NFL Player Ray Rice Changing Lives
Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice deserves some love. The NFL player may be a free-agent as of this writing, not sure, but if that’s the case, it’s a win-win situation for the kids.
Perusing Rice’s Twitter and Facebook reflects an incredibly altruistic athlete. This morning, Rice shared a photo of he and ‘his main man Donte,’ explaining to fans that “the kid just has a personality that can light up a room.” Continue reading
Pro-Golfers and Bible Study
While looking into a celebrity-charity event to be headlined by former NFL hottie Terrell Owens, Athlebrities discovered an interesting and refreshing trend among professional golfers, Bible Study.
Owens will compete in the 11th Annual Jack in the Box Celebrity Shootout to benefit the Phoenix Suns Charities and Suns Nite Hoops on Saturday March 3…scheduled to shoot hoops with Owens are Jersey Shore cast member, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro (who?); Anthony Anderson (“Transformers”, “The Departed”, “Barbershop”); Kerry Rhodes (Safety, Arizona Cardinals); and PGA Tour Golfer Bubba Watson among others. (Suns.com/CelebShootout)…but by following the Twitter breadcrumbs, we discovered that Bubba Watson has been attending Bible Study classes along with fellow professional golfers Ben Crane, Aaron Baddeley, Zach Johnson, Jonathon Byrd and Webb Simpson. Continue reading
Sarah Burke: Give Forward
Awesome website Athlebrities wants to give a Sunday shout-out to, it’s called Give Forward. And it’s amazing.
Here’s how it works: Create a page describing your fundraising; Spread the word: Receive your funds: Pay it forward by sharing the site. Yeah it’s that easy.
So far the site has raised almost $10 million for medical expenses and other causes.
The most notable fundraiser on Give Forward is Sarah Burke’s family. Continue reading
Usain Bolt’s Charity Work Not Lost in Sir Richard Branson’s Beard
Usain Bolt’s Charity Work Not Lost in Sir Richard Branson’s Beard
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has teamed up with smoking-hot billionaire Sir Richard Branson in an epic battle of ‘Who is Richard Branson’.
In a series of ads promoting Virgins ‘lightening fast’ broadband service, Bolt attempts a laughable impression of Branson before the real thing interrupts him. It’s cute, funny, and a well placed partnership which sees Bolt sporting Branson’s trademark silver-beard. Continue reading
E! Entertainment TV Stole Athlebrities
E! Entertainment TV Stole Athlebrities
Most of you have been wondering what’s up with Athlebrities™ lately. Many of you have emailed me regarding the confusion created by the use of Athlebrities on E! Entertainment TV’s on-line section titled ‘Athlebrity Zone.’
Do they have my permission to use my company name? No. Did they steal it from me? Yes. Am I trademarked and otherwise legally protected? Yes.
It started in 2004 when I met with the oh-so-good peeps at E!TV about developing an ‘Athlebrities on E!’ segment. They loved the idea and strung me along through several well-documented production meetings. Then nothing.
But I pressed on, believing that by following my passion, I could develop Athlebrities into an informative, fun and resourceful site that sports fans could visit for all the info relating to celebrity athletes and what makes them a ‘celebrity’ outside of sports.
Over the years, Athlebrities’ coverage morphed into something better-athletes and their charity work. Many of you from the NPO world know me and know my sincerity. Many of you watched me struggle to put Athlebrities on the map and make a name for myself-which I did.
And many of you know the pain I felt upon discovery of E! Entertainment Television and its parent company NBC Universal using my previously presented concept to them without my permission.
So, to answer all your questions….No, I am in no way shape or form related to E! Entertainments on-line Athlebrity Zone other than the fact that I presented the concept to them and they decided to use it after-the-fact, and after it had been legally protected and well-established by ME.
Obviously, I am exploring my options, but in the mean time, I am not going away. This is my baby that’s been high-jacked. I am Athlebrities and ETV’s on-line Athlebrity Zone is nothing but a direct-theft from me. Period.
