturally relevant to young, bilingual Hispanic sports fans.  In addition to ESPNDeportes.com, Born and Raised will also appear from time to time on the front page of ESPN.com, and occasionally on the ESPN and ESPN2 television networks.

Miami Studio Expansion

ESPN Deportes’ enhanced and expanded studio in Miami includes not only a spectacular view of the Miami skyline and the new Marlins Ballpark, but will also enable the production of HD, state-of-the-art cross-platform content for the U.S. Hispanic fan.  The facility’s upgrades also include a new look for Jorge Ramos y Su Banda , ESPN Deportes’ signature soccer talk show, and simulcast each afternoon on radio and TV.

ESPN Deportes Radio

Soon to launch in New York, ESPN Deportes Radio will be available in the Top ten U.S. Hispanic markets, reaching almost 80% of the U.S. Hispanic population. With its 42 affiliates, the radio network will continue offering the most comprehensive offering of live sports available on all U.S. Spanish-language media including: Mexican soccer, Copa Libertadores, CONCACAF Champions League, CONMEBOL South American World Cup Qualifiers, MLS, MLB, Copa Sudamericana, U.S. Soccer National Team’s major friendlies and the home FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying matches, and the upcoming Euro2012, among many others.

Sonnen, who was a few minutes shy of unseating Silva for 185-pound UFC gold, tells the world everything that went right, and everything that went wrong in those four and half rounds in Voice of Reason, and mixes in just about everything else that you might need to know to live a stable, satisfying existence in the real world.

Indeed, Sonnen has granted your VIP Pass to Enlightenment.

“Readers will know me, themselves and the universe better than they could have ever dreamed after they put down Voice of Reason,” said Sonnen. “My book is a blueprint for the human experience, and reading it is like putting on an Iron Man suit and taking on the world for a few precious hours. Enjoy, friends and by the way, we’ll talk more after UFC 148.”

As the latest UFC fighter to pen his own book, Sonnen looks to join the ranks of Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and Forrest Griffin, whose biographies went on to stamp them both as New York Times best-selling authors. With his book, Voice of Reason, Sonnen expects to add this prestigious title right along with the other that very few men can claim: UFC World Champion.

As part of his promotional book tour, Sonnen has appeared on Jim Rome, UFC commentator Joe Rogan’s popular podcast, Fuel TV’s UFC Tonight, and later this week will appear on KTLA’s morning show, Fox’s nationally syndicated show TMZ, as well as FOX’s political news series Hannity & Colmes.

On Saturday, July 7, 2012, Sonnen will rematch with Silva in Las Vegas at UFC 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN, a championship mixed martial arts mega-fight that is anticipated to surpass UFC 100 as the biggest event in the nearly 20-year history of the UFC.

“Voice of Reason” is written by Chael Sonnen and published by Victorybelt. For instant information about Chael Sonnen, follow him on Twitter @sonnench. Watch Chael’s Voice of Reason video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uSz5mAhOZE.

The list of inductees includes Gail Devers (track & field), Jean Driscoll (Paralympic track & field), Gary Hall, Jr. (swimming), Lisa Fernandez (softball), Kristine Lilly (soccer), Dan O’Brien (track & field), Jenny Thompson (swimming), the 2004 U.S. Olympic Women’s Softball Team,  Ed Temple (coach – track & field), James Connolly (veteran – track & field) and Ted Stevens (special contributor).

“Over the years, these men and women captured our hearts and inspired us as Americans to strive for greatness, paving the way for today’s Olympians and Paralympians who will soon compete in this summer’s London Games,” said Lisa Cochrane, senior vice president of marketing for Allstate.  “Allstate is proud to support such a prestigious, lifetime achievement and extends its gratitude to the fans for their role in determining the very deserving U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2012.” 

The Class of 2012 was determined by a voting process that includes Olympians, Paralympians, members of the Olympic Family and a public voting element. The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate is one of the only national sports halls of fame that includes fan voting as part of its selection process. This year more than 100,000 votes were cast at TeamUSA.org.

