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
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
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
Charles Barkley’s New Team, Nuggets Win NBA Entertainment League Championships
BARKLEY’S NEW TEAM
I just finished an article for Look to the Stars about Charles Barkley and his generous donations to fire victims in the Lake Tahoe area…and today, I’ve got more good-hearted fun coming from the former NBA beast. On June 7-8 in Palm Springs (CA), Barkley will act as Tournement Commissioner for the Pro Sports Teams Challenge. Sixteen legendary athlebrities (four each from football, baseball, basketball and hockey) will tee off at Eagle Falls Golf Course and compete against each other- not just for bragging rights- but also a charity prize of $100,000. “Athletes from each sport think that they are the best golfers. It’s high time we found out who really is: baseball, football, basketball or hockey,” said Team Challenge spokesman, Mike Paul.
The hotties already committed to participate include (*team captains): Baseball: *Ozzie Smith, George Brett, Vince Coleman; Basketball: *Charles Barkley (L), Jason Kidd©, Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving; Football: *Drew Brees®, LaDainian Tomlinson, John Elway, Michael Strahan; Hockey: *Mario Lemieux, Brett Hull, Grant Fuhr, Peirre Larouche. “The playful smack talk regarding which sport and athlete are the best started months ago,” said Tom Belton, founder and managing partner of Team Challenge, LLC. “These sports legends look forward to the challenge and to raising significant money for charity. Nothing makes them happier than playing sports to raise money to help others in need. Moreover, this competition might also depend on who has the most loyal and knowledgeable fans.” YES! This isnt just a spectator event-you get to participate. The Team Challenge will for the first time ever give fans the platform to be ‘Pro Coaches” by using the internet or mobile text messaging to make real strategy decisions in this competition- this will have an actual impact on the scoring. Blogs and chat rooms will be available for fans to strategize together on real choices, bringing the fan inside the locker room in a sports competition…it’s hot, so don’t be left out of the game…check out Team Challenge for all the juicy details.
NBA ENTERTAINMENT LEAGUE CHAMPS
It’s been around for eleven seasons and admittedly I don’t cover it enough…but big ups to the Nuggets who won the NBA Entertainment League Championship 71-63 over the Cavaliers on Saturday, April 12. The Nuggets team included actor Morris Chestnut and singer Drew Lachey…while the Cav’s roster included Will Ferrell, Scrubs actor Donald Faison and ‘Las Vegas’ actor James Lesure. After the game, the league’s wrap party attracted celebrities such as Jamie Foxx, Brody Jenner, Stacy Kiebler, Terry Crews, and Jaleel White among others. Check out the complete NBAE League and full rosters here.
WEEKEND WARRIORS
The NBA Playoffs begin Saturday with the Celtics the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and the Lakers the top seed in the Western Conference…and just about everyone is praying for a Celtics-Lakers Final…one reason why could be that the two teams haven’t faced each other in the Finals in about what…20 years? Celtics first gotta win the best of seven against the Atlanta Hawks and the Lakers gotta do the same against the Nuggets…first round Sunday.
Boxing bad boys Joe Calzaghe of Wales and Bernard Hopkins of USA are set for their fight in Vegas this weekend, making it Calzaghe’s first fight on “US soil.” This girl hopes the Welshman can finally get Hopkins to shut up…and yes, I will in fact be in Vegas looking for a posse to invite me to their after-party.
As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.
