Juan Pablo Montoya, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Juan Manuel Marquez, Rafael Nadal Among Those Being Recognized

MIAMI, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominees for the second edition of "Tecate Premios Deportes" (Tecate Sports Awards) were announced today. Nearly 60 Hispanic athletes from six sports categories are being considered for their sportsmanship, talent and character exemplified during 2008. The winners will be revealed on June 25, 2009, in front of a live audience inside the historic Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles and broadcast on the Univision Network on July 5, 2009.

This year's nominees were considered based on the athletes' statistical excellence, participation in a televised professional sport in the United States during 2008, cumulative impact on their team and in the sport, and their reputation as a role model for the Hispanic community. Winners will be selected by a distinguished panel of current and former professional athletes and sports personalities including, famed boxer Oscar de la Hoya; retired NFL player Tony Casillas; NFL Hall of Fame recipient Anthony Munoz; former Mexican soccer coach and Univision soccer announcer Jesus Bracamontes; and Enrique Borja, legendary Mexican forward and team president of the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL) Tigres.

"The fact that there are more than 50 athletes being considered for these awards is a reflection of the impact Hispanics have on their sport, team and community," said Oscar de la Hoya, executive committee member. "These individuals are shaping the landscape for future and aspiring athletes and we are thrilled to come together as a committee to celebrate the success of our colleagues and friends."

Award categories include Boxer of the Year; Soccer Player of the Year; All-Star Soccer Team of the Year; Baseball Player of the Year; Auto Racer of the Year; Basketball Player of the Year; Football Player of the Year; Rising Star of the Year; Athlete of the Year; and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Additionally, sports fans have the opportunity to vote for their favorite athletes by visiting Univision.com (Uniclave: Premios Deportes). Online categories include: Baseball Player of the Year, Soccer Team of the Year, Athlete of the Year, and Rising Star Award. Furthermore, the micro site will include the latest news, videos and chats for those wanting the latest information on Tecate Premios Deportes.

Nominees in each category include:

Boxer of the Year:

1. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
2. Juan Manuel Lopez
3. Cristobal Arreola
4. Juan Manuel Marquez
5. Victor Ortiz

Soccer Player of the Year:

1. Omar Arellano, Chivas Guadalajara
2. Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chicago Fire
3. Salvador Cabanas, Club America
4. Guillermo Ochoa, Club America
5. Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus Crew

All-Star Soccer Team of the Year:

Best Goal Keeper:

1. Hernan Cristante, Toluca
2. Guillermo Ochoa, Club America
3. Oswaldo Sanchez, Santos

Right Defense:

1. Carlos Bonet, Cruz Azul
2. Ivan Estrada, Santos
3. Amaury Ponce, Toluca

Right Center Defense:

1. Gerardo Espinoza, Atlante
2. Rafael Marquez, Barcelona de Espana
3. Paulo Da Silva, Toluca

Defensive Midfielder:

1. Eduardo Coudett, San Luis
2. Martin Romagnoli, Toluca
3. Gerardo Torrado, Cruz Azul

Offensive Midfielder:

1. Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chicago Fire
2. Andres Guardado, Deportivo La Coruna
3. Daniel Luduena, Santos

Right Forward

1. Juan Pablo Angel, New York Red Bulls
2. Salvador Cabanas, Club America
3. Vicente Matias Vuoso, Santos

Left Forward

1. Christian Benitez, Santos
2. Hector Mancilla, Toluca
3. Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus Crew

Rookie of the Year:

1. Nestor Calderon, Toluca
2. Gerardo Venegas, Atlante
3. Nestor Vidrio, Atlas

Best Coach:

1. Jose Guadalupe Cruz, Atlante
2. Jose M. De la Torre, Toluca
3. Daniel Guzman, Santos

Baseball Player of the Year:

1. Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
2. Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
3. Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Francisco Rodriguez, New York Mets

Auto Racer of the Year:

1. Fernando Alonso
2. Helio Castroneves
3. Steven Goldstein
4. Juan Pablo Montoya
5. Antonio Perez

Basketball Player of the Year:

1. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
2. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
3. Emanuel Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
4. Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors
5. Luis Scola, Houston Rockets

Football Player of the Year:

1. Robert Garza, Chicago Bears
2. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs
3. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
4. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. Luis Castillo, San Diego Chargers

Rising Star of the Year:

1. Omar Arellano, Chivas Guadalajara (soccer)
2. Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays (baseball)
3. Juan Manuel Lopez (boxing)
4. Victor Ortiz (boxing)
5. Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox (baseball)
6. Camilo Villegas (golf)

Athlete of the Year:

1. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets (basketball)
2. Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chicago Fire (soccer)
3. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs (football)
4. Juan Manuel Marquez (boxing)
5. Rafael Nadal (tennis)
6. Guillermo Ochoa, Club America (soccer)
7. Lorena Ochoa (golf)
8. Francisco Rodriguez, New York Mets (baseball)

ABOUT FEMSA/HEINEKEN USA

In 2004, Heineken USA and FEMSA Cerveza reached an agreement that made Heineken USA the sole and exclusive importer, marketer and seller of FEMSA's beer brands in the United States. Under the terms of the agreement, Heineken USA assumed responsibility for the marketing, sales and distribution of the beer brands Dos Equis, Tecate, Sol, Carta Blanca, Bohemia, and the new Tecate Light across the United States. In April 2007, an extended ten-year agreement was finalized between Heineken USA and FEMSA, which became effective Jan. 1, 2008.

Heineken USA Inc., the nation's premier beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International BV, which is the world's most international brewer. Besides the FEMSA portfolio, brands imported into the U.S. include: Heineken Lager, the world's most international beer brand; Heineken Premium Light; Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer brand; Newcastle Brown Ale, the leading imported ale in the United States; and Buckler non-alcoholic brew. Please visit EnjoyHeinekenResponsibly.com.

Founded in 1890, FEMSA is the largest integrated beverage company in Latin America with a portfolio of leading beer and soft drink brands. Its subsidiary FEMSA Cerveza is one of the most innovative brewers with operations in Mexico and Brazil offering well-known brands that include Tecate, Dos Equis and Sol in Mexico and Kaiser, Sol and Xingu in Brazil. Its subsidiary Coca-Cola FEMSA is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in Latin America and the second largest in the world. FEMSA sells its products through approximately two million points of sale, which serve a population of over 200 million people in nine countries, including some of the most populous metropolitan areas in Latin America, such as Mexico City, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. FEMSA's manufacturing and distribution capabilities are enhanced by its retail and packaging operations; it operates Oxxo, the largest convenience store chain in Mexico, with over 6,300 stores as of December 2008. For more information on FEMSA, go to www.femsa.com.

About Univision Communications Inc.

Univision Communications Inc. is the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Its operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 97% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 85% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavision, the country's leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 64 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 70 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico; and Univision Interactive Media, which includes http://www.univision.com, the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S., and Univision Movil, the industry's most comprehensive Spanish-language suite of mobile offerings. Univision Communications also has a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa's pay television channels in the U.S. Univision Communications has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States.

For more information, please visit www.univision.net.

SOURCE Tecate

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