|
|
|
|
|
Award Recognizes Player Who Embodies Toughness, Tenacity and Determination in the Sport of Lacrosse
Bridgeport, CT - August 2, 2001 - South Beach Beverage Company and Major League Lacrosse today announced the names of the six finalists nominated for the SoBe Iron Lizard Award. This award was developed to recognize the professional lacrosse player who most embodied the traits of toughness, tenacity and determination - regardless of pain or injury - during the 2001 M.L.L. season. The final judging will be determined by fan voting via the Internet.
"I am really proud to have SoBe as part of the MLL family," said MLL Founder, Jake Steinfeld, CEO of Body by Jake Enterprises. "The SoBe Iron Lizard Award is what Major League Lacrosse is all about, toughness, tenacity and class. Whoever wins this award should be very honored."
"We are glad to have the opportunity to sponsor an award like the SoBe Iron Lizard," said David Petrie, Director of Sports Marketing for SoBe. "This award is a direct reflection of the irreverent, hard-nosed, winning attitude that we emulate at SoBe. It calls attention to the idea of teamwork, and celebrates the player who at times gives up personal recognition to do what is in the best interest of his team."
One SoBe Iron Lizard nominee was selected after each regular season game for the first half of the M.L.L season. These athletes were chosen based on votes from both head coaches involved in the game and the on-site M.L.L Director. These athletes were listed in the weekly M.L.L. media newsletter and their names were announced during all televised games. The six current nominees, one representing each team, received the most individual SoBe Iron Lizard honors during the first half of the regular season.
Now, the SoBe Iron Lizard award is in the fan's hands! Starting Thursday August 2, fans will have the opportunity to visit the official SoBe web site, www.sobebev.com, and vote for the player they feel most deserves the year-end SoBe Iron Lizard award. Fans will also be able to view bios, photos and constantly updated information for all six SoBe Iron Lizard finalists. Fan votes via the Internet will be the only factor in determining the final outcome of the award. SoBe Iron Lizard highlights and voting totals will also be featured during all future televised M.L.L games.
The winner of the SoBe Iron Lizard award will be presented with a custom designed trophy fashioned after the signature SoBe Lizard and a check for $1,000 during the Championship Weekend awards ceremony on Labor Day weekend. The SoBe Iron Lizard will also be completely outfitted in Lizard Gear, the SoBe clothing line, and receive a year's supply of SoBe beverages.
The Nominees for the 2001 SoBe Iron Lizard Award are:Baltimore Bayhawks
Name: Paul Cantabene
Position: Face-off Midfielder
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Born: March 26, 1970
College: Loyola College (Graduated1993)
Honors: 2nd Team All American, North/South Game, Team Captain USCLA-AC.
Current MLL Statistics: 12 goals, 3 assists, 15 points, 59 Ground Balls, Face-Off Pct. 51%.
Lizard Line: Nicknamed "The Buick" because he never tires, never breaks down, and never stops running, this face off specialist has a real knack for grabbing ground balls. "The Buick" is known for doing the dirty work while keeping a smile on his face. Not the prettiest car on the lot, Cantabene has a few scrapes and dents he's picked up along the way, but they were all earned helping his team win.
Paul Cantabene
Boston Cannons
Name: Dan Radebaugh
Position: Defense
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 210 lbs.
Born: December 19, 1973
College: University of Maryland (Graduated 1996)
Honors: 1995 1st team All American, All-ACC, Defensive Player of the Year, 1994 All-ACC, Honorable Mention All American.
Current MLL Statistics: 2 assists, 2 points, 22 Ground Balls, 9 Penalty Minutes.
Lizard Line: You'll have no trouble finding this defenseman on the field. The "Rock" is a 6'3" 210 lbs. force. A two on one ground ball turns into a fair fight when "Rock" is the one. Big, fast, athletic, capable to throw big checks, he is everything you could want in a defenseman. This guy never gives up, which is unfortunate for the opposing offenses that crumble in his wake.
