Philadelphia Eagles Todd Herremans Talks Charity, NFL and Giving Back
Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman, Todd Herremans, now in his eighth year in the NFL, realizes the importance of giving back in the community and recently created his own Foundation in efforts to help where help is needed.
Athlebrities founder Delinda Lombardo, was happy to pick the NFL players mind about what makes him a mighty, mighty fine man.
Q: Tell us a little bit about the “Good Guy Award” you received from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association-what kind of work have you been doing in your community?
A. To be honest I didn’t even know that the award existed until they called me and told me I won. It was interesting because they said I received an award for being cordial and a “good guy” to the reporters and sportswriters. I was shocked, I thought that is how everyone was suppose to act. They should have given the award to my parents for how they raised me. Continue reading
Another ‘Gun’ Tweet from a NFL Star
It wasn’t long after Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself, that former NFL player Roy Williams sent out a Tweet which contained little bang-bang gun graphics.
And today, after another horrific shooting-not to mention the tragedy at Newtown-someone else opened fire in Phoenix.
So why, why, why is the usually ‘good’ Shaun Phillips tweeting THIS?
People take things way to serious I’m joking people. I hate losers you should all 👫🔫— Shaun Phillips (@ShaunPhillips95) January 30, 2013
Is it not irresponsible of professional athletes to joke about shooting people? Why isn’t anyone addressing this issue? What is wrong with these guys? Are they so completely out of touch with current news? Does it not occur to them that Tweets like this glorify guns and shooting?
Sorry Shaun, you’ve lost my respect…guess I’m a loser that needs to be shot?
As always,
Delinda
NFL Players Choir to Perform at Super Bowl Gospel Celebration
The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, an NFL sanctioned event currently in its 14th year, joins together NFL players, Grammy Award-winning artists, and special guests, on one stage to kick off Super Bowl Weekend…and it will include a Special Performance by the NFL PLAYERS CHOIR Featuring Current and Former NFL Players.
Yes, the highlight of the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is the NFL Players Choir. We knew? And does this mean Tim Tebow will harmonize with Ray Lewis? Continue reading
Why is Roy Williams Tweeting Gun Graphics?
A few days after Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself, NFL player Roy Williams sent out a tweet while hunting.
The tweet sent on December 9 reads “Great day to be Hunting” and is embellished with several tiny guns and the words “bang-bang”. A short time later he sends another tweet that reads “Great Way to Start your morning” with the same gun graphics.
After the horrific events in Connecticut yesterday, I did a double take on Williams’ ‘bang-bang’ tweets. The thread was disturbing and peaked with one fan asking Williams’ if he was going to “especially” shoot the “Oregon Ducks”, his response, “yes, the Ducks, lol”. Shortly thereafter he tweets, “I hunt everything.”
With renewed talks about gun control, we felt it important to ask and plead with our professional athletes and celebrities to stop glorifying guns, especially on the heels of an NFL murder/suicide and especially after yesterday’s events.
There is nothing funny about it. Nothing. Zero. Sorry Roy Williams, as a public figure you have a social responsibility. Enjoy your duck hunting but leave the bang-bang gun graphics out…it only takes one unbalanced fan to misinterpret and take action.
That’s all.
As always,
Thanks for reading,
Delinda
NFL Sack Leader Aldon Smith To Donate to Boys & Girls Clubs
NFL Sack Leader Aldon Smith To Donate $5,099 For Each Sack During His Attempt To Break The All-Time NFL Single-Season Sack Record
As he works his way toward breaking the NFL single-season sack record, San Francisco linebacker Aldon Smith has announced that he will donate $5,099.00 for each of his sacks during the regular season. Smith is currently credited with 19.5 sacks on the season and he is looking to beat the all-time single-season record of 22.5 sacks set by Michael Strahan in 2001. The total monies raised will be split between Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco (Willy Mays Clubhouse at Hunters Point) and Boys & Girls Clubs of The Peninsula (East Palo Alto Clubhouse).
Aldon Smith stated, “I am excited to be able to give back to my community. Now, in addition to playing to win games, I am playing to raise much needed money for a great organization that makes a huge difference in the lives of millions of young people.” Continue reading
NFL’s Seattle Seahawk QB Named Diabetes Ambassador
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson didn’t waste anytime helping others after being drafted into the NFL.
His cause? Diabetes. Wilson lost his father to diabetes related complications in 2009. As he watched his father’s battle with the disease, he vowed he would do what he could to help once he reached the NFL.
