Charity Baseball: Mobley to play, Yao to throw first pitch

http://www.heroesbaseball.org/Press/061504.asp

Celebrities to Rock The Diamond For Charity
Private group plans top-drawer baseball diamond at Pike Park
By GREG FORD / People Newspapers

The Reebok Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game is only three years old, but already it has matured into something special.
Its shocking how big it is now,said Charlie McKinney, founder and chairman of the event.

This years contest, which will feature a number of local and national celebrities, takes place June 26 at Dr. Pepper/Seven-Up Ballpark in Frisco. The contest benefits the Mike Modano Foundation, the Todd Wagner Foundation, and Little Heroes Baseball.

McKinney, a Park Cities resident, said the goal is to raise a record $325,000, with the Modano and Wagner charities each getting 40 percent. The remainder, McKinney said, will be used to help construct the Little Heroes Baseball Field next to the American Airlines Center.

The event raised $50,000 two years ago, and $150,000 last year, McKinney said.

Ground was broken for the Little Heroes field more than a month ago, and it should be completed by September, McKinney said. The budgeted cost to build it was $650,000, and around $1 million already has been raised for the project, McKinney said.
Itll be the finest facility (of its kind) in the country, and will be dedicated to inner-city kids,McKinney said.

Two teams of 10 celebrity players will play in the main game Saturday, which is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. It will be proceeded by the Little Heroes game at 3 p.m., and the home run derby, which is slated for 6 p.m.

Among the local celebrities expected to suit up are former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer Roger Staubach, Cowboys safety Roy Williams, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Mavericks player Michael Finley, Mavericks assistant coach Donnie Nelson, Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars, and former Dallas Star Brett Hull, who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for Dallas in 1999.

Other celebrities scheduled to play are Chris Kirkpatrick of boy band NSync, Geoff Stults of the television series Seventh Heaven, NBA players Kenyon Martin, Cuttino Mobley and Marquis Daniels, Jason Lewis of the show Sex and The City, and movie mogul Todd Wagner.

The two teams will be coached by baseball Hall of Famer pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, and former pitcher Vida Blue, a Cy Young winner. Yao Ming of the NBAs Houston Rockets will throw out the first pitch, while Seth Meyer of Saturday Night Live will be the on-field host.

This is the real deal,McKinney said. Its 60 mph pitching. Its the real deal.

Tickets for the event are $5-$20.
For information, call 214-303-1380, or check out the events website at www.heroesbaseball.org.

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I wonder if there will be any awkward moments between Yao and Cat because of all the trade talks.