Grandkids Foundation Charity Basketball game...

I didn't find a post about it so I started a new one. Is anyone going? Its going to be fun!!

THE TICKER
Basketball is Grand for Tigers centerfielder

December 22, 2007

Tigers centerfielder and noted hoops aficionado Curtis Granderson will host the inaugural Curtis Granderson/Grand Kids Foundation Celebrity Basketball Game on Jan. 26 at Auburn Hills Avondale High School.

Tip-off is at 6 p.m. Tickets ($15 for adults, $10 for kids 10 and younger) can be purchased at grandkidsfoundation.org. Proceeds will be donated to the Grand Kids Foundation and split between the cities of Detroit and Flint.

"I am not only excited for this event because I finally get to showcase my basketball skills, but I am excited because I believe this game will begin to provide us with the financial resources to make a large impact in the inner cities, specifically Detroit and Flint," Granderson said in a released statement.

The theme of the game is Detroit All-Stars vs. Flint All-Stars. Among the big names committed to play: former NFL players Tyrone Wheatley (Inkster), Andre Weathers (Flint) and Courtney Hawkins (Flint), former NBA player Jeff Grayer (Flint), pro boxer Anthony Dirrell (Flint) and "The Ultimate Fighter Season 2" champion, Rashad Evans, a Michigan State alum.

Granderson will not play because spring training looms, but he will compete in a three-point shoot-out at halftime against Tigers teammate Nate Robertson.

Robertson will coach the Flint All-Stars while Granderson leads the Detroit team in the game.

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From: http://motownsports.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=55340

OK everyone, we are still waiting on a couple of commitments, but we needed to get this announced to get tickets pre-sold. This gym only seats around 3,000, so get them quick! It should be a fun event.

www.grandkidsfoundation.org/CelebrityBB_08.html


Tigers' Granderson hosting celebrity basketball game to benefit inner city schools

December 21, 2007 - Detroit Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson routinely tells inner city youth that his first passion was basketball.

On January 26, 2008, Granderson will have the opportunity to show just how good he could have been in basketball when he hosts the 1 st Annual Curtis Granderson/Grand Kids Foundation Celebrity Basketball Game at Avondale High School in Auburn Hills, Mich. The doors will open at 5 p.m. and the opening tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.

Adult admission is $15 and admission for children 10 and under is $10. Following the game, Granderson and some of the game's participants will autograph photos, baseballs and take pictures with fans for an additional $10. All proceeds from the game and autograph session will be donated to the Grand Kids Foundation and split evenly between the cities of Detroit and Flint.

Tickets can be purchased at www.GrandKidsFoundation.org.

"I am not only excited for this event because I finally get to showcase my basketball skills, but I am excited because I believe this game will begin to provide us with the financial resources to make a large impact in the inner cities, specifically Detroit and Flint," Granderson said.

"The importance of education is something I cannot stress enough to our nation's youth, and I want to help find ways to ease the burden within some of these inner city schools while also striving to make learning more fun. Facilities and supplies are old and worn, classrooms are overcrowded and scholarship programs are limited. This celebrity basketball game can help to change that."

The theme of the game is Detroit All-Stars vs. Flint All-Stars. While more celebrities are expected to commit as the game draws closer, some big names have already agreed to play.

Those who have committed include former Univ. of Michigan and NFL stars Tyrone Wheatley (Inkster, Mich.) and Andre Weathers (Flint, Mich.), former Michigan State Univ. and NFL star Courtney Hawkins (Flint, Mich.), former NBA star Jeff Grayer (Flint, Mich.), professional boxer with as 12-0 record Anthony Dirrell (Flint, Mich.) and UFC star and The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 champion Rashad Evans, a graduate of Michigan State Univ.

"The caliber of athletes that have committed so far is tremendous. It also shows their dedication and commitment to making a difference within their communities. Fans can see a pro boxer, a UFC star, an NBA player and a bunch of football players coming together for one cause," Granderson added.

With the game so close to baseball's Spring Training, Granderson will not play in the actual game. However, he will compete in a three-point shootout at halftime against his Detroit Tigers teammate, Nate Robertson. Each player will represent a raffle ticket buyer, and the winner's buyer will get to have lunch with Granderson and join him for a private batting practice session at Comerica Park.