That’s all.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
The NFL’s Larry Fitzgerald Lives Strong
The NFL’s Larry Fitzgerald Lives Strong
This morning, Arizona Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald was up to Good again, this time tweeting from the offices of Nike for a ‘Live-strong’ event.
Today marks the 15th anniversary of Lance Armstrong’s foundation, aka Livestrong.org. Since its creation as the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997, the non-profit has invested $157 million in programs that serve survivors, $85 million in grants and awards and $33 million to advocate for policies and funding that advance the fight against the world’s leading cause of death.
And today also marks a mighty-mighty-fine athlete shout-out to Fitzgerald for being one of the most cause orientated, sincere and socially-engaging athletes alive. Continue reading
Andre Johnson Getting Houston in the Holiday Mood
Andre Johnson Getting Houston in the Holiday Mood
Houston Texans, wide receiver Andre Johnson, has been working long and hard on his road to recovery after suffering multiple hamstring injuries this season. Even though this year hasn’t exactly been in Johnson’s favor he has still made it a priority to give back to the Houston community this holiday season.
Continue reading
Rajon Rondo Launches New Website/Foundation
Rajon Rondo Launches New Website/Foundation
“I firmly believe that it takes just one person to turn a child’s life around.” ~Rondo
During the NBA lockout, players had plenty of free time to do something constructive and one such player gets props from Athlebrities. Boston Celtic, Rajon Rondo. Rondo launched the ‘Assisting Youth Foundation’ to provide children living in low-income areas with safe, reliable resources and hope for the future. Continue reading
Ethan Zohn’s Cure for Cancer?
Survivor Africa winner and cancer survivor Ethan Zohn recently announced that after 20 months in remission from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, his cancer has returned. Both Ethan and his girl (fellow Survivor winner) Jenna Morasca, have lost parents to cancer. And both recently attended the CNN Heroes Awards…
And yet this morning, after blogging about celebrities, athletes and charities for over eight years, I read a quote from Ethan Zohn that wins Athlebrities all-time ‘most irresponsible quote’ ever award. Continue reading
Dunk Ron Artest for 600 Million Dogs?
Dunk Ron Artest for 600 Million Dogs?
Tonight in Hollywood, celebrities are expected to take a dunk for the dogs at a unique fundraiser to benefit 600million.org. A slew of celebrities and athletes including David Duchovny, Larry King, Eric Roberts, Ron Artest and Sugar Ray Leonard, have been invited to participate in the ‘Dunking for Dogs’ event – where you might find them sitting in a dunk tank waiting to take one for the team.
The team is 600million.org. The organization was founded by PETA co-founder Alex Pacheco, and aims to save millions of stray dogs:
- It is estimated that on any given day there are more than 600 million stray dogs living in desperate conditions around the world; and these strays give birth to between one and three BILLION puppies each year. As a result of these staggering numbers, stray dogs suffer terribly, and literally millions are brutally killed in the name of “population control”, especially in countries without animal cruelty laws. 600million.org‘s mission is to end this needless suffering and killing by developing and distributing worldwide a pill which safely, economically, and painlessly sterilizes stray dogs, thereby reducing reproduction rates and controlling stray populations humanely. This scientific work is expensive and we need your financial support to make it a reality. This is an almost inconceivably large problem, but a solution is in sight. Please make a donation now. Your generous gift will directly reduce the suffering of stray dogs everywhere. Thank you.
Other invited celebrities include: Ed Begley Jr., Brooke Mueller, Perez Hilton, Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin, Catherine Bach, Cheryl Tiegs, Kyle Richards, the cast of Days of Our Lives, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Cheryl Woodcock and more.
