The 17th 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 2002 Sports Spectacular honorees are Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds and Los Angeles Sparks leader Lisa Leslie. Slated for Sunday, June 30 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, the event will host more than 1,500 prominent sports figures, entertainers and business, civic and community leaders to honor the country's top sports stars while helping to combat genetic birth defects.
In its 17-year history, the Sports Spectacular has honored over 80 of the world's greatest including Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O'Neal, Joe DiMaggio, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Joe Montana, Hulk Hogan, Evander Holyfield, Magic Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Vin Scully and Willie Shoemaker. Attending this year will be top professional sports stars and celebrities including Marcus Allen, Greg Bell, Steve Berline, Maurice Bernard, George Brett, Todd Christensen, Chris Claiborne, Sasha Cohen, Michael Cooper, Ray Crockett, Richard Dent, Andre Farr, Tristan Gale, Mitch Gaylord, Jim Hill, Bruce Jenner, Brent Jones, Larry King, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Carl Lewis, Mark Madsen, Willie Mayes, Floyd Mayweather, Willie McGinest, Al Michaels, Warren Moon, Shaquille O'Neal, Billy Packer, John Salley, Picabo Street, Barry Switzer, Dave Winfield, Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy and many others.
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 provided approximately $11 million to benefit the Center, including over $1 million last year alone. Sponsors of the event include American Airlines and Mercedes-Benz USA, who has generously donated a 2003 SL500 for the live auction.
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