Queen of Sports

Vince Carter Writes $2.5M Check To Alma Mater

NBA star Vince Carter, who was an All-American player at the University of North Carolina, has decided to give back to the school where he got his start. Carter donated $2.5 million to the Carolina Basketball Family Fund, which will operate the endowment for the men’s basketball program. In return, the school is naming a portion of the campus, Letterman’s Lane, for Carter. The brick walkway honors past varsity participants in the Tar Heels basketball program.

The donation is the largest ever made to the fund. Carter played for the Tar Heels from 1995-98 and returned to earn a Bachelors degree in African Studies in 2001. Carter said in a statement, “My days as a Carolina student, both pre-NBA and during the summers after I was drafted, will always be special to me,. It goes without saying that I am a Tar Heel. For several years, I have been thinking about something I could do to leave a legacy at UNC. Lettermen’s Lane is a perfect fit.”

Carmelo Anthony Foundation Builds Basketball Court In Puerto Rico

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony was in eastern Puerto Rico over the weekend on behalf of his non-profit, the Carmelo Anthony Foundation to unveil a new outdoor basketball court for children at Lomas housing project in Luquillo.

This is the second sports center the Carmelo Anthony Foundation has sponsored in Puerto Rice. In July 2010, the organization built the first one in the San Juan district of La Perla.

Carmelo, whose father was Puerto Rican, told the media that his organization had chosen several basketball courts to restore, but it was the one in Luquillo that most attracted them because it was “almost perfect” for developing the game.

In return for the work he has done, Carmelo was presented with a key to the city along with being named a distinguished visitor. He was also invited to play for the Puerto Rican national team but the Knicks player is already committed to playing for the United States during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Great to see some basketball players putting their time off to do good! Keep it up.

Photo: WENN

Athlete Sighting: Pele

Soccer legend Pele was spotted at England’s most famous address, 10 Downing Street where he played a soccer game with some young soccer players.

Photo: WENN

Shawn Marion Brings His Milkshake To The Yard

Dallas Mavericks champion Shawn Marion was in Los Angeles on Wednesday and made an appearance at the Millions of Milkshakes shop in Culver City where he debuted his signature shake for charity at the Westfield Shopping Mall.

Photo: WENN

Dick’s Sporting Goods Launching National Campaign About Sports Related Concussions

Dick’s Sporting Goods announced today in Manhattan that they are launching a new national campaign to help educate and test one million young athletes surrounding concussions. Currently up to 3.8 million recreation and sports related concussions occur in the United States every year and the fact that many do not understand the detrimental long-term effects a concussion can have if not treated appropriately is a huge concern. There has much written about this issue recently, a group of retired NFL players are suing the league over treatment for concussions.

Dick’s Sporting Goods has created a program called PACE (Protecting Athletes through Concussion Education. Ed Stack, Chairman and CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods discussed ImPACT, the first and most widely used baseline concussion testing computer system. The sporting good chain will provide ImPACT testing to over 3,300 middle schools and high schools with the software, but also host in-store testing across the country throughout the month of August, all free of charge!

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Legendary Pittsburgh Steeler, Jerome Bettis is teaming with Dick’s Sporting Goods for the campaign launch. Jerome suffered numerous concussions during his playing days and will meet with Dick’s Sporting Goods consumers to help increase awareness about the importance of baseline testing to property treat concussions.

Big props to Ed Stack, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Jerome Bettis for taking the initiative on this extremely important issue!!!!

Kobe Bryant Playing In Charity Soccer Tournament With Mia Hamm

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will go back to his athletic roots this weekend, drawing on his childhood experience playing soccer in Italy, while competing in a charity tournament in Washington D.C.

The tournament is put on by soccer legend Mia Hamm and former MLB player Nomar Garciaparra. The Mia Hamm Foundation will benefit along with Children’s National Medical Center. Many other stars including U.S. Women’s National players Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger, Heather O’Reilly, and Tobin Heath will be participating. Bryant will also be joined by ESPN’s “Around the Horn” host Tony Reall, Boston Celtics player Jeff Green, and others in the sports world.

The Celebrity Soccer Challenge takes place on Sunday in Washington D.C.

Gillette Presents Derek Jeter With $50,000 Check For Charity

Yankee great Derek Jeter was honored by his endorsement partner Gillette for his 3,000th career hit with a $50,000 donation to the Turn 2 Foundation. The organization was started by the short stop in 1996 with the mission to create and support signature programs and activities that motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and “TURN 2″ healthy lifestyles. Turn 2′s goal is to see the children of these programs grow safely and successfully into adulthood and become the leaders of tomorrow.

Gillette also gave Derek a fan-generated congratulatory card. The event was held in the Bronx at the NYY Steak at Yankee Stadium.

Photo: Splash News

Wayne Rooney And Man U Walk The Runway

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney took to the catwalk for charity recently. Wayne and his teammates walked in the Hublot “Art of Fusion” fashion show in support of the Manchester United Foundation. The Foundation works to bring soccer to disadvantaged neighborhoods throughout the UK. The event was held at the fancy Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Manchester United is in town prepping for their match against the MLS All-Stars tonight! The game will air on ESPN2.

Check out some photos of Wayne’s hotter teammates below:

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Nani

Anders Lindegaard

Lookin’ good fellas!

Photos: Splash News

Matt Leinart Foundation 5th Annual “Celebrity Bowl”

The Matt Leinart Foundation hosted their 5th Annual “Celebrity Bowl” event at Lucky Strike Lanes in Hollywood last week.

Joining the Houston Texans backup quarterback on the red carpet was The Blindside actor Quinton Aron, USC football player Marc Tyler, recently drafter NBA player Kemba Walker (pictured above), Seattle Seahawks lineman Chester Pitts, Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell and Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Langston Walker.

The Matt Leinart Foundation provides opportunities to children who would normally not receive them. The children may come from financially and/or socially disadvantaged areas, or may have permanent physical and/or mental disabilities. Among other charities, the Foundation supports the Banner’s Children’s Hospital in Phoenix; Los Angeles’ Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times; and Phoenix, Arizona based charity, Vested Interest.

Photos: PR Photos

NFL Stars Win Korbel-Sponsored Celebrity Golf Championship Events

Green Bay Packers linebacker and Super Bowl XLV Champion A.J. Hawk won the 19th Annual Long Drive Competition at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Lake Tahoe. Hawk hit a 337-yard drive, beating out Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and NFL quarterback Kyle Boller who tied for second. Hawk won the competition in 2009, also.

Hawk celebrated by popping the cork on a bottle of Korbel Champagne, who sponsors the event, spraying the crowd.

In another Korbel-sponsored event, NFL legend Jim McMahon (pictured above) attempted to out-spray Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in the “Korbel Celebrity Spray-Off.” Ryan’s 70 ft. blast was the winner, and he was awarded $5,000 to donate to the charity of his choice from the Korbel Toast Life Foundation. The competition is measured by how far the cork flies. Other celebrities who participated included Michael Jordan, who sprayed the crowd, Jerry Rice, actors Olivier Hudson and Jack Wagner. In all, 50 celebrities and athletes participated.

Photos: PRNewswire