Other great prizes will also be raffled off.

Granderson will serve as the coach of the Detroit All-Stars while Robertson will coach the Flint All-Stars.

ABOUT GRAND KIDS FOUNDATION:
Founded in December, 2006 by Curtis Granderson, the Grand Kids Foundation aims to enrich the educational experiences for children within the inner cities. Curtis' passion for education comes through his family, as both of his parents worked as educators in Chicago while his sister is a professor at Jackson State University. Curtis himself is one of a limited number of Major League Baseball players with a college degree, graduating from the Univ. of Illinois-Chicago in 2003 with degrees in Business Marketing and Business Management.

This past school year, the Grand Kids Foundation held a major art and essay contest with the entire Detroit Public Schools system. Grand Prize winners (8 in all) received school visits from him. Curtis then invited another 70 children and one guest to a Detroit Tigers game. The funds will be dispersed to specific schools and programs as approved by the Grand Kids Foundation.

Some of the goals of the foundation are as follows:

• Provide educational resources for schools in need (books, computers, new classrooms/equipment, etc...)
• Provide educational resources for students in need
• Establish scholarship programs in both Detroit and Flint for those students that excel, but are in need of financial assistance
• Help fund inner city athletics programs with new equipment
• Establish district-wide programs to enhance the experience of education, and make it more fun for students
• Pay for school visits/free clinics for inner city children by other athletes and celebrities

Dontrelle Willis playing for charity with Curtis Granderson and Marcus Thames

January 5, 2008
FREE PRESS STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

New Tigers pitcher Dontrelle Willis will be a guest referee for Curtis Granderson's celebrity basketball game, slated for Jan. 26 at Auburn Hills Avondale High School.

Tigers outfielder Marcus Thames is also scheduled to be a guest official.

The Detroit All-Stars team will include former NBA sharpshooter Willie Burton and Birmingham Detroit Country Day's Jonas Gray, who will play football at Notre Dame next season.

it would be fun! sounds as though the poor kids have to wave those $$ to get a pic, get an autograph, etc. etc.

Is Robertson any good at basketball? I've heard Granderson say a couple of times that he plays a lot of basketball and never heard any such talk from Robertson. It seems that Granderson should kill him in the 3 point contest.

It would be great to see!

laprimamirala wrote:

it would be fun! sounds as though the poor kids have to wave those $$ to get a pic, get an autograph, etc. etc.

See if you cought the guys before the game I don't think they would turn down a picture with a little kid.


AAH!! I am so excited for this game! Is anyone else going?

mrsrabelo wrote:

AAH!! I am so excited for this game! Is anyone else going?

I'm not

Take some pictures or something

GO NATE & CURTIS!
Let's hope they tie their 3-point contest at the half! No injuries before ST!
:bball:

laprimamirala wrote:

GO NATE & CURTIS!
Let's hope they tie their 3-point contest at the half! No injuries before ST!
:bball:

Tie? That's like kissing your sister and I don't like kissing my sister.

how about just a peck on the cheek?

Yay Curtis!!! :curtis: :bball:

How can you get hurt shooting 3's?? Go Curtis!!!!

how can Zoom hurt himself playing a video game?

LOL...good point.

injuries can happen soooooo quickly.

Hopefully we avoid the bad ones this year !!!!

or any, for that matter!

That would be nice but not realistic...look at last year. Wow those injuries really hurt us.

Think how far we would've gone even if just Sheffie had stayed healthy and had continued to hit like he did the first half of the season....

Without a doubt...not to mention Zoom or Rodney in the pen. It was one after the other. I am worried about Kenny this year because of his age and Nate too after last year.

If Sheffield is healthy and Maggs and Miggy do anything it could a wonderful scary thing...

Hope is the name of the game for right now. Just no repeats of last year's opening day game, please!
GO TIGS!
(keep it comin', Vegas! I'm here for 20 more minutes....let's get goin' with those posts!)

This is great. I have never posted this much in my life. I will be back tomorrow morning to chat some more. I love it.

Any time is great for chat!

I think it is great coming here and talking about the best team in baseball. I will be back often. How much fun is this going to be during the season???