Grandkids Foundation Charity Basketball game...

I would think they were making sure they didn't do too much. That would have been smart anyway.

a la Zoom!

You guys need to start keeping your conversations in one thread. I'm getting dizzy here!

hard to stay on one topic!

Sorry...

this is what happens when like minds come together!

How true. Way to go, Lap

Anyway :curtis: is awesome!

Hell yes...I really like what DD is doing.

We need heroes nowadays!

absolutely, the kids today would be better off if someone like curtis was their hero instead of snoop dogg or 50 cent.

someone doing good for their community instead of the latest tax scandal, infidelity, or drug-induced meltdown....

Spoken like a true american...half the kids in my class won't stand up for the pledge of allegiance and we can't make them. It almost makes want to tell them to go live somewhere else. I guess that is a different soapbox, oh well.

Must be beyond hard to teach nowadays. My mother taught 2nd grade from 1970 to 1992--what a change. The last year, she could not even touch any kid, even to give a hug, because she was afraid of parental reprisals. That and not even being able to teach anything, just crowd control because some kids were so wigged out with ADD, etc. and should not have even been in her classroom, yet she had to teach them. Her largest class was 25 kids, and she never had a teaching assistant.

Believe me I understand. But if we all just threw our hands in the air it would be even worse. Plus I can mold future Tiger Fans this way!!!

Courage to you, my friend!

01/14/09 12:08 PM EST
Granderson joined by stars for charity
Celebrity b-ball game for inner-city schools to feature musicians, athletes

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- While the Tigers offseason rolls on, center fielder Curtis Granderson just added a Grammy Award nominee, a Heisman Trophy winner, two NFL Pro Bowlers and an Olympic gold medalist to his roster.

World-renowned and Michigan-raised performing artist Kid Rock, former Detroit Lions running back Billy Sims, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards and swimmer Peter Vanderkaay will hit the basketball court with Granderson and many others at his second annual Grand Kids Foundation Celebrity Shootout on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Lake Orion High School.

The game, part of a weekend of events for Granderson in the Detroit area, will raise money for the Grand Kids Foundation towards helping Michigan's inner-city schools and establishing a college scholarship program. He'll have plenty of help from area athletes and celebrities towards reaching that goal.

Kid Rock, a homegrown artist and well-known Tigers fan, recently added his name to the effort. Born and raised in Romeo, Mich., he has won three American Music Awards and three Billboard Music Awards in his career, and is currently nominated for two Grammys -- best rock album for his recent compliation, Rock N' Roll Jesus, and best male pop vocal performance for the song All Summer Long.

"I can't express how excited I am that Kid Rock would choose to help the inner city educational system in Michigan by playing in this game," Granderson said in a statement. "This event is one I am very proud of. We are able to raise a lot of money for the schools through this event, and Kid Rock's involvement will undoubtedly help raise more money for education across this state."

So should Sims, a three-time Pro Bowler and 1978 Heisman winner whose five-year Lions career earned him recognition among the best running backs of his era before a knee injury ended his career prematurely. He has stayed involved in non-profit work after his playing career.

"[Granderson] seems to be a great young individual who is doing a lot of necessary work in a hard-hit area," Sims said. "I am honored and excited to be included in this event."

Edwards, a standout receiver at the University of Michigan before heading to Cleveland, returns to the Shootout after winning the game's Most Valuable Player honors last year with a high-flying dunk display. He'll be joined by fellow former Wolverines Drew Henson and David Terrell and former Lions fullback Cory Schlesinger.

Like Edwards, Vanderkaay has gone on to greatness since starring at Michigan -- in his case, in the pool. He teamed up to set a world record in the 800-meter freestyle relay at last summer's Olympics in Beijing, to go with a bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle.

Also newly committed to join Granderson on the hardcourt are TNA wrestling star Rhino, a Tigers season-ticket holder, and Oak Park High School football standout Edwin Baker, who will take his career to Michigan State next fall. Together, they'll round out a deep roster of athletes and celebrities that includes another Heisman winner in Desmond Howard as well as former football players Lomas Brown, Herman Moore and Tyrone Wheatley, 2008 Miss America Kirsten Haglund, UFC light-heavyweight champion "Sugar" Rashad Evans and ESPN First Take host Dana Jacobson.

"To get players the caliber of Kid Rock and Billy Sims, and then to add in an Olympic swimmer and a pro wrestler with some other great names on top of our early commitments will give pretty much any fan of sports or television something to see at this game," Granderson said. "I am even more excited that all of these players are doing this from their hearts. Some even canceled other events to come up to Michigan and help our inner-city schools. I am grateful to them."

Granderson will serve as a coach alongside former Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr, Detroit Shock star Sheryl Ford and former Pistons great Rick Mahorn.

Tickets for the game are available online at www.grandkidsfoundation.org, or in person at the Lake Orion High School athletic office and DC Sports in Sterling Heights. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for children and students with a valid ID, and free for kids ages 2 and under.

Tickets will also enter fans in a raffle for a slew of prizes, including private batting practice with Granderson, a trip for two to Toronto to watch Team USA in the first round of the World Baseball Classic in March, tickets to watch Michigan face Michigan State in men's basketball, and tickets to Tigers and Pistons games.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

01/17/09 11:00 PM EST
Granderson's shootout a success
Fan-friendly event raises money for Grand Kids Foundation

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAKE ORION, Mich. -- Curtis Granderson isn't one of those athletes who looks back and believes he could be playing another sport for a living. He's quite happy with his job as Detroit Tigers center fielder, thank you.

Still, if he's going to hit the basketball court, he wants to have a good time. And even though he was a referee, rather than a player, in his Celebrity Shootout, he was going to have fun with it. He wasn't going to be whistle-happy, but he was going to be happy about blowing the whistle.

