Shane Battier Reads to Achieve, Tayshaun Donates to Kids Kicking Cancer, Grizzlies Give Kids New Shoes (Or What We’ll Never See Lebron Doing)
A FEW OF MY OFF-COURT NBA ALL STARS
Generally, you’ll have me at ‘Rockets’ due to the number of good-guys on the roster…and yesterday one of those mighty-mighty-fine men, Shane Battier, was at the Children’s Museum in Houston. At first I was certain that he had been “added” as an exhibit until I saw him reading to the kids and learned that he was there for the Read to Achieve event. Little to no media coverage so I thought I’d do it here. The NBA’s Read to Achieve program is a year-round campaign which helps young people develop a life-long love for reading…which isnt really too hard when you got guys like Shane reading to you.
And pinky props to Piston Tayshaun Prince (and his wife Farah) for chanting the mantra ‘Power, Peace, Purpose’, after presenting a scholarship check for $2,500 to Kids Kicking Cancers as part of the Pistons Read to Achieve Tour.
Just a lil love for Grizzlies Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Elliot Perry, Kyle Lowry and Hakim Warrick for taking part in the Samaritan’s feet shoe distribution at Street Ministries yesterday in Memphis…actually, I’m giving more than just a lil love to these guys because they not only fitted kids for sneakers, but also handed out kicks to the kids AND (gulp) even washed their feet. This is the first time I’ve ever come across any of our ballers or athletes actually washing kids’ feet. (Like to see Lebron do that)…again, massive hugs to the Grizzlies.
Hope to see you here: Tomorrow is the 2009 Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge to benefit bone marrow patient and family services at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation. Celebrities expected: Nomar Garciaparra [LA Dodgers], Mia Hamm [Soccer Hall of Famer], Tony hawk, Maksim Chmerkovski, Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh, Zachary Levi, Josh Henderson, C. Thomas Howell, Ryan Sheckler, Sal Masekela, Marcus Allen, Benji Madden, Angus T. Jones, Dule Hill, Anthony Lapaglia, Andrea Bowen, Chris Richardson, Josh Hutchenson, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Rivers Cuomo, members of the U.S. Olympic Men’s and Women’s Soccer Teams and many others. Home Depot Center, 18400 Avalon Blvd., Carson, CA.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com