For awhile now
Charles Barkley
has been the crazy mouthpiece for the NBA on TNT for six years, but now it seems he wants to be the man for Alabama. He’s already switched parties from Republican to Democrat and is seriously considering running for governor of Alabama in 2010.
"I really believe I was put on Earth to do more than play basketball and stockpile money," Barkley told the Associated Press. "I really want to help people improve their lives, and what's left is for me to decide how best to do that."
He used to be a staunch supporter of the Republican party “until they lost their minds,” according to Barkley. So maybe in his campaign for governor we can get fresh quotes like:
"Do I have a gambling problem? I do have a gambling problem, but it's not really a problem because I can afford to gamble."
“I'd never buy my girl a watch... she's already got a clock over the stove.”
"I'm gonna go home and get naked again in the mirror cuz I don't look like Rerun or Al Roker. There's some deception going on. I'm not fat y'all! I'm big-boned."
"...that light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes it's a train."
James Blake gets down EvianJames Blake and his
J-Block crew are definitely becoming the face of male tennis faster than anyone was expecting. That’s why bottled water company
Evian snatched him up for the largest endorsement deal the company has ever done. Blake signed a multi-year, six-figure deal making his first non-tennis sponsorship deal since making the top 10 in the world.
Blake is currently ranked at #5 after beating Andy Roddick (#2) in the finals of the RCA Championships in Indianapolis. Look for home boy to continue to make waves and get the Williams’ sister fame.
Jaguars QB Garrard Sacks Crohn’s DiseaseJacksonville Jaguars quarterback
David Garrard has hooked up with the
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) to raise awareness about pediatric Crohn’s disease as well as encourage children suffering from the illness to still go after their dreams and goals.
"After I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, I hoped to one day be well enough to help raise awareness about this condition," David Garrard, said in a statement. "Thanks to advice from my doctor and available treatment options, I am able to play football again and work with CCFA on this rewarding