June 8, 2008
Pro pointers
A baserunning clinic from Jose Reyes, a pitching lesson from Johan Santana and fielding advice from David Wright are up for grabs for Mets fans who attend tomorrow night's "Mets Teammates in the Community" at Richard's in Greenwich, Conn.
Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, John Maine, Aaron Heilman, Brian Schneider, Ryan Church, Scott Schoeneweis, Billy Wagner, Willie Randolph, Omar Minaya and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver also will be on hand auctioning off once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Tickets are still available by phone at (718) 803-4074 or via email to teammates@nymets.com.
Parade of legends
Former Knick Mel Davis, ex-Liberty legend Kym Hampton and the Knicks City Dancers will participate in today's 51st National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Starting at 11 a.m., their float will run down Fifth Avenue and the Knicks City Dancers will perform on the main stage during the parade. . . . Ex-Giant Leonard Marshall, Stillman School executive in residence, is selected for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He is one of eight inductees and will join an elite group of more than 250 men and women honored as Louisiana sports legends since the establishment of the Hall of Fame in 1958.
EA: LA's got game
EA Sports - the same folks who bring you Madden football - simulated the outcome of the NBA Finals on their NBA Live '09 game. The computer predicts the Lakers, who lost 98-88 to the Celtics in Game 1 Thursday night, will beat Boston in a seven-game thriller to win their 15th title. In the simulation, Kobe Bryant earned the MVP - big shock on that one - averaging 29 points and six assists.
After a quiet first half, Bryant pours in 29 of his 38 points after intermission in a triple-double domination in Game 7.
Game 2 is today, and the game hits the stores on Oct. 7. For the record, this is just for amusement; we're not telling you to bet your rent on it. Or car payment. Or anything else.
Star-Spangled hopefuls
The USTA will host an open casting call at Radio City Music Hall tomorrow from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. for children to sing the national anthem live at Arthur Ashe Stadium during this year's U.S. Open. The auditions, which are free of charge, are open to boys and girls age 12 and younger as of Aug. 25. Children will be asked to sing "America the Beautiful" a capella in front of a panel of celebrity judges from the music and entertainment industry, including Constantine Maroulis, a Boston Conservatory graduate, Top 10 contestant on Season 4 of "American Idol" and most recently a star on the Broadway version of the "Wedding Singer." Maroulis will be joined by Laura Bell Bundy, current star of the Broadway hit, "Legally Blonde;" and MTV VJ and former Miss USA, Susie Castillo.