So when Cleveland Browns All-Pro wide receiver Braylon Edwards lost the handle on one of his acrobatic dunk attempts, a wide-open breakaway after slamming one just seconds earlier, Granderson was going to let him hear about it. The phantom whistle was just the start.

"Somebody must have fouled you," Granderson said with a smile as he looked around, offering it as the only explanation how he could've lost the ball.

It was that kind of day all-around -- for Granderson, the athletes and celebrities who took a weekend out of their schedule, and the fans, who braved the winter storm to make it out to Lake Orion High School. Granderson does a lot in the Detroit area over the course of the year, but this is one of those events in which he also gets plenty back.

"It's amazing," Granderson said as he surveyed the crowded stands from courtside. "Kid Rock, Braylon Edwards, they have a million other things that they could be doing. Rashad Evans just won a championship fight a couple weeks ago and is in the middle of training, but decided to come up here for this day. Dana Jacobson's on ESPN every day. Miss America [Kirsten Haglund] has to fly out tomorrow to do a commitment. It's great that they all ended up coming out. I appreciate it. I've thanked them a million times. I probably can't thank them enough."

For many of them, it's a pleasure, particularly for Edwards.

Like Granderson, Edwards has a pretty good day job as an NFL wide receiver, but he still carries a love for basketball that dates back to his lone season of high school hoops while growing up in Detroit before he gave it up to focus on football. When Edwards takes the court, he likes to put on a show. His display of high-flying dunks in Granderson's event last year earned him the nickname "MVP."

As he threw down one dunk after another Saturday, the nickname was being thrown around frequently. He wasn't trying to show up anyone, but he wanted to entertain. So Edwards and Jamal Nelson, otherwise known as "Springs" on the And1 Mixtape Tour frequently seen on ESPN in the summer, put on their exhibition and put some smiles on the faces in the crowd, from baseline drives to breakaway runs to a couple of powerful flushes Edwards put on a pair of missed shots.

"I just have fun, man," Edwards said afterward. "I'm just glad everybody came out and had a good time and had fun. That's all it's really about. It's for a good cause, the Grand Kids Foundation."

Saturday was a very good day for the foundation, as was the weekend in general. Between the Shootout and a dinner event on Friday evening, the two-day swing was expected to raise enough money to help the foundation start a college scholarship program, in addition to its usual work helping inner-city schools in Michigan.

"It's great to see the basketball guys, the Lions guys, the University of Michigan, the Tigers, the different programs in the city all come together," said Drew Henson, the former Michigan and current Detroit Lions quarterback who teamed up with fellow ex-Wolverines Edwards, David Terrell and Desmond Howard and former coach Lloyd Carr. "And Curtis is a great spokesman, a great role model. I think most everyone who knows him would do anything they could to come out on a weekend like this."

The game wasn't simply about watching former athletes and their hoop dreams. At many points, it felt like a good-natured pickup game. Jacobson and former Lions lineman Lomas Brown, a regular on the ESPN First Take show that Jacobson co-hosts, were teammates in a segment filmed for the show. Granderson gave Project Runway designer Joe Faris extra foul shots and a layup attempt to get on the scoreboard after some frustrating misses.

Granderson and Tigers teammate Marcus Thames, who served as a coach for the game, came out at halftime and teamed up with two lucky fans in a shootout competition to try to settle who is the better shooter.

But the winning non-athlete surely was Kid Rock, the Detroit-based Grammy Award-nominated performer who drew some of the loudest applause of the night. His set shot from around the top of the key earned the game's opening points, but it was a pair of free throws at the line with time nearly expired that put the pressure on.

He made both to tie the game and send the outcome to a dunk contest between Edwards and Nelson, with crowd response deciding the winner. Edwards threw down a pair of impressive dunks, but he couldn't compare with the professional.

That was fine with him. He was having fun.

"It's a good time to be out there," Edwards said. "Curtis does a lot for the community. It's good to be a part of it."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Always nice to read stuff like this.

Granderson’s Celebrity Shoot Out - 2009

by billfer on January 18, 2009


Braylon Edwards, Drew Henson, David Terrell, Kirsten Haglund

It looked to be another successful event for Curtis Granderson and his Grand Kids Foundation. Depite some awful weather, there was still an impressive turnout of both fans and celebrities at Lake Orion High School.

Granderson assembled and impressive roster of celebs and athletes with Michigan ties. The biggest in name value was probably Kid Rock, who did his best Rumeal Robinson impression as he knocked down two free throws with no time remaining to tie the game. It was also his birthday and the crowd sang Happy Birthday.

Curtis served as referee and made sure everyone scored. Miss America Kirsten Haglund and Project Runway dude Joe Faris (who played basketball like you’d expect from someone on Project Runway) were allowed to shoot free throws until they made it. Dana Jacobson knocked down a shot on her own (yes I phrased it that way on purpose).


Braylon dunks


Braylon and Terrell




Kid Rock

Lloyd Carr appeared to be really enjoying his time as a coach standing up and yelling directions. He was joined on the Blue sidelines by Marcus Thames who was also smiling (but he just signed a new contract so that might have been it). Braylon Edwards once again put on a show, throwing down some big dunks before losing to Jamal Springs Nelson in a overtime dunk-off.

I’m not sure what the attendance figure was, but it appears that the weekend was successful enough to set up a college scholarship in addition to supporting the work already being done in the inner city schools. If you’d like to donate, or for more on the Grand Kids Foundation, you can check out the website.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

He made both to tie the game and send the outcome to a dunk contest between Edwards and Nelson, with crowd response deciding the winner.

He made both of them but that put his team up ahead a point so someone added another point to the other team real quick so they could do the dunk-off. Do they think we are stupid? I noticed the score.