U.S. men's national soccer team F
JOZY ALTIDORE was the subject of the "American Strong" segment on "World News" last night, and ABC's Diane Sawyer noted while Altidore will not play tomorrow against Germany because of injury, his "most important mission is off the field." Altidore's parents are from Haiti, and he said the '10 earthquake in the country "took the wind out of me, and I had to do something." ABC's Paula Faris reported Altidore's is attempting to provide clean drinking water "to the nearly 5 million Haitians who don't have access, almost half the country." He partnered with the charity Generosity Water and build his "first freshwater well" in the country (
"World News," ABC, 6/24).
CORNER KICK: Seahawks CB RICHARD SHERMAN yesterday announced that he will "donate $2,500 to 25 different charities this summer." Sherman wears the No. 25, and his 25 for 25 Giving Event "ties in with the Richard Sherman Celebrity Softball Game at Safeco Field July 20." Sherman will "make the donations via his foundation, 'Blanket Coverage: The Richard Sherman Family Foundation.' He will "announce the charities via social media" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/24).
ARMS RACE: In Las Vegas, Robin Leach profiles MLB agent J.B. BERNSTEIN, a subject of the film "MILLION DOLLAR ARM," who is "getting ready to return to India in November for a second shot at finding baseball’s next stars." During Bernstein's first contest in March '08, there were "30,000 youngsters trying their high-speed pitching to win fame and fortune" in the U.S., and when he "returns in the fall, he already has 500,000 likely candidates signed up." Bernstein's "eventual goal is that the talent hunt is expanded to multiple countries in conjunction with MLB." Bernstein said, "We have 10 to 20 vans that go simultaneously throughout the country, so we’ll be on over 1,000 college and high school campuses in over 100 cities." He added, "We’re talking with MLB about the best way to promote 'Million Dollar Arm' globally right now, so I think that will probably be part of it" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 6/25).
CHARITY STRIPE: K.C.-based Alphapointe, an organization "dedicated to blind and visually impaired youth, took its kids to Kauffman Stadium" yesterday afternoon for a tactile tour, and it was "the Royals’ idea" (K.C. STAR, 6/25)....Orioles CF ADAM JONES yesterday visited members of the Bluford Drew Jemison Rockets youth baseball team and the Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake track team. The baseball team "raised $3,500 and the track team raised $10,500, and Dick’s Sporting Goods matched each of those totals as part of their Sports Matter initiative." Jones "presented a $7,000 check to the Rockets and a $21,000 check to the track team" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 6/24).
AWARDS & HONORS: Ducks GM BOB MURRAY was named NHL GM of the Year at last night's league awards ceremony over "two other strong finalists" in Kings GM DEAN LOMBARDI and Canadiens GM MARC BERGEVIN (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 6/25)....NASCAR and Verizon IndyCar Series team owner CHIP GANASSI will be honored Aug. 7 by the Int'l Motor Racing Research Center at the Corning (N.Y.) Museum of Glass (THE DAILY).
HOME, SWEET HOME: UCLA football coach JIM MORA listed his 6,840-square-foot, Yarrow Point, Wash., home for sale at $3.149M (LATIMES.com, 6/24)….Chiefs QB ALEX SMITH sold his 5,650-square-foot, Los Gatos, Calif., home for $2.65M (LATIMES.com, 6/23)….Red Sox P RYAN DEMPSTER yesterday listed his five-bedroom, Lakeview, Ill., home for $1.799M -- and the house “already is under contract” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/25).
NAMES: Twenty-two athletes "will be featured in the ESPN The Magazine Body Issue, which will hit newsstands on July 11." The "keystone to the issue is the 'Bodies We Want' section, where athletes will be featured in tasteful nude poses." Athletes in the issue include MICHAEL PHELPS, VENUS WILLIAMS, Seahawks RB MARSHAWN LYNCH, Cardinals WR LARRY FITZGERALD and Rangers 1B PRINCE FIELDER (AP, 6/25)....A lawsuit alleging that Dodgers RF YASIEL PUIG “falsely denounced a man to Cuban authorities in 2010 for attempting to smuggle him out of the country -- which resulted in that man's alleged torture there -- has survived a motion to dismiss.” A trial date has been set for November ‘15, “though serious hurdles for the plaintiff remain” (ESPN.com, 6/24)....DIY Network “WASTED SPACES” host KARL CHAMPLEY yesterday “unveiled the garage” for Michigan State men’s basketball coach TOM IZZO at his East Lansing home. The makeover, by Gladiator Brand GarageWorks, "drew a crowd and did some good -- Izzo-autographed MSU memorabilia and Gladiator products were sold via silent auction and at www.facebook.com/GladiatorGW to support Homes for Our Troops” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/25)....Former NBAer ANTOINE WALKER on Monday screened ANTHONY HOLT’s film “GONE IN AN INSTANT” at the Revere Hotel’s Theatre 1. He was joined at the screening by former NBAer JO JO WHITE, Celtics radio analyst CEDRIC MAXWELL and Celtics assistant coach WALTER MCCARTY (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 6/25).