Dan Radebaugh
Bridgeport Barrage
Name: Roy Colsey
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Born: July 29, 1973
College: Syracuse (Graduated 1995)
Honors: 4-Time All American, 3-Time 1st team All American, 1995 NCAA Midfielder of the Year, 2 National Championships.
Current MLL Statistics: 14 Goals, 7 Assists, 24 Points, 3 Penalty Minutes.
Lizard Line: Roy Colsey is best described as the result of a Mack truck breeding with a Ferrari. Nothing is impossible for this overachiever, who posses a combination of strength, speed and stickwork like very few athletes. Often referred to as the most complete midfielder in the game today, he is just as happy dishing out a great hit as he is ripping the upper right corner of the net.
Roy Colsey
New Jersey Pride
Name: Scott Urick
Position: Attack
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Born: July 15, 1977
College: Georgetown University (Graduated 2000)
Honors: 2-Time All American, All-ECAC, NCAA All-Tournament Team, North/South game 2000.
Current MLL Statistics: 19 Goals, 4 Assists, 23 Points, 16 Ground Balls.
Lizard Line: Urick is a throwback in every sense of the word. An attackman who works as hard on the ride as he does during a fast break, he is a player every team would love to have. Slash him, push him, tell him he's slow, and call him short. No matter what the abuse, Urick just lets it
bounce right off of him. Nothing deters this attackman from lighting up opposing defenses, while at the same time out hustling and out scrapping everybody else on the field.
Scott Urick
Long Island Lizards
Name: Joe Ghedina
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 181 lbs.
Born: April 15, 1977
College: Hofstra University (Graduated 1999)
Honors: 1st team America East Conference, lead nation with highest face-off percentage, 65%, Thunder Rookie of the Year.
Current MLL Statistics: 1 Goals, 5 Assists, 6 Points, 1.5 Penalty minutes.
Lizard Line: The consummate team player, Joe G. doesn't know what a bench looks like. The Lizards never let this guy rest. Joe G. is a stalwart on both offense and defense. A face-off man, who stays on the field whether the Lizards are man-down or clearing, he earns his keep. While he may not sparkle in the limelight on a team with Casey Powell and Gary Gait, Joe G. is always an essential ingredient in every Lizard win.
Joe Ghedina
Rochester Rattlers
Name: Chris Cercy
Position: Face-off Midfield
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 180
Born: November 12, 1978
College: Syracuse (Graduated 2001)
Honors: 2-Time All American, 71% career face-off percentage.
Current MLL Statistics: Face-Off Pct. 54%, 25 Ground Balls, 3 Penalty Minutes.
Lizard Line: The face-off master for the Rattlers isn't afraid to throw his body around in pursuit of a ground ball. Even if he gets beat on the clamp, the face-off is far from over. Cercy never stops attacking opponents on the draw. No one is as dominant in dictating the control of a game's momentum. When the Rattlers score, they are almost guaranteed to get the ball right back, as if they were playing "make it take it." When an opponent scores, they know they are probably going to have to wait a while for the rubber. This face-off specialist owns the X.
Chris Cercy
Norwalk, CT-based South Beach Beverage Company is the maker of herbally enhanced refreshment beverages that are marketed under the SoBe brand name. SoBe products are distributed in the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. SoBe is a line of "wellness beverages" formulated with herbs and natural supplements. The company is recognized as the leader in the rapidly emerging healthy refreshment beverage category. SoBe can be purchased at convenience stores, grocery stores, mass merchandisers and warehouse clubs, delis, gas marts, and select restaurants/hotels. For more information, visit the SoBe web site at www.sobebev.com or call the Lizard Line at 1-800-588-0548.
Major League Lacrosse commenced play in June of 2001 with each team playing a 14-game schedule (seven home/seven away). The League's Championship Weekend will be played over Labor Day weekend at Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport, Conn. with the Semifinals contested on Saturday, September 1 and the Championship Game contested on Monday, September 3. The MLL LacrosseStar Game will be played at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport on Thursday, August 2. League and ticket sales information can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com.VOTE NOW!
8-10-01
