Jan. 11, 2010

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - In the 2009 calendar year, the LMU men's and women's water polo program each won their seventh Western Water Polo Association title of the decade, that's 14 titles from 2001 through 2009. The title runs in 2009 have been named a finalist in the "Greatest Sports Moment of 2009" Presented by the Los Angeles Sports Council for the Division One Schools category. Vote for the Lions today.

Fans can vote for the Lions moment to win the category by visiting the LA Sports Council website at www.lasports.org.

Also in the running for Division One Schools category is UC Irvine winning the NCAA men's volleyball title and Cal State Fullerton advancing to the College Baseball World Series.

The Lions were named a finalist by the award's Media Panel after the Lions recorded a rare feat as the men's and women's water polo teams both won the Western Water Polo Association Championship, the seventh such title in nine years for each squad. In the title games the women defeated host Santa Clara 8-4 (April 26) and the men beat UC San Diego, 5-4, at Chapman University (November 22).

A star-studded awards dinner and gala will salute the greatest moments in sports for 2009 in the Los Angeles/Orange County area. The fifth annual L.A. Sports Awards will be held on Friday evening, February 19, 2010 at the new JW Marriott Los Angeles at L. A. Live. The Los Angeles Sports Council will present the event, continuing the Sports Council's tradition of recognizing each year's top sports moments.

The event program will include award presentations and video highlights for 2009's most memorable moments. Special awards have been created for this occasion by Tiffany & Co. and will be presented to both teams and individuals, with an award being presented to each of the area's top teams and universities (for each's "Greatest Moment"), plus an unveiling of the overall top 10 moments of the year in ranked order, with a special award for "Greatest Moment of the Year." This year's event again will be televised by FSN PRIME TICKET.

Selection of the "Greatest Moments":
For the purposes of this event, the concept of a "moment" is loosely defined. It can be a specific instant in time (a winning goal, hit or shot), an individual or team record, a specific game or series of games or even a multi-day event. The moment may have occurred outside the Los Angeles/Orange County area as long as it involved a local team or athlete.

Each team/university nominates three "Greatest Moments." Members of the general public can vote for the individual award categories at www.lasports.org. A blue-ribbon media panel is responsible for selecting the Greatest Moment, Sportsman, Sportswoman and Sports Executive of the Year. Athletes, coaches, team executives and other nominees are expected to attend.

"Greatest Moments" Gala Co-Chairs:
The dinner chair is Alan I. Rothenberg, Chairman of the Board of 1st Century Bank, N.A. and the co-chair is Joan A. Payden, President and CEO of Payden & Rygel.

Event Beneficiary:
The "Greatest Moments" event is a fundraiser for the non-profit Los Angeles Sports Council which will utilize the proceeds to further its mission of promoting economic development through sports in Southern California. In addition, the event benefits every major sports organization in the Los Angeles/Orange County area through its portrayal of the best that the year in sports has to offer.

- GO LIONS -