“The Class of 2012 inductees have provided fans of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams with countless inspiring moments, and it’s an honor to welcome them to the U.S Olympic Hall of Fame, where both their achievements and impact will be celebrated,” said Scott Blackmun, USOC chief executive officer. “Together with Allstate and fans of Team USA, we congratulate them on their accomplishments and thank them for their commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.”

The Class of 2012 is the 15th class to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate and will bring the total membership to 96 Olympians, five Paralympians, 10 teams, four coaches, 10 veterans, 16 contributors and two Olive Branch award inductees.

“I am completely overwhelmed by this honor,” said Lisa Fernandez, a three-time Olympic gold medalist. ”I never thought  that playing the game of softball that I love so much would allow me to reach this level of accomplishment. This is bigger than anything I have dreamed of. What we have been able to achieve as a sport is incredible, and there is no greater honor than being inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.”

In addition to the introduction of the aforementioned athletes, coaches and contributors, the Olive Branch Achievement Award – created to honor an individual who best represents the international ideals of the Olympic Movement by working to build a peaceful and better world through sport – will be introduced and presented at the induction ceremony.

The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2012 will be formally introduced and honored on July 12 during an awards ceremony at the Harris Theater in Chicago. The ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Roberts and Alex Flanagan, will air in a nationally-televised broadcast on NBC Sports Network on August 24 at 7 p.m. ET.

The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame – Class of 2012 and Special Inductees

Gail Devers – Track & Field
Gail Devers is a five-time Olympian, three-time gold medalist and one of only two women to win back-to-back titles in the 100 meters at the Olympic Games. Devers, a three-time world champion and four-time world indoor champion, still holds the current American records in three events.

One of the great 100-meter sprinters and hurdlers in track and field history, Devers was a two-time gold medalist at the 1987 Pan American Games before making her first Olympic team in 1988, the same year she set an American record as a national champion.  Devers did not compete from 1988-1990 as she faced a career-threatening battle with Graves disease.

When Devers reentered Olympic competition, she upset the field by winning the 100 meters at the 1992 Barcelona Games. In 1993 and 1995, Devers earned her first two world championships before becoming the second woman to defend her Olympic gold-medal title at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Kristine Lily – Soccer
Kristine Lilly is a three-time Olympian who solidified her legacy as one of the greatest female soccer players of all time. With one silver and two gold medals, including the first ever offered for women’s soccer in 1996, Lilly started every Olympic match of her career and played all but 22 minutes in Olympic competition.

Lily assisted the first goal in the 1996 gold-medal victory over China and scored four goals during her Olympic Games experience, including a hat trick at the 2004 Athens Games against Greece. She captained the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2005-07 and was at the center of every key U.S. win in the first three Olympic Games featuring women’s soccer.

Second only to Mia Hamm, Lilly tallied 130 career goals and was named the U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year in 1993, 2005 and 2006.

Gary Hall Jr. – Swimming
Champion swimmer Gary Hall, Jr. followed in the footsteps of his famous father, competing in three Olympic Games and earning 10 Olympic medals, including five gold medals.

Hall Jr. was a two-time Olympic gold and silver medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Games before he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes in 1999. He set an American record in the 50 meter freestyle at 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials before winning back-to-back gold medals in Sydney and Athens. Hall was also a three-time member of the gold-medal winning men’s 400-meter freestyle relay team.

Out of the pool, Hall has been an advocate for diabetes research and serves as the spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association.

Lisa Fernandez – Softball
Lisa Fernandez is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time All-American and is considered one of the most versatile softball players of all time. During her three Olympic Games, USA Softball went 23-4 and Fernandez went 7-2 as a pitcher. She maintained a .333 batting average and currently holds four Olympic records.

At the 1996 Atlanta Games, Fernandez pitched a near-perfect performance against Australia before earning the save and a U.S. victory over China in the gold-medal game. Fernandez went 2-1 at the Sydney Games in 2000, earning her second gold medal and etching her name in the Olympic record books with the most strikeouts in an Olympic softball game (25) and the fewest runs allowed (two runs in 29.2 innings).