And that’s exactly what he’s doing. Wilson is the National Ambassador for CR3 Diabetes Association, Inc. Continue reading
Interview: Steven Jackson
Earlier this week, I had the privilege of interviewing NFL great Steven Jackson, of the St. Louis Rams about his charity work for an exclusive interview on Look to the Stars.
Without question, Jackson IS one of the good guys. He is passionate and sincere about helping kids stay in school while encouraging them to love and respect each other.
There are lot of athletes who can talk-the-talk, but I’m finding very few actually back it up like Jackson does. He is a stellar example of how all our ‘heroes-celebrities-athletes’ can add substance to the lives of others without letting fame get to their head.
I encourage you to read the interview, it shatters any ‘dumb-jock’ notion you may have about NFL players, cuz what we have here is a (cue-music) mighty-mighty-fine man.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Jason David Talks Kidney Disease
As a former New Orleans Saint and member of the Super Bowl XLI Champions Indianapolis Colts, Jason David is using his career and talent as an effective tool to reach out to the community, particularly youth.
On June 28-30, 2012, Jason David will host his fourth annual Celebrity Golf Classic to benefit his Jason David’s Corner Foundation.
The cause dearest to David’s heart is kidney disease. Inspired by the death of his cousin Segun “Shay” Ukome Moruka, who passed away from kidney disease in 2007, all proceeds from the Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament will go toward increasing the awareness and research of kidney disease in order to promote prevention and ultimately find a cure.
Athlebrities was honored to speak with David about his unwavering commitment to give back to his community as well as his efforts to prevent kidney disease. Continue reading
Interview: Former NFLer Tackles Down Syndrome
Former NFLer Darnell Bing (currently a free agent) has played with the Oakland Raiders, as well as the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Detroit Lions, but our interest is in his non-gridiron related work in the community.
His 3rd Annual Bowling with the Stars event is happening on Saturday June 30th in efforts to raise money for youth with Down Syndrome.
It’s not often we come across a 6’2”, 232 pound NFL babe excited about bowling in efforts to raise awareness about how awesome kids with Down Syndrome are.
We were lucky to land an interview with Bing, who told us about his Foundation and why he wants to speak with Jamie Foxx. Continue reading
Adrian Peterson Raises 25k Via Giving Assistant
This is a follow-up to the story regarding NFL players using ‘Football for Good’…
Props to NFL babe Adrian Peterson for his involvement with the ‘Football For Good Giving Assistant.’
Not long after he joined the initiative, he launched a fundraising browser app called the Football For Good Giving Assistant. (get it here: http://www.footballforgood.org/)
And so far, within the first 6 months of the campaign, nearly 5, 000 of Peterson’s mighty-mighty-fine fans have generated over $25,000 using the browser app. The money directly benefits at-risk youth through his All Day Foundation.
The Giving Assistant combines the latest browser technology, the Internet, social media, and e-commerce to develop a new tool that helps nonprofits and schools around the world benefit from the billions of dollars being generated on the web. It provides a new source of funding that is effortless, free, and relies on something that millions of people do every day: shop online.
They’ve coined it “Commerce for a Cause’…give them some love at http://givingassistant.org/
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Jason Taylor’s ‘Ocean Time Project’
Former NFL player Jason Taylor has teamed up with Invicta Care to establish the “Ocean Time Project” to improve the lives of seriously ill children.
Invicta Watch CEO, Eyal Lalo and All Pro, Jason Taylor, both love fishing and decided to make a commitment to get children out of hospital beds by offering them a day out in the open Ocean for cruising and fishing. Continue reading
Philip Rivers & “Rivers of Hope” Aid Foster Kids
Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers is working hard to help foster kids find forever homes.
The NFL player has adopted a collection of images known as the ‘Heart Gallery’-it’s a collection of portraits taken of local foster children who are waiting to find a forever family…and last week, the Heart Gallery found a new home via a partnership with Rivers. Continue reading
NFL Stars to ‘Salute with Hoops’ & Give Military Kids a Candy Shopping Spree
NFL Stars to “Salute with Hoops’
On Friday, May 25, 2012, in appreciation of our troops, Duchess Entertainment presents one of the most highly anticipated events of the Memorial Day Weekend, the 2nd Annual NFL Military Appreciation “Salute with Hoops” Celebrity Basketball Game.
