Trojans represent at the LA Sports Awards

The 2008 LA Sports Awards were held Friday, bringing together some of the biggest names in the Southland. Mark Sanchez was on hand, and while he kept mum about the NFL, he did pose for a picture with Phil Jackson. Sanchez was also spotted last week at a Lakers game.

A media panel selected by the LA Sports Council named the top 10 moments of the year, and the Trojans' continued dominance of Pac-10 football -- a seventh straight conference title -- was selected as Los Angeles' seventh greatest moment of 2008. Ken Norton Jr. was there to pick up the hardware. When asked if the Trojans will experience a drop-off on defense next season, he said they might surprise everybody and be even better.

Every local team was honored for its greatest moment, based on an Internet fan poll. USC's top moment was its athletes or alumnis winning 21 medals in the Beijing Olympics. If the school were a nation, it would have been 13th in the world in overall medals and eighth in the world with nine gold medals.

Curiously, the media's favorite USC moment (winning the Pac-10 in football) wasn't even among the three choices that fans had: the Beijing Olympics, the NCAA women's golf championship and the NCAA men's water polo championship. Those three nominees were selected by the school.

The Dodgers' acquisition of Manny Ramirez and the subsequent "Mannywood" craze was the top winner. Staples Center stars dominated the individual awards, with Kobe Bryant being named sportsman of the year, Candace Parker sportswoman of the year, Phil Jackson coach of the year and Mitch Kupchak executive of the year.

A presentation of the awards ceremony will air on PrimeTicket this Friday, with several repeats in the following days.

-- Adam Rose
Photos by Jon SooHoo, courtesy LA Sports Council