At age 33, Fernandez exploded at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. She rewrote the Olympic record books both from the plate and from the circle, setting the current Olympic record for best batting average at .545. She set a new mark for most Olympic doubles, contributed eight RBI’s, tallied a 4-0 record as a pitcher and sealed the U.S. gold medal with a 5-1 win over Australia.

Fernandez’s dominance in the 2004 Olympic Games earned her the distinction of USA Softball’s Player of the Year and the 2004 ESPY for Best Female Olympic Performance.

Dan O’Brien – Track & Field, Decathlon
Dan O’Brien is a celebrated decathlete and he proved to be one of the most dominating athletes of his era. Not only did O’Brien win Olympic gold in the 1996 decathlon, but he remains the current record holder in that event.

O’Brien claimed five U.S. national 10-event titles and his 1996 Olympic gold medal was his 11thconsecutive decathlon win – a streak that started in September of 1992. After O’Brien missed qualifying for the 1992 Olympic Games, he broke his previous world and existing American record with 8,891 points during a meet in Talence, France.

O’Brien is a three-time world decathlon champion (1991, 1993 and 1995) and earned six of Track & Field News’ year-end world number one rankings. O’Brien also finished in the top 10 of T&FN’s World Athlete of the Year rankings four times during his career.

Jenny Thompson – Swimming
During a record-setting Olympic career, Jennifer (Jenny) Thompson amassed an incredible 12 medals – including eight gold medals – a mark that still stands as the most for a female Olympic swimmer in history.

Thompson made her first appearance on the international scene at age 14, winning the 50-meter freestyle and placing third in the 100-meter freestyle at the 1987 Pan American Games. She won her first world championship in 1991 as part of Team USA’s winning 4×100-meter freestyle relay team, and broke the world record in the 50 and 100 meters in the 1992 Olympic Games. Thompson won two gold medals as part of the 4×100-meter freestyle and 4×100-meter medley teams.

Between 1997 and 1999, Thompson won eight more world championship titles, including three in a row in the 100-meter freestyle. In the 2000 Olympic Games, Thompson and her 4×100-meter freestyle and medley teams set new world records. That same year, she also broke the world record in the 100-meter butterfly for the fourth time.

At age 31, Thompson was the oldest member of the 2004 U.S. Swimming Team, when she competed in her fourth Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She anchored the 400-meter freestyle relay team that set a national record of 3:36.39 and earned a silver medal.

In 2006, she received a medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Jean Driscoll – Paralympic Track & Field
Jean Driscoll is a three-time Paralympian who was born with spina bifida (or, an open spine), a condition that not only affected her ability to walk but also caused some neurological complications.

Driscoll began using a wheelchair at age 15 and started pursuing athletic opportunities soon after. By the end of her career, she won two Olympic medals, 12 Paralympic medals and holds the world record in the 10,000-meter (6.2 mile) track event.

Jean retired from her successful racing career following the 2000 Paralympic Games and was inducted into the USA Wheelchair Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

2004 U.S. Olympic Women’s Softball Team
The 2004 U.S. Olympic Women’s Softball Team, coined the “Real Dream Team” on the cover of Sports Illustrated, will go down in history as one of the most dominant teams in Olympic history. With a perfect 9-0 record and a string of eight consecutive shutouts, this team lived up to the hype. In 2004, the team outscored its opponents 51-1 in nine games in Athens and did not allow a run until the sixth inning of the gold medal game against Australia.

Team Roster:
Leah Amico
Laura Berg
Crystl Bustos
Lisa Fernandez
Jennie Finch
Tairia Flowers
Amanda Freed
Lori Harrigan
Lovieanne Jung
Kelly Kretschman
Jessica Mendoza
Stacey Nuveman
Cat Osterman
Jenny Topping
Natasha Watley
Head coach: Mike Candrea
Assistant coach: Ken Eriksen
Assistant coach: John Rittman

Ed Temple – Coach, Track & Field
During the 1950s and 60s, Ed Temple became one of the greatest coaches in Olympic history and helped establish the U.S. as a women’s sprinting powerhouse. He served as head coach of two U.S. Olympic teams (1960 and 1964), during which time his athletes brought home 23 Olympic medals (13 gold, six silver and four bronze).

