I have two press releases tonight as sports networks took the day off for the most part today. I had sent out a couple of e-mails to public relations reps today and was not expecting responses so imagine my surprise when these hit the Fang’s Bites inbox today.
From MLB.com, there’s this release on the All-Star Game voting which finished Thursday night.
ALL-STAR GAME ONLINE BALLOT ON MLB.COM CAPS RECORD-SETTING FAN BALLOTING PROGRAM
NEW YORK, July 3, 2009 – Fan balloting for the 16 elected starting position players in the 80th All-Star Game, to be played Tuesday, July 14 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, came to a record-setting finish last night with the conclusion of the 2009 All-Star Game Online Ballot on MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball.
Overall during the All-Star Game Online Balloting program, 223.5 million votes from 17.8 million ballots were cast at MLB.com and the 30 individual Club sites. Both figures are the largest figures recorded in the nine years of online balloting at MLB.com, surpassing the previous records established in 2008.
The American and National League All-Star Teams will be unveiled on the 2009 MLB All-Star Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS at 1 p.m. (EDT). MLB.com will provide comprehensive coverage of the All-Star Teams, including high quality video and details of every All-Star, immediately following the announcement. MLB Network will air a special MLB Tonight All-Star Edition, simulcast on MLB.com, at 6 p.m. (EDT) with expert analysis and a look at the players on the 2009 All-Star Game Final Vote ballot.
Also after the conclusion of the show, fans will once again select the final player for each League’s 33-man roster via the 2009 All-Star Game Final Vote exclusively online at MLB.com. Fans will also be able to cast votes by text exclusively on Sprint capable phones. Standard text rates apply.
The 2009 All-Star Game Final Vote will provide fans the opportunity to cast their votes from two lists of five players, one from each League, over a four-day period. American League All-Star manager Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays and National League All-Star manager Charlie Manuel of the Philadelphia Phillies each will designate five players who will be the candidates for the 2009 All-Star Game Final Vote. Balloting will continue until 4 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, July 9. The winners will be announced exclusively on MLB.com shortly after the balloting closes.
And ESPN goes over what its upcoming “My Wish” series which debuts on SportsCenter on Sunday.
Five children’s wishes will feature athletes Marion Barber, Jimmy Rollins, Tony Hawk, Chris Paul and David Wright
The 2009 edition of SportsCenter’s “My Wish” series will debut Sunday, July 5 during the 10 a.m. ET edition of SportsCenter, ESPN’s flagship news and information program. The series will continue Monday – Thursday featuring a new wish each day during the 6 p.m. ET edition of the program. Wishes include athletes Marion Barber NFL Pro Bowl running back for the Dallas Cowboys (Sunday), Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (Monday), pro skateboarder Tony Hawk (Tuesday), New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul (Wednesday) and New York Mets third baseman David Wright (Thursday). Emmy Award-winning reporter Chris Connelly will again host. The series, a collaborative effort between the Make-A-Wish Foundation, ESPN SportsCenter and The Walt Disney Company, profiles the experiences of young children with life-threatening medical conditions as their unique sports-related wishes are being granted by the star athletes of their choosing. Highlights of the youngsters and their wishes:
Sunday, July 5: Marion Barber
Ian Gregory, Age – 6; Hometown – Canyon, Texas; Condition – T-cell lymphoma
Wish: To meet Marion Barber of the Dallas Cowboys (wish was granted on June 17)
The Cowboys welcomed Ian to minicamp where he was greeted by Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, shown the team’s five Super Bowl trophies, toured the locker room, rode the team bus to practice with Barber, took part in drills with the running backs and joined coach Wade Phillips to break the team huddle at the end of practice.
Shane Gregory, Ian’s father: “It’s been about five hours, and it seems like it’s been five of the greatest days of our lives. I want to thank the people with the Cowboys and Make-A-Wish for making this such a special day for Ian.”
Monday, July 6: Jimmy Rollins
Shaquille Jacobs – Age – 17 (turned 18 in April); Hometown – Greensboro, N.C.; Condition – acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Wish: To meet and play catch with Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (wish was granted on March 1)
The wish was granted at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Champion Stadium®. Shaquille was presented with a personalized jersey by Rollins in the Phillies dugout, and dressed in full uniform with the team. He joined the Phillies for pregame warm-ups – playing catch with Rollins, stretching with the team and taking batting practice. He hit a couple of rounds with Rollins’ bat, which Rollins gave him after they were done. Shaquille then joined the Phillies in the dugout for the game against the Atlanta Braves. Jacobs plans to attend North Carolina A&T, majoring in chemical engineering and will try out as a walk on for the baseball team.
Jacobs on his day with Rollins: “My favorite part was to be on the field with Jimmy, playing catch, stretching, racing with him and taking batting practice. They all treated me like I was one of the guys.”
Tuesday, July 7: Tony Hawk
Jamarkus Poole – Age – 12; Hometown – Tampa, Fla.; Condition – cystic fibrosis
Wish: To meet Tony Hawk (wish was granted on June 24)
Tony Hawk and six other pro skateboarders put on a high-flying exhibition for Jamarkus and his family in the private skatepark at Hawk’s San Diego-area headquarters. Jamarkus then had his own chance to skate with Tony on the ramps. They then enjoyed a pizza lunch, and played video games, where Jamarkus showed Hawk some of his own board tricks on the yet-to-be-released video game “Tony Hawk Ride.”
From Angel Shakleford, Jamarkus’ mom: “Jamarkus really isn’t an emotional guy and he’s kind of shy, but he really opened up with Tony during the wish. It really was a special day for him and our family.”
Wednesday, July 8: Chris Paul
Cole Johanson – Age – 10; Hometown – Portland, Ore.; condition – Burkitt’s lymphoma
Wish: To meet Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets (wish was granted on June 23)
Cole traveled to Chris Paul’s hometown of Winston-Salem, N.C., where Paul took him to see his childhood home, shoot hoops and play HORSE in the gym at West Forsyth High (Paul’s alma mater). They then ate lunch at Cole’s favorite restaurant, the Olive Garden.
Cole Johanson: “It’s amazing how cancer was the worst thing that ever happened to me, but the day I met Chris Paul was the best day of my life.”
Thursday, July 9: David Wright
Matthew Vojack – Age – 6; Hometown – South Barrington, Ill.; Condition – congenital heart defect TAPVR
Wish: To meet David Wright of the New York Mets (wish was granted on June 30)
Matthew’s wish was revealed with a surprise visit from Mets mascot Mr. Met at the family’s home in Illinois. Matthew then traveled to Milwaukee to play catch with Wright, meet several of Wright’s Mets teammates, and watch the Mets take on the Brewers at Miller Park. Matthew also met Bernie Brewer and held the finish-line tape for the Brewers’ Sausage Race.
From Debbie Vojack, Matthew’s Mom: “This wish meant the world to me. Being able to watch Matt interact with David was amazing. Matt loves baseball and being able to play with his favorite player was incredible. It was the experience of a lifetime.”
ESPN.com will offer additional and complementary content related to the five wish-granting experiences.
Here’s a video preview.
And that will do it for the press releases.