The fundraiser event will be hosted by famed UFL Star and Philanthropist Samie Parker, NFL Stars Josh Morgan (Washington Redskins), DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles), Kirk Morrison (Buffalo Bills), Marcedes Lewis (Jacksonville Jaguars) and other popular sports icons, on-air personalities and celebrities. Continue reading
New York Giant Chris Canty Delivers Toys to Kids in Harlem
New York Giants Defensive Tackle Chris Canty and Second Chance Toys teamed up this week to deliver recycled toys to kids in Harlem. The NFL player delivered over 700 toys and spoke to Harlem school children as part of the ‘Second Chance Toys’ Earth Week Event.
Well known for his commitment to providing educational resources to underserved children through his own foundation’s efforts, Canty was thrilled to join forces with Second Chance Toys.
“Toys provide important learning experiences for kids – and they make them happy,” said Canty. “No child should be deprived of that. I applaud Second Chance Toys for giving these kids their own second chance with these toys – and for caring about the environment they will grow up in.” Continue reading
Will Tim Tebow Ruin the NFL?
Will Tim Tebow Ruin the NFL?
“I’m a fan of any pro athlete who stands up for his faith…we’re thrilled to be part of this. It’s not about football. Whatever gets more people over to the cross, I’m in favor of.” ~Tim Tebow
If you hadn’t noticed, there is a new Pope in town. His name is Tim Tebow, and he might be the beginning of the downfall to our beloved National Football League…on Easter Sunday, Tebow ‘appeared’ at a church in Georgetown, Texas to answer questions from pastor Joe Champion of Celebration Church…more than 15,000 people packed the place to hear what the quarterback had to say. Continue reading
Pro Athletes Wash Childrens Feet in New Orleans During NCAA
At the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School in New Orleans, volunteers and sports athletes, including LL Cool J Steve Smith from the Carolina Panthers, gathered to wash the feet of needy children and provide them with a new pair of shoes during the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.
This was one of four events where Buick has teamed up with former University of North Dakota basketball player Emmanuel “Manny” Ohonme and Samaritan’s Feet to donate 2,012 pairs of shoes and socks to impoverished children in the New Orleans region. Continue reading
NFL Players Tour East Africa with OXFAM
NFLer’s Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin tour with OXFAM and inspire Kurt Warner to get involved.
There’s one athlete we’re having trouble keeping up with, Larry Fitzgerald. Perhaps the biggest ‘giver’ in the NFL, Fitzgerald does so much charity work, we could dedicate our entire blog to him and never run out of fodder.
The might-mighty-fine man has been documenting his various ‘charitable’ journeys via Facebook and Twitter, most recently, he checked in from Ethiopia. Continue reading
Celebrities and Athletes for Marriage Equality
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Athlebrities has a minor obsession with singer/songwriter/activist/lover Jason Mraz…and today, Mraz is asking us to check out his PSA is support of Marriage Equality:
In addition to Mraz, Superbowl Champion and Cleveland Browns’ Linebacker Scott Fujita is also an ‘American for Marriage Equality’.
Americans for Marriage Equality is a public engagement campaign featuring prominent Americans who support committed gay and lesbian couples getting married. The campaign draws from a cadre of supportive professional athletes, film and music celebrities, political and civil rights leaders and business leaders…A hallmark of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights movement is the fight to have our relationships recognized as equal under the law. Full marriage equality is the true measure of our success in this area.
Find out MORE HERE.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line sports section.
Tim Tebow Speaks About Faith and Football in Alabama
The NFL’s Tim Tebow spoke to a sold out crowd about everything except the Denver Broncos on March 16, in Montgomery, Alabama, while raising money for a great cause.
“An Evening with Tim Tebow” was sponsored by Baptist Health and benefited the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama. Continue reading
NFL Players USO Middle East Tour
The USO and NFL commemorated their 46 year partnership with a seven-day, two-country USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour to Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan March 2-9, 2012.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to visit our service men and women overseas,” said Takeo Spikes, “They take an extraordinary amount of pride in protecting our country and I’m very grateful for their commitment. This experience has been amazing.”
Making the trek were Carolina Panthers punter Jason Baker, 11-year NFL veteran/Travel Channel host Dhani Jones, Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack, San Diego Chargers linebacker/two-time Pro Bowl selection Takeo Spikes and Houston Texans offensive tackle Eric Winston. Continue reading