JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD FINALISTS COACH SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES
Nation’s top collegiate basketball players team up with world’s largest sports organization in a four-team tournament
(April 2, 2008 – Los Angeles, Calif.) In one of the most unique and exciting opportunities in collegiate basketball, the John R. Wooden Award finalists will coach four Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) basketball teams in a tournament to be hosted at the LA Athletic Club (LAAC) on Friday, April 11 (see schedule below).
Each Wooden Award finalist is assigned to one of the SOSC teams, and trades his or her playing experience for an afternoon of coaching, calling timeouts, leading huddles and calling plays.
The top five 2008 men’s finalists are D.J. Augustin (Texas), Michael Beasley (Kansas State), Stephen Curry (Davidson), Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), and Kevin Love (UCLA). The women’s finalists are Sylvia Fowles (LSU), Maya Moore (Connecticut), Courtney Paris (Oklahoma), Candace Parker (Tennessee) and Candice Wiggins (Stanford).
Past participants in this event include Kevin Durant, Greg Odom, Brandon Rush, Alando Tucker, Adam Morrison, J.J. Redick and Brandon Roy.
This is the third consecutive year the Wooden Award finalists have coached Special Olympics athletes at the annual tournament. Upon conclusion of the tournament one SOSC athlete is awarded the Patrick McClenahan Most Valuable Player Award. McClenahan,Vice President and Station Manager for CBS2/KCAL9, is SOSC’s Chairman of the Board. The Wooden Award winners will be announced at a banquet following the tournament.
Media are welcome to attend and cover the event. Please contact either Ruth Ruiz of Special Olympics Southern California or Christin Maxwell of the Wooden Award.
Schedule for April 11
Date: Friday, April 11, 2008
Place: LA Athletic Club
431 West Seventh Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Time: 11:15 a.m. first game
11:45 a.m. Second game
12:30 p.m. Championship game
1:05 p.m. Awards; Q & A with the Wooden Award finalists; Team Photo
About Special Olympics Southern California
Special Olympics Southern California is a year-round program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. 12,500 athletes in 11 counties train and compete in 21 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other athletes, their families and the community. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Visit Special Olympics Southern California at www.sosc.org.
About the John R. Wooden Award
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), and Tim Duncan ('97) and last year's recipients, Kevin Durant of Texas and returning player Candace Parker of Tennessee. Visit www.woodenaward.com for more information.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed nearly one million dollars to universities' general scholarship fund in the names of the All-American recipients and has sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the Award's name. Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long tournament, which brings together Special Olympic athletes and the All-American players, takes place at The Los Angeles Athletic Club on the Friday of the John R. Wooden Award weekend.
About the LA Athletic Club
The Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC), founded in 1880, was the city's first private club. The Club remains a cornerstone of the community, with the mission of providing for the athletic, professional and social development for their members.
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Contacts:
Ruth Ruiz, Special Olympics Southern California
310-981-9601 direct
310-384-9272 cell
rruiz@sosc.org
Christin Maxwell, John R. Wooden Award
213-630-5231 direct
310-616-6972 cell
woodenaward@laac.net
