ERIC GAGNÉ, AL MICHAELS, AND GARY PAYTON TO BE HONORED AT CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTERS 19th ANNUAL SPORTS SPECTACULAR Sports Spectacular Exclusive After Party Presented by PLAYER Magazine

The 19th annual Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular will bring together the greatest names in sports and entertainment

Los Angeles CA (PRWEB) May 24, 2004 --- The 19th annual Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular will bring together the greatest names in sports and entertainment to join their peers in helping children suffering from genetic birth defects. The 2004 Sports Spectacular honorees are Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Eric Gagné, legendary sportscaster Al Michaels, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Gary Payton. Slated for Sunday, June 27 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, the awards dinner will host more than 1,800 prominent sports figures, entertainers, and business, civic and community leaders to honor the countrys top sports stars while helping to combat genetic birth defects.

In its 19-year history, the Sports Spectacular awards dinner has honored over 80 of the worlds greatest including Shaquille ONeal, Kobe Bryant, Lisa Leslie, Barry Bonds, Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky, Joe DiMaggio, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shawn Green, Tony Hawk, Emmitt Smith, Joe Montana, Hulk Hogan, Evander Holyfield, Magic Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Vin Scully and Willie Shoemaker, and many more. Scheduled to attend this year will be top professional sports stars and celebrities, including Honorary Chairpersons Tom Arnold, Jim Hill, and John Salley, as well as presenters Will Ferrell and George Gervin, and guest speaker Rex Hudler.

PLAYER Magazine and Sports Spectacular are teaming up with Gary and Monique Payton to host an exclusive party immediately following the award show. This high-stakes, invitation only event will take place in the Olympic Ballroom of the Century Plaza Hotel and guests will have an opportunity to wager and challenge Payton and other celebrities to games of pool.

The Sports Spectacular Endowed Medical Genetics Birth Defects Center at Cedars-Sinai is the sole beneficiary of the funds raised at the Sports Spectacular. The Center is the most prestigious outpatient center of its kind in the country. The Center provides diagnosis, prevention and management of all forms of birth defects and hereditary disorders affecting newborns, children, adolescents, adults and their families suffering from genetic diseases and malformations. The Sports Spectacular has raised over $13 million to benefit the Center, including over $1 million last year alone.

Sponsors of the event include American Airlines, Cedars-Sinai Medical Centers Board of Governors, Apollo Advisors, Ares Management, Gelson's Markets and TCW. The silent auction begins at 4:00 pm, dinner and program begin at 6:30 pm. Individual tickets are $400. You may access the list of auction items available at the 2004 Sports Spectacular at www.sportsspectacular.com. For more information on the Sports Spectacular or to purchase tickets, please call 310-858-9217.

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PLAYER Magazine (www.playermagonline.com) is a modern, provocative and insightful publication designed for sophisticated and affluent men. PLAYER Magazine is a national publication with six issues annually and the newest venture of Media Partners Publishing (www.mediapartnerspublishing.com), headed by Mark Peterson. Media Partners Publishing also publishes Nicklaus, Luxury Living and Small Luxury Hotels.