Personally, I would like to see Ron Artest in the dunk tank….he isn’t the most ‘dog-friendly’ athlete in the world, so it couldn’t hurt…and no, he is NO Michael Vick by any stretch of the imagination-just needs a little education on the proper care and feeding of pets…but he’s trying…after his drama with animal control, Ron-Ron suddenly became the poster child for PETA’s spay and neuter program…
If you can handle it, there are some phenomenal videos on 600million.org’s YouTube channel.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Right to Play With Dignity
Right to Play With Dignity
So…the NBA ‘lock-out’ continues with the first few weeks of the NBA season being canned, the commish is asking fans to focus on Euro games, players are tweeting like its their last day on earth, scrambling to resolve the matter even though they were told a year before the lockout not to spend their money on lavish trip to Vegas, but to hoard it. That’s a fact…so where is the dignity?
While I don’t support either side of the NBA lock-out situation, I feel that everyone has the Right to Play-as in ‘Right To Play’, the leading international humanitarian and development organization using the transformative power of sport and play to build essential skills in children and thereby drive social change in communities affected.
With support from all corners of the world-including Jordan, Lebanon, Uganda, Liberia, Rwanda, and the UK-Right to Play could school any organization on dignity and mutual respect for humanity and I dare any NBA locked-out player to take aim at something higher than Ego-games in their free time.
Why not do something dignified during the lockout and volunteer with Right to Play or any other non-profit? Take a ball to the local court and use sport to make a positive impact on the kids…the positive impact sport has on refugee children, former child combatants, children living with a disability, and young people at risk or orphaned by HIV, AIDS or war is astonishing.
Ballers, you could change and improve the world if ya just shifted your focus from yourselves to others.
On October 20th, Right To Play will participate in Global Dignity Day, to advocate that everyone have the right to a dignified life-and I challenge the NBA to join most of the humanity loving world to participate in Global Dignity Day. Read more about it HERE…amazing organization whose honorary board members include: President Martti Ahtisaari (Former President of Finland, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, United Nations diplomat and mediator); Sir Richard Branson, Professor Amartya Sen (Nobel Price laureate in Economic Sciences, Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University), Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Andrew Young (Former Congressman and United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Activist in the Civil Rights Movement)
To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others ~ Buddha
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Athletes Who Inspire
Athletes Who Inspire
I chuckle to myself each time I hear about an NBA player wanting $50M per season…sorry, but Dwayne Wade, Lebron James and Kobe combined shouldn’t earn that much…just my opinion…and on a daily basis, I wonder why more people aren’t inspired by ‘handicapped’ athletes- and when I say handicapped, I don’t mean mentally (as in ego-run-wild) – I mean physically…in a perfect world, Ego Games wouldn’t exist during NBA lock-outs, neither would temper tantrums…why aren’t we paying more attention to those athletes that truly inspire…athletes without limbs are competing at astonishing levels without millions of dollars or one-fifth of the media recognition they deserve. Recently, I was told that I’m missing the ‘Athlebrity’ mark by not giving props to any Kardashian married to an athlete. I have thus far refused-and will continue to refuse-writing about someone just because of their last name. That’s not me. Blind hero worship is for the dogs. If you get paid to attend a charity event, you don’t fall under the ‘sincerity umbrella’ for me. Apparently I shouldn’t be so altruistic in this business…I should ignore athletes like French fencing athlete Delphine Bernard (L) fighting with Hungarian Veronika Juhasz during the 2011 World Wheelchair Fencing Championships in Catania.
Or maybe I should overlook athletes like Kyle Maynard? Stud is a motivational speaker and MMA fighter who recently joined the mighty-mighty-fine team at AccesSurf for a surf session.
Seriously, if you are looking for gossip about how Lamar Odom sleeps in a separate home from his wife, you are on the wrong blog. Maybe, just maybe, if a Kardashian were as altruistic as some, we’d have a better world…until then, I press onward, altruistically.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
PUMA® Presents Riddim + Run Benefiting Soles4Souls
PUMA® Presents Riddim + Run Benefiting Soles4Souls
This Wednesday, Oct 12, PUMA is hosting their Riddim + Run event to benefit Soles4Souls, a non-profit that collects gently worn shoes and provides them to those in need.