Temple’s 44-year coaching tenure at Tennessee State University saw him coach and mentor some of the greatest athletes in Olympic history, including Wyomia Tyus, Wilma Rudolph and Willie White. Rudolph was the first American woman of any race to win three track & field gold medals at a single Olympic Games, while Tyus was the first woman to successfully defend an Olympic 100-meter gold medal.

For Temple’s athletes, a gold medal was only the start. The impact Temple had on his young female athletes stretched far beyond the track. Among the 40 Olympians he coached (35 of whom represented the U.S.), 28 of them have master’s degrees and 14 of them have either an M.D. or Ph.D.

In addition to his 24 national titles, Temple has numerous other accolades, and is a member of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Helms Hall of Fame, Tennessee State University Hall of Fame, Harrisburg Central Area Chapter Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame, Black Athletes Hall of Fame and Communiplex National Sports Hall of Fame.

James Connolly – Veteran, Track & Field
The first modern Olympic champion, James Connolly is a four-time Olympic medalist who participated in both the 1896 and 1900 Olympic Games. In 1896, Connolly outsoared his nearest opponent by more than one meter in the triple jump, earning gold in the event. He also took home a silver medal in the high jump and bronze medal in the long jump. Four years later, he jumped to a silver-medal finish in the triple jump.

Before making an appearance at the inaugural modern Olympic Games in Athens, Connolly was a student at Harvard University. While most colleges and universities today would be thrilled to have one of their athletes competing in the Olympic Games, Connolly wasn’t so fortunate and he was told he couldn’t return to school if he left to compete in Athens.

Although he clinched three Olympic medals in 1896, Connolly didn’t return to Harvard until 50 years later, not as a graduate, but as a successful writer invited to speak before the Harvard union. In 1948, the Olympian and writer of 25 novels and more than 200 short stories received an honorary athletic sweater from Harvard.

Ted Stevens – Special Contributor
United States Senator Ted Stevens is widely regarded as one of the great champions of the Olympic Movement in the U.S. His commitment saw him lead the charge to pass the Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, appointing the U.S. Olympic Committee as the coordinating body for all Olympic-related athletic activity in the United States.

The act which, would eventual be renamed in his honor as the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, not only protected athletes and centralized control of sports in the U.S., it also propelled the creation of national governing bodies, which serve as independently run organizations that funnel Olympic-caliber athletes into the movement. Stevens was also known as a proponent of Title IX, a legislation that gave women equal opportunities to participate in sports in the United States.

A graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, Stevens served as the U.S. Attorney in Fairbanks, Alaska. He also practiced law in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and served two terms as a representative in the Alaska State Legislature, holding positions of majority leader and speaker pro-tem. In 1999, Stevens was recognized for his dedication to the Olympic and Paralympic movement when he received a USOC Honorary Coach of the Year award.

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company

Runners will race along the streets of Santa Monica on a point-to-point course that ends just steps away from the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. Following the event, all participants – donning their finisher t-shirts and wayfarer sunglasses – can visit an exciting finish line expo at the pier that features nutrition, fitness and health-related vendors, as well as an awards ceremony with eco-friendly recycled glass trophies.

New this year is a $1,050 prize purse that will be split among the first three male and female finishers of the 10K race. Organizers plan to grow the prize purse in the years ahead to help attract top local competitors.

Runners still have time to sign up for the Santa Monica Classic. Registration and pre-race packet pick-up will be available on Saturday, May 19th, at Sports Chalet on 11801 West Olympic Boulevard in West Los Angeles from 10:00am to 4:00pm, or near the start line at 2600 Barnard Way in Santa Monica beginning at 6:30am on race day.

The first 2,000 runners to pick up their race packets will receive a Sport Chalet Mystery Card valued between $5 and $100 for merchandise at that store location. The cards are valid only on Saturday. Coca Cola, Assil Eye Institute, XioMega3 and LA Sports Massage will also have exhibits with free samples and massages.

“The Santa Monica Classic is a great course with fantastic views of the beach, so it’s a perfect way for runners to kick off their summer racing season,” said LA MARATHON LLC Chief Operating Officer Nick Curl. “There is still time to register. Sign up and join us Sunday morning for a fun event.”

