Lisa Leslie Named Grand Marshal for Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade

Three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie will serve as grand marshal for the 2009 Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade.  Leslie joins fellow gold medalist Shawn Johnson and entertainers Joey Fatone and Cheryl Burke as a part of the 30th annual parade as well as its nationally syndicated broadcast. 

Leslie’s legacy is defined by championships.  She helped lead the U.S. women’s team to four consecutive gold medals from 1996-2008, and as a member of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, won back-to-back league championships (2001-2002) and three MVP awards (2001, 2004 and 2006).  She retired after the 2009 season as one of the most famous women’s basketball players of all time.

As grand marshal, Leslie will ride in the parade and be interviewed as part of the parade’s nationally-syndicated broadcast.  Fatone and Burke will host the broadcast, while Johnson will serve as an on-street reporter throughout the event.

The first 100 fans to purchase a $50 parade grandstand ticket will also receive access to  an exclusive “Meet & Greet” autograph session with parade talent .  A ticket to the “Meet & Greet” may not be purchased separately.  The autograph session will take place immediately following the parade (approx. 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.) at the grandstands near Lake Eola’s band shell on Rosalind Avenue.  Fans interested in purchasing tickets may call the Florida Citrus Sports box office at 407.423.2476.

Now in its 30th year, the Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade is a Central Florida tradition known for its signature floats made entirely of Florida citrus fruit.  Stepping off at 11:00 a.m. on Dec. 30, the parade will take a 1.4 mile route through Downtown Orlando. A one-hour broadcast of the parade will be syndicated nationally.