The event will bring the flavor of Jamaica to LA with Island inspired décor and refreshments to play homage to FAAS, PUMA’s Jamaican inspired running collection.
A DJ set will be provided Josh Madden and special performance by acclaimed DJ and Producer, Diplo… celebrities expected: Chris Evans (“Captain America”), Nicole Richie, Taryn Manning (“Hawaii 5-O”), Ashley Benson (“Pretty Little Liars”), Pia Toscano (“American Idol”), Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf”), Matt Dallas (“Kyle XY”), Mike O’Malley (Glee), Josh Wolf (Comedian – “Chelsea Lately”), Meagan Good (“Jumping the Broom”), John Conway, Sam Endicott and Anthony Burulcich (Musicians – The Bravery), Manish Dayal (90210), Diplo (Musician), Josh Madden (DJ), Joel and Benji Madden (Musicians), Pete Wentz (Musician), Samantha Ronson (DJ), Adam Pally (“Happy Endings”), Cara Castronuova (The Biggest Loser), Baseball Player Johnny Damon, Soccer Stars Natasha Kai and Leslie Osborne, The IT Boys, and more. Continue reading
ONE Campaign Needs Your Voice
ONE Campaign Needs Your Voice
ONE Campaign has just rolled out their ‘F-word’ PSA…watch it and please sign the petition-because ‘drought is an act of nature, famine is man-made.’
The famine in Somalia has killed 30,000 children in 3 months. In 2011 we have the opportunity to make famine a thing of the past. Lives are in your hands…ONE is a grassroots campaign of 2 million people committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable diseases.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Celebrities Play Xbox Live for Charity
Celebrities Play Xbox Live for Charity
Celebrities are coming out in huge numbers to support ‘The Gaming and Giving for Good (G3) Xbox LIVE Charity Event’ to benefit Extra Life, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraiser.
Beginning yesterday, celebrities began stopping by the ‘G3 Miracle Lounge’ in West Hollywood to show their support for G3 by playing Xbox LIVE.
Celebrities committed to the G3 charity event include: Eva Longoria, Manish Dayal (90210), Olympian Carol Rodriguez, Rob Dyrdek, Ryan Phillippe, Anthony Anderson, Vanessa Simmons, Stephen Bishop, Chad George (pictured above), and Ephraim Salaam among others.
Granted, I am totally out of the “gaming” loop, but from what I understand, you can sign up to play Xbox live against celebrities while raising money and awareness for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Check it HERE.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Jamie Foxx and Friends Raise $500k for Charity
Jamie Foxx and Friends Raise $500k for Charity
Jamie Foxx held his ‘3 on 3’ Celebrity Basketball event over the weekend at his private residence in Los Angeles to benefit the Jamie Foxx Foundation and the Pacific Lodge Youth Services.
The NBA’s Shawn Marion aka the Matrix tweeted post-event: “All I gotta say is everybody from Denzel W, to Mario Van P, and Tyrese and the list goes on, was at the charity event, J.Foxx raise 500k.”
Now, I can not confirm how much money was raised during Fox’ event, but I do know that the 3 on 3 Charity Hoops Tournament is not something I plan on missing next year.
What I can confirm about the invite-only event is that Jamie Foxx brought together a long list of his celebrity and NBA friends to participate in two 3 on 3 basketball tournaments, one featuring celebrities vs. celebrities and one featuring NBA players vs NBA players with each NBA team also having a celebrity coach.
Cannot confirm but do know that Jordin Sparks was invited to sing the National Anthem. Other celebrities and athletes who were invited include: Will Smith, Snoop Dogg, Penny Marshall, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, Matt Barnes, Jalen Rose, Rasual Butler, Lamar Odom, Derrick Rose, Kevin Hart, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, Cuttino Mobley and many others.