For more information about the race, which is an LA MARATHON LLC event, please visit www.santamonicaclassic.com.

Whoever wins this game will chalk up Spain’s seventh success in this competition, and the fifth in the last nine editions. Only Italy boasts more triumphs, nine.

Atletico Madrid are appearing in their eighth major UEFA final (including the 2010 UEFA Super Cup and 1975 European/South American Cup). Their first appearance resulted in 1961/62 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup success after a replay against ACF Fiorentina in Stuttgart, while they also won the inaugural UEFA Europa League in 2009/10, where Quique Sánchez Flores’s side beat Fulham FC in Hamburg.

Atletico’s squad includes five players who featured in the 2010 UEFA Europa League final.

The team for that game on 12 May 2010 was:
Atletico: De Gea, Antonio Lopez, Forlan, Raul Garcia, Aguero (Juan Valera 119), Paulo Assuncao, Ujfalusi, Alvaro Dominguez, Reyes (Eduardo Salvio 78), Simao (Jurado 68), Luis Perea.
Unused substitutes: Joel, Camacho, Juanito, Leandro Cabrera.

They lost the 1973/74 European Champion Clubs’ Cup final and the 1962/63 and 1985/86 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup deciders.

Falcao is also a former winner, having won the 2011/12 final with Porto.

Atletico’s Diego helped SV Werder Bremen reach the 2008/09 UEFA Cup final, but was suspended for the game as his side lost 2-1 to FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

Athletic’s only previous European final brought defeat on away goals by Juventus in the two-legged 1977 UEFA Cup decider.

Speaking to an audience of public and commercial broadcasters from across Asia at Radio Asia 2012 in Jakarta, talkSPORT Director of Strategy Jimmy Buckland announced that the talkSPORT team aims to work collaboratively with Asia’s leading radio broadcasters to deliver the brand to sports fanatics across the continent.

The announcement follows talkSPORT’s recent agreement to become the official Global Audio Partner of the Barclays Premier League for the next four football seasons (2012/13 – 2015/16).

The deal grants talkSPORT an exclusive package of audio rights outside Europe for the next four seasons, with internet users across Asia gaining access to an innovative new service from August 2012, offering commentary on all 380 Barclays Premier League games in English, Spanish and Mandarin.

Speaking to delegates from the leading Asian broadcasters, talkSPORT announced its desire to work with local partners to launch its new 24 hour sports FM radio services in key markets which include Jakarta, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand initially followed by India and the Philippines, with further services becoming available in markets in China and India. According to research, 56% of the population of Indonesia express an interest in the Barclays Premier League, with 70% expressing an interest in badminton, yet the country currently lacks a dedicated sports station. A similar picture is replicated elsewhere in Asia. Launched in 2000, talkSPORT is the world’s largest dedicated sports radio station with an audience of more than 3.2 million adults in the UK and was named UK Radio Station of the Year at the 2011 Sony Radio Academy Awards. talkSPORT is part of UTV Media plc, which is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading media groups which also publishes Sport, the most widely read print and digital sports publication in the UK.

Jimmy Buckland, Director of Strategy, talkSPORT said: “Asia’s passion for sport and dynamic radio industry makes it the perfect market to replicate talkSPORT’s success in the UK. We are excited about the opportunity to work with partners in Indonesia and across Asia to realise this ambition and look forward to announcing our first new FM radio service showcasing the best of local and international sport.”

Scott Taunton, Chief Executive, talkSPORT said: “Our expansion into Asia builds on the significant progress the station has made in the UK in establishing itself as the world’s largest sports radio station. Our recent agreement with the Barclays Premier League to become its global audio partner provides the perfect platform for this next stage in our development as we seek to forge a range of exciting partnerships with some of Asia’s leading radio broadcasters.”

