Red Sox DH DAVID ORTIZ on Friday before the team's game against the Yankees "called his shot" by promising to hit a home run for 6-year-old fan MAVERICK SCHUTTE, a friend of MLB Net's KEVIN MILLAR, who has "undergone more than 30 open-heart surgeries and requires a ventilator to breathe." Ortiz "came through" with a two-run homer in the Red Sox' 4-2 win. Millar then posted a video of Maverick, who said, "Big Papi, you never let me down and you're the best player ever in the Red Sox game" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/1). Millar "rushed to the clubhouse" after the game to show Ortiz the video. Ortiz: "Millar was crying when he showed me the video" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/1). See the video Millar and Ortiz sent to Schutte, as well as Schutte's response on Twitter.
BAT MAN: Nationals LF JAYSON WERTH on Saturday "handed a signed bat to a young Cardinals fan he communicated with throughout" the team's 6-1 win at Busch Stadium. Werth: "My first at-bat I walked up to the on deck circle, and these little girls were waving at me, yelling at me. So I waved at them, and I hit the homer. ... And then my fourth at-bat she said it was her birthday, and then hit I the sac fly, so I gave her a bat for her birthday." The girl's mother "posted photos of her daughter’s exchange with Werth to Instgram later in the day" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/1).
STAYING ON THE SIDELINES: Chip Ganassi Racing co-Owner FELIX SABATES said that he has "contributed money to the campaign of every GOP presidential candidate nominee since RICHARD NIXON" in the early '70s, but "not this year." Sabates: "DONALD TRUMP will be a train wreck for America. I have no respect for him. The guy's a bully and an egomaniac. ... I'm not giving Donald Trump one dime." Sabates added that he "couldn't vote" for TED CRUZ or HILLARY CLINTON either (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/2).
AWARDS & HONORS: The Institute for Diversity & Ethics in Sports Founder RICHARD LAPCHICK on Friday received the Harvard Impact GHC Distinguished Leader Award at Harvard Medical School's Global Health Catalyst summit (Harvard)....The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce named NASCAR team Owner RICK HENDRICK the '16 Citizen of the Carolinas for his "significant contributions to Charlotte's business community" and his "indelible influence within NASCAR" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/30)....Pro Basketball HOFer BILL WALTON yesterday "received an honorary degree and delivered the commencement address" at the New England Institute of Technology's graduation in the Rhode Island Convention Center. His message was about "perseverance. Not giving up. Overcoming obstacles" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/2).
NAMES: The N.Y. TIMES' Leah Rozen profiled actor JEFF DANIELS, a "lifelong baseball fan" who recently visited N.Y.'s Metropolitan Museum of Art to view an "exhibition of vintage baseball cards." It is a "rare break" for Daniels, who is "starring on Broadway in 'BLACKBIRD.'" Daniels, who lives in Chelsea, Mich., also "has Tigers season tickets." Daniels: "I have four seats, 11 rows behind the Tiger dugout" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/1)....Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY is on the latest cover of Parents magazine (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/1)....Jets CB DARRELLE REVIS and Giants CB JANORIS JENKINS "will take part" in Art New York's "Corners of New York" showcase at Pier 94 from May 3-8 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/2)....Patriots QB TOM BRADY on Friday attended a church service with his family in N.Y. "sporting a questionable new hairstyle" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 4/29)....Former Chargers doctor DAVID CHAO, who treated Pro Football HOFer JUNIOR SEAU from '97 until his suicide in '12, is "facing permanent revocation of his medical license." Chao is being accused of "gross negligence, prescribing medication without a prior examination, and unprofessional conduct" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/2).