All proceeds benefited the Jamie Foxx Foundation whose purpose is to facilitate literacy and adoption programs as well as exposure to music, comedy, and the arts for children of all ages and the Pacific Lodge Youth Services which creates a supportive and therapeutic residential environment for adolescent boys (ages 13-18) in the juvenile justice system who are experiencing psychological, emotional and behavioral problems.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Celebrities and Athletes Support ‘Football for Good’
Celebrities and Athletes Support ‘Football for Good’
Football season is here and with it comes a great ménage a trios: Adrian Peterson, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher.
The triage of do-gooders have partnered up via their foundations to raise awareness and bring an end to child sex trafficking.
NFL stud Adrian Peterson and his ‘All Day Foundation’ along with Demi and Ashton’s DNA Foundation, have officially kicked off their ‘Football for Give’ initiative on Crowdrise, with a ‘goal to make each touchdown count for more than just points.’
- Through Football for Good, players and fans are coming together to raise funds and awareness to bring an end to child sex trafficking and support programs that enrich the lives of children around the country. It is estimated that more than 2 million children are victims of sex trafficking around the world. What many people don’t know is that this doesn’t just happen overseas, it happens here at home as well. More than 200,000 American children are at risk of being trafficked. Football for Good works to raise awareness about this issue and gather support for programs that address the needs of some of our country’s most vulnerable youth.
Football for Good: Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) will donate $5,000 per touchdown, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore will match his contribution…Victor Ortiz will donate $2500 per Peterson touchdown…other NFL athletes involved with Football for Good include Michael Huff (Oakland Raiders); Roy Williams (Chicago Bears); Jermaine Gresham (Cincinnati Bengals); Dallas Clark (Indianapolis Colts); DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles)
Join the cause and donate to make a difference in the lives of children…and win great prizes along the way including a trip to a Vikings game, and a meet & greet with Adrian…join the team and raise more than $1000 before Nov. 1 and you’ll be entered to win a three-night stay at W residences in Miami. And, everyone on your team who contributes $20 or more will have a chance to win the trip to a Vikings game, VIP tickets and a meet & greet with Adrian.
Video below: Actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher participate in the launch the UN Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons at UN Headquarters in New York November 2010.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Stop Quoting The FAKE Bill Walton
Stop Quoting The FAKE Bill Walton
At last weekends Liquid Nation Ball, I once again had the pleasure of meeting one of the most frequently quoted men in NBA history, Lakers great Bill Walton.
But what’s been eating me up is the fact that people are quoting the wrong Bill Walton. And by people I mean ‘main-stream’ media. Writers or journalists who are earning a hefty paycheck for covering things like who Sarah Palin may have gotten nasty with in the NBA and what people are saying about it.
To wit, this snippet from the NY Daily News:
- NBA Hall-of-Famer Bill Walton took a shot at the notoriously offense-minded Rice. “Sarah Palin had an intimate relationship with Glen Rice in the 80s,” he tweeted. “Rice tried to resist but he was never one to stop anyone from scoring.”
Soon after the real-fake Walton quote appeared in the NY Daily News, Bills wife Lori tweeted: ‘Does Larry McShane, New York Daily News not know or not care that he quoted the fake Bill Walton in is article about Sarah Palin?’
- A FAKE Walton Tweet
I asked the lovely Mrs. Walton about the real-fake Bill Walton quotes which are rampant on the Internet thanks to the fake Walton on Twitter. “He’s actually funnier than Bill, “she laughed. (The real-fake Bill has 49,000 followers, while the REAL Walton has about 5,000).
For what’s it worth, I asked the real Bill Walton about current players, the state of the league and where he sees the NBA in five years:
“Players today are better than ever, they’re bigger, they’re stronger, they’re faster-everything about it is better and we are looking forward to the resumption of the NBA,” said the real Bill Walton.
On expanding the NBA’s Global reach? “Players will be better, coaches will be better. With people like David Stern and Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant and Lebron James and Dirk Nowitzki taking the game to its highest level.”
Even IF the fake-Bill is funnier than the real-Bill, I find it crazy that paid-writers are NOT checking their sources while bloggers like myself bend over backwards to ensure what is printed is real…and for no pay. You’ve all heard the phrase lately ‘Apes Will Rise’?, well get ready people, because with rouge-writers continually not covering their bases I assure you, Bloggers Will Rise.