Yahoo!’s coverage will include original video programs, breaking news, expert analysis from Gold Medal Olympians Dan O’Brien (Track and Field), Summer Sanders (Olympics), Shannon Miller (Gymnastics), and the award-winning team of writers from Yahoo! Sports, as well as social integration programs, and for the first time Yahoo! will reveal its “Memorable Moments” editorial series to build excitement for the Games. All the exclusive content will live across the Yahoo! Media Network in addition to the Yahoo! hub dedicated to coverage of the Games (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/) and Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/), the No. 1 global sports destination online with over 104 million unique visitors a month.*

“As the No. 1 global destination online for Olympics coverage for the past three Games, Yahoo! dominates Olympics coverage with our unique storytelling; this year will be no exception and we will be bigger and better than ever before,” said Ross Levinsohn, executive vice president, head of global media. “We’re programming immersive digital experiences for a global audience and delivering a locally relevant editorial voice in each market. Our angle is to cover the stories behind the stories with our own exclusive talent, including multiple former Olympians – across screens, across the globe.”

Yahoo!’s “Memorable Moments” celebrates the most compelling stories in Summer Games history through the eyes of those who were there, Yahoo!’s writers and experts and other voices of authority, as well as through the lens of Yahoo!’s users. Moments like Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10s in Montreal, Carl Lewis’ four gold medals in Los Angeles, and Michael Phelps’ record eight gold medals in Beijing will be retold through video, iconic photos and stories that live on Yahoo!’s hub dedicated to the coverage of the Games and debut in June.

Yahoo!’s additional programming efforts for the 2012 Summer Games include:

• The Yahoo! Hub Dedicated to Coverage of the Games – Yahoo! is the place to go when big events happen in the world. Throughout the games, Yahoo! will highlight breaking news, major headlines, and recaps daily. The hub will also include a program profiling athletes from the biggest stars to the least known names, where each athlete will be represented within Yahoo!’s coverage and users will be able to cheer for them individually or as a team. Yahoo! will also provide the most up-to-date photo galleries from London, making sure every user has access to the biggest moments of the summer.
• Original Video Programs — “London Minute,” a daily, on-the-ground show, will feature quick-hitting video snippets from London and will debut during the Opening Ceremonies to capture the spirit of the Summer Games. In addition, “Elite Athlete Workouts,” an award winning Yahoo! Sports original program, debuting on May 7, 2012 with stars participating in the Summer Games such as gymnastics darling Aly Raisman, will take a deep dive into the lives of some of the most popular athletes such with insights into training, diet and preparation. “Elite Athlete Workouts” will be the first introduction to some of the stars of the 2012 Games!
• Original reporting and expert analysis — Yahoo! Sports has a strong, unique editorial voice and will cover the Summer Games with the winning combination of timely, in-depth, and impartial reporting. It’s Yahoo!’s voice and programming that has made Yahoo! Sports the most visited destination for the last three games. In addition to Yahoo!’s premier editorial staff, Yahoo! added former Olympians Shannon Miller, Dan O’Brien and Summer Sanders as analysts to the already established team of journalists including Pat Forde, Charles Robinson, Martin Rogers, Dan Wetzel, Adrian Wojnarowski and others. Yahoo! will also add to its unique voice with the “London Reporter,” reports from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, and “Fourth Place Medal,” (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/) a column which will include ongoing reports from the most talked about events in London.
• Social Experiences — Through two new social programs users will be closer to the games and their friends who follow the games than ever before. This year, users can show their support and pride for their favorite athletes directly within Yahoo!. Deeply integrated into the hub dedicated to coverage of the Games, users will be prompted to cheer for their favorite athletes and countries. ‘London Pick’Em,’ the new Yahoo! Sports fantasy game, is a daily prediction style game that will engage fans in a fresh, fun environment. The social experience will have friends challenging their friends through social channels as they compete against the world and go for the Gold Medal of predictions!
• Sports Radio Programming – Yahoo! is expanding its coverage beyond online with Yahoo! Sports Radio coverage throughout the games. Yahoo! Sports Radio will feature live call-ins from London, daily segments profiling athletes and breaking news coverage throughout the games.

Yahoo! will provide fans with the key moments of the Summer Games across multiple devices, including mobile phones, tablets, TV and the desktop, ensuring they never miss a beat regardless of where they are. Yahoo! product offerings will be announced at a later date.

