Friday, December 18, 2009

Granderson Charity Basketball Game

For the third straight year, Curtis Granderson will be putting on a celebrity basketball game to raise money for his Grand Kids Foundation. This will be his farewell to Tigers fans and the state of Michigan. It will be held on January 24 at Seaholm High School in Birmingham. Tickets can be purchased at www.curtisgranderson.com and www.grandkidsfoundation.org

Press release from Curtis Granderson's PR director John Fuller:

Curtis Granderson and the Grand Kids Foundation will hold the 3rd Annual Celebrity Shoot-Out, presented by Meijer. This all-star event is scheduled for January 24 at Seaholm High School in Birmingham.


This event will celebrate the work that the Grand Kids Foundation has done and continues to do for Michigan’s inner city schools and also serve as a way for Granderson’s fans to say goodbye as he moves on to play for the New York Yankees. Granderson, a 2009 All-Star and the Major League Baseball Players Association’s Marvin Miller Man of the Year, will serve as the game’s referee.

“This will also be an emotional event on a personal level, as it will be somewhat of a goodbye from me to the fans and the city that have supported me so strongly throughout my career so far,” says Granderson. “I hope that those fans can pack the gym and also raise a lot of money for inner city education in Michigan.”

This year’s all-star lineup of coaches and players promises to be the best yet. The coaches for the two teams are former University of Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr and Detroit Piston Ben Gordon. Carr brings a history of winning to the bench with his five Big Ten championships and the 1997 National Championship while coaching for Michigan. Gordon knows what it takes to support a team from the bench too; he was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2005.

Michigan college athletes will also be well represented in this game. Michigan State University will be represented by former football star and NFL player TJ Duckett while the University of Michigan will have 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard and Fab Five members Jalen Rose and Jimmy King playing in the Shoot-Out. Howard was named the Super Bowl XXXI MVP and is currently an ESPN analyst along with Rose. King is also an analyst for college basketball.

“We've never had such a strong lineup this early in the year for my Celebrity Shoot-Out,” states Granderson. “This year I wanted to reach across multiple platforms and bring in a real diverse group of individuals all with one goal - raising money for inner city education. I am a fan of every one of the individuals that have committed to this event so far and I am excited to get a chance to have fun with them for a great cause.”

Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for students with a valid student ID. Children 2 years old and younger are admitted for free. Tickets can be purchased at www.curtisgranderson.com and www.grandkidsfoundation.org where fans can also keep updated on the latest confirmed guests.

“The Celebrity Shoot-Out has come to be the biggest fundraiser for the Grand Kids Foundation. Any fan that has been there in the past can tell you how interactive the players are with the fans, and vice versa. It truly is great entertainment for your family and friends,” says Granderson about his annual event to raise funds for inner city schools in Michigan.

Confirmed Players:

Joe Cada - 2009 World Series of Poker Champion/Team PokerStars Pro

TJ Duckett – former Michigan State football player and NFL player

Chris Hansen - correspondent for Dateline NBC

Desmond Howard – former Michigan football player, 1991 Heisman Trophy winner, Super Bowl XXXI MVP and current ESPN analyst

Helen Phillips – NBC’s The Biggest Loser Season 7 winner

Jeff Grayer – 9 year NBA veteran, 1988 US Olympian

Jemele Hill - ESPN personality

Dana Jacobson - ESPN's First Take host

Jimmy King – former University of Michigan basketball player and Fab Five member, current college basketball analyst

Pat McInnis - Fathead.com CEO

Mike Morelli – NBC’s The Biggest Loser Season 7 runner-up

Erin Nicole - WXYZ Traffic Reporter, Palace Arena Hostess

Jalen Rose – former Michigan basketball player and Fab Five member, former NBA player, current ESPN analyst

Trevor Thompson - Fox Sports Detroit personality

Confirmed Coaches:

Lloyd Carr - fMichigan football coach, won five Big Ten titles and the 1997 national championship

Ben Gordon - Detroit Pistons star, 2005 NBA Sixth Man of the Year

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