Many thanks to the real Bill Walton and Lori…who are never short of awesome.
As of this morning, the real Bill has been asked by Jamie Foxx to participate in his ‘3 on 3 Charity Basketball Tournament’ on Sat Sept 24 in LA. (Look for post-event details next week) Best to the real Bill, who-although recovering from back surgery-still seems to always make time to give back.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Magic Johnson is Hiring
Magic Johnson is Hiring
Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson played 13-years in the NBA, won five national championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, 3 MVP awards, appeared in 12 NBA All-Star games, took home a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, has been induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and is currently Vice President and part owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.
And he’s also helping people find jobs. That’s right, Magic is also Chief Executive Officer of Magic Workforce Solutions, a first-rate staffing services company committed to building a diverse workforce.
Admittedly, I was thrown off at first…Magic Johnson advertising available jobs? But after much thought, it makes sense. As part of Magic Johnson Enterprises, Magic Workforce Solutions supports the umbrella organizations commitment to providing products and services that particularly focus on ethnically diverse urban communities…the long-arm of his business portfolio includes (among others): Urban Coffee Opportunities (making MJE the only joint venture partner of Starbucks); Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund; over 30 Burger King restaurants; a dozen 24 Hour Fitness Magic Sport centers; a T.G.I. Fridays restaurant; a long-standing partnership with AMC Magic Johnson Theatres; partnerships with Aetna and Best Buy and has entered into a multi-year relationship with retail giant Best Buy to enhance urban retail growth strategies and implement diversity outreach with multicultural consumers.
So, for those looking for a job or companies looking for good people, check out Magic Johnson’s staffing service. NBA players need not apply.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Founded in 1991, the Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF) has become one of the most recognizable charitable organizations around the world, awarding more than $1.1 million to community based organizations that focus on HIV/AIDS education and prevention.
50 Cent to Feed the World
50 Cent to Feed the World
Rapper 50 Cent has been busy promoting his new Street King energy shot…which I overlooked for a minute until I realized he’s not just doing it to make money, he’s doing it to feed the world.
Via a collaboration with the United Nations World Food Program, 50 aims to provide 1 billion meals over the next five years. With every shot purchased, a meal is provided for a child in need. He even took his activism to the United Nations this week and met-up with Deepak Chopra where the two solidified efforts to change the world.
Granted, when I think of ‘feed the world’ I visualize a motley crew of 80’s favorites who attempted the same fete…sad to think we are still trying to feed the world but uplifting to know humanity still cares…perhaps 50Cent will remake the hit for Christmas this year?
From the STREET KING WEBSITE: As both a massively successful artist and a survivor of a harsh childhood, 50 Cent found himself compelled to use his success to help others in need. A trip to the World Cup in Africa opened his eyes to rampant poverty and hunger across the continent. Back home, 50 and his trusted manager Chris Lighty began brainstorming ways he could help kids born with the odds stacked against them. They immediately thought of Chris Clarke, the entrepreneur behind Pure Growth Partners. PGP’s revolutionary mission is to find and create sustainable brands using a “one for one” give-back component to donate directly to the world’s most effective charities. Together, they conceived a product that perfectly fit 50′s driven persona and their mutual desire to make a difference: the Street King energy shot. Street King provides focus and energy, two qualities 50 credits with being crucial to his success. And every single bottle of Street King purchased will furnish a meal for an impoverished child.
*UPDATE: San Diego Charger Shaun Phillips looks like he’s on-board to support 50’s quest to feed the world. Phillips tweeted to 50’s management: “@50cent let me know how I can help with feeding the kids I’m looking for some new charity work.”
The response from @DebbyCoda: “@ShaunPhillips95 its moving quick, the UN are fully behind it and he’s already fed 2.5M kids before the launch. 100% legit. He feels that if he does this other big companies will follow and do the same with their brands. If your interested in being involved holla.”
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com