The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is one of the only major marathons where the funds raised go to a single charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude treats children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases with pioneering research and exceptional care. It costs more than $1.7 million to operate St. Jude and thanks to public donations and fundraising, no family every pays St. Jude for anything.

Participants can “Run for a Reason®” by fundraising as a St. Jude Hero. The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend raises funds primarily through the St. Jude Heroes program. This year’s fundraising goal is $5 million.

“Participating in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend as a St. Jude Hero is an incredibly fun and meaningful way for people to combine their pursuit of personal fitness with their passion for making a difference in the lives of others,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The money raised by our Heroes helps St. Jude give hope to children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases, all while ensuring that no family ever pays St. Jude for anything.”

Vining Sparks, a St. Jude Heroes team since 2010, has raised more than $237,000 for the hospital. Team captain Mark Allen, noted that “The St. Jude Heroes program allows runners to combine their fitness goal with a desire to make a real difference by raising funds for St. Jude.” The team is inspired by the grandson and the sons of three Vining employees.

Last year, St. Jude Heroes raised $4 million to help the kids at St. Jude. Registered runners and anyone interested in donating can visit www.stjudemarathon.org/heroes to get started. All fundraisers can earn great incentives such as hotel accommodations, a VIP tour of St. Jude and access to an exclusive St. Jude Heroes Pasta Party the Friday night before the big race on Saturday. To help St. Jude Heroes raise money, tools such as a personal fundraising page are provided.

Marathon participants also will have access to a two-day expo at the Memphis Cook Convention Center on Nov. 29-30, where they can pick up race packets and goodie bags. The Expo also will feature running apparel, accessories and other merchandise. Expo vendors will offer everything from free samples to health and nutrition information.

Be sure to “like” St. Jude Memphis Marathon on Facebook and follow @StJude on Twitter for the latest updates.

About the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend

Since 2002, the event has been produced in partnership with the Memphis Runners Track Club and presenting sponsor Juice Plus and now features a marathon, half marathon, the Memphis Grizzlies House 5K, kids marathon and family fun run. Funds are raised from the event primarily through St. Jude Heroes, a special group of race participants who raise funds by obtaining pledges from friends and family. More than $20 million has been raised through the St. Jude Heroes program. For more information, visit www.stjudemarathon.org.

SiriusXM listeners will hear HRRN’s broadcast of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 5, the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 19, and the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 9.  All three race broadcasts will air live starting at 5:00 pm ET on Sirius channel 93 and XM channel 209 and can also be heard on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other mobile devices and online at SiriusXM.com.

“Every May and June, the Triple Crown captures the attention of sports fans everywhere and SiriusXM listeners will have access to all the exhilaration of these events before, during and after each race,” said Steve Cohen, SiriusXM’s Senior Vice President of Sports Programming. 

“The Triple Crown goes beyond the world of horse racing as one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar each year,” said HRRN President Mike Penna.  “We look forward to bringing the majesty of this truly unique event to fans around the country on SiriusXM.”

The Horse Racing Radio Network is an Eclipse Award-winning broadcast organization, providing live radio coverage of many of the sport’s biggest races.  In addition to the Triple Crown events, SiriusXM will carry HRRN’s coverage of a select number of stakes races throughout the year, including the Kentucky Oaks on May 4 and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on November 2 and 3.

SiriusXM has provided horse racing fans with Eclipse Award-winning coverage of the sport, offering live broadcasts of thoroughbred and harness races from around the country plus racing talk shows that feature the latest news, handicapping and analysis.  Throughout the year, listeners can tune in to Down The Stretch, hosted by renowned track announcer Dave Johnson and journalist Bill Finley (Saturdays, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm ET) and At The Races with Steve Byk (weekdays, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ET).  Both programs air on Sirius channel 93 and XM channel 209.

On May 5 a special pre-Derby edition of Down The Stretch will air live from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm ET.  Johnson, who called the Derby for 24 years, and Finley will discuss all the stakes races happening that day at Churchill Downs, provide the latest Derby news and pre-race analysis, and interview jockeys, trainers and owners.

Visit www.siriusxm.com for more information.