"ChuckStrong" T-Shirts Selling Fast In Honor Of Pagano; Proceeds Going To Cancer Research

The Colts Pro Shop at Lucas Oil Stadium has nearly sold out of the "3,000 blue T-shirts -- with a simple message in white lettering: 'i am CHUCKSTRONG,'" according to Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Today, those racks "will be filled again with the shirts honoring" Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who is battling leukemia. The demand has "a little to do with celebrating the Colts’ inspiring win Sunday over the Green Bay Packers in honor of the ailing coach." But mostly it has to do with "cheering on Pagano and the fight for a cancer cure." Proceeds from sales of the $20 shirts go to the Indiana Univ. Simon Cancer Center leukemia research "in honor of Pagano." After selling 3,100 by yesterday "in stores and online, $78,000 had been raised." Colts officials said that a "private match is taking place behind the scenes, in some cases putting more than $20 toward leukemia research each time a shirt is purchased." Colts execs and MainGate, the company that produces the T-shirts, "decided Monday to make 5,000 more ChuckStrong shirts." They will be in "by this afternoon." MainGate CEO Dave Moroknek said that it is "possible if the added 5,000 shirts sell out, his company will make more" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/9).

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: In Detroit, Rod Beard notes Tigers radio analyst Jim Price is in his 20th season with the team, and his voice is "strong as ever -- even in the midst of his second bout with cancer." Tigers Owner Mike Ilitch has "told Price he can take as much time off as he needs as he continues his battle, but Price has soldiered through the season." Tigers radio play-by-play announcer Dan Dickerson said, "I just admire what Jim has done because it's not easy. He's going on and off the chemo -- it's not like other chemo because it's oral chemo -- but it takes something out of him and the food doesn't taste good" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/9).