Jean Lenti Ponsetto Joins Chicago's Sports Dignitaries at U.S. Cellular Field for Sporting News Award

Ponsetto joins the likes of Jerry Reinsdorf, Billy Williams and Chris Duhon in a pre-game presentation by Sporting News honoring Chicago as the nation's Best Sports City. The city was honored prior to the White Sox-Yankees game on Tuesday night.

CHICAGO - DePaul athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto was among Chicago's sports dignitaries honored prior to the White Sox-Yankees game on Wednesday night following the city's recent award as the nation's top sports city by Sporting News.

The August 11th issue of Sporting News features the 2006 Best Awards, honoring the best U.S. cities and personalities in sports. The Sporting News bestowed the Best Sports City award to Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field during a pre-game presentation. Representatives from the Chicago’s professional and collegiate teams also participated in the ceremony.

“Chicago is a great sports town and a world-class city,” said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. “Not only are we home to nine professional franchises, and several semi-pro and college teams we’ve successfully hosted large scale, international events such as the 1994 World Cup Soccer Tournament, the annual LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, and most recently the 2006 Gay Games.”

The Best Sports City award is based on a 12-month snapshot, roughly July to July, of each city’s sports atmosphere, putting a heavy premium on regular-season won-lost records (from the most recently completed season); playoff berths, bowl appearances and tournament bids; championships; applicable power ratings; quality of competition; overall fan fervor as measured in part by attendance as percentage of venue capacity; abundance of teams, though we reward quality over quantity; stadium/arena quality; ticket availability and prices; franchise ownership; and marquee appeal of athletes. Sporting News has been selecting the top sports cities since 1993. Past winners include Boston (2005, 2004, 2002), Anaheim-Los Angeles (2003), New York (2001), and St. Louis (2000).

The Sporting News Best issue went on newsstands August 2nd and is available online at www.sportingnews.com.

DePaul University