[espn]Kenny Smith organizing hurricane relief all-star game

BTW, for the person who asked, these four players were specifically mentioned by name during last night's telecast of Fox26 Xtra (the sport segment for the nightly news).

These players and much more are going to fly in and play in the game, it will be a TRUE all-star game in that sense, and might be cheaper to get tickets for if you can't afford the real all-star game furing the all-star weekend in Houston this upcoming season.

 

damn, im volunteering on that day... crap...

 

I haven't heard one bit of advertising for this. There is no mention of it at all on the houstontoyotacenter.com site.

 

Fox26's Marc Berman just had Kenny Smith on the phone from California, and Smith confirmed that the league itself and TNT have given this all-star charity game their blessings, and it will be televised on TNT.

Some more players that will be coming that I didn't mention earlier: Amare Stoudamire and Kevin Garnett. Moreover, according to Smith, over 30 players league-wide have made a commitment already.

I believe they said this will be announced in the afternoon tomorrow (either 3pm Central or 3pm Eastern, not sure). Soon after, tickets will go on sale.

 

I think the game is 4pm Sunday. That'll give Texans fans time to watch the win over Buffalo on tv then come down and watch the game.

 

30 players...damn. I wonder how they will pick teams. First two to hit threes, captains?

 

So does anyone have any information where to go buy the tickets? How much do you guys think it would cost for the upper level, or are they all going to be the same price.

 

I strongly doubt the upper level will be available at all, it will probably only be lower level tickets available like in Comets games.

 

Is it going to be a one day event? If they have enough players they could have a tournament. Rockets allstars (present and past) vs. Spur allstars (present and past) Hakeem vs. Robinson...

 

Ive searched TNT's site, TV Guide, Fox's sites and all the Ticketmaster sites and have come up empty for any information on tickets. I'm gunna call my Rockets Rep later today and see if she knows.

 

UHHH thats stupid than. C'mon you know if its an allstar game than people will def. show up, and i don't think that lower level will hold all the people who want to buy tickets. They should open up the upper level to generate more funds.

 

It will probably depend on how much security Alexander can muster in such a short period of time.

I'll be home this weekend and I really want to see this game. Any more info anyone?

 

I don't know about that. It seems like this whole event is coming together a bit late. There's still no details on ticket info and it's already Wednesday. Perhaps they are expecting most of the funds to come from the telecast on TNT.

 

I just heard on the Sports Radio 610 that you can purchase tickets by calling 866-4HOUTIX (866-446-8849) and at some Randalls Stores.

http://www.toyotacentertix.com/events/event_315.php

Ticket Prices: $10, $15, $25, $50, $300 VIP

NBA sanctioned charity event will take place in Houston on Sept. 11th and will include NBA superstars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Amare Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade and others

HOUSTON, TX - TNT basketball analyst and former two-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets Kenny Smith will host the NBA Players Hurricane Relief Game, to help aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The game will be held Sunday, September 11th at 6 p.m. ET at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and will be televised on TNT at 11 p.m. Players participating in the game will donate funds and/or supplies, valued at over $1 million, to hurricane victims. “The game is a show of our support and solidarity for those affected by this natural disaster,” said Kenny Smith. “As professional athletes we’ve been very privileged and this is one way we can help take care of our own.”

Prior to the game on Sunday, players will distribute truckloads of their donated goods and supplies to shelters throughout the Houston area. Items will include food, clothing, water, toiletries and other basic necessities.

TNT’s telecast team will include analysts Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley, host/play-by-play Ernie Johnson and sideline reporter Craig Sager. Tickets are available for purchase, with all proceeds being donated to charity, at the Toyota Center Box Office, by phone at 866-4HOUTIX or on-line at www.toyotacentertix.com. Tickets can also be purchased at area Randalls stores. Tickets are priced at $300 (includes floor seats and player meet/greet) $25, $15 and $10. Special ticket arrangements will be made for Hurricane Katrina victims.

NBA players scheduled to participate include:

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Steve Francis, Orlando Magic
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Sam Cassell, Los Angeles Clippers
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers
Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana Pacers
Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
Stephon Marbury, New York Knicks
J.R. Smith, New Orleans Hornets
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Dantay Jones, Memphis Grizzlies
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
Mike James, Houston Rockets

 

Just got my tickets... woohoo!

 

I just ordered my 8 tickets at $25 each for row 5.

I missed getting row 3 because I was being wishy washy.

It looks like you get to do a meet and greet with the players and sit courtside for the $300 VIP.

 

I got 2 in section 107 row 3. I was being wishy washy myself and missed row 1 in 120. Both sections are center court. 25 bucks a ticket. Wonder where the 50 dollar tickets are as these are damned good. Probably will be more of a glorified practice more than anything, but it is going to a good cause.

 

Well, it got picked up by TNT so it will be on National TV so they have to do SOMETHING out there.

As soon as the link was opened up the $50 tickets were gone...I bet some players or someone bought all of those to give away to victims themselves.

The VIP thing sounds fun, but for less of the price of one VIP ticket I'm taking 7 friends.

 

Thinking of making a day of this. Going down to Live to watch the Texans, then walking down to Toyota Center for for the charity game.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=2154761

All-Stars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Amare Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade will play in an NBA Players Hurricane Relief Game organized by TNT analyst Kenny Smith.

The game is Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT at the Toyota Center and will be televised by TNT at 11 p.m. Participating players will donate funds and supplies valued at more than $1 million for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"The game is a show of our support and solidarity for those affected by this natural disaster," Smith said. "As professional athletes we've been very privileged and this is one way we can help take care of our own."

Before the game, the players will distribute truckloads of their donated goods and supplies to shelters throughout the Houston area, many of which are housing displaced New Orleans residents. Items will include food, clothing, water, toiletries and other basic necessities.

Ticket proceeds will be donated to charity. Special ticket arrangements will be made for Hurricane Katrina victims.

In addition to being home to the NBA's Rockets, Houston is an offseason hot spot for players looking for competitive offseason workouts. A handful of players in Sunday's game have ties to Houston or New Orleans.

Smith played with the Rockets, as did Orlando Magic guard Steve Francis and Los Angeles Clippers guard Sam Cassell. Current Rockets entered include guards Mike James and Derek Anderson.

New Orleans Hornets forward J.R. Smith will play. One of the coaches will be Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, a Louisiana native who went to Southern University.

Also scheduled to play are Detroit Pistons teammates Antonio McDyess and Lindsey Hunter. Both are natives of Mississippi, whose coastline also was hit hard by Katrina.

Others planning to participate are former NBA All-Star forwards Charles Oakley and Derrick Coleman, Indiana Pacers forwards Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal, Pistons guard Chauncey Billups, New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, Boston Celtics swingman Paul Pierce, Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning and Memphis Grizzlies guard Dahntay Jones.

Last year, Artest and O'Neal lost millions of dollars due to suspensions for fighting but are giving back. Mourning, who has undergone a kidney transplant, holds an annual charity game in Miami known as "Zo's Summer Groove."

At an NBA Players Association news conference Tuesday announcing a fund-raising initiative called "Operation Rebound," Marbury broke down and began crying while speaking about the tragedy that has left perhaps thousands dead and tens of thousands homeless.

TNT's telecast team will include analysts Smith and Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson as host and play-by-play announcer and Craig Sager as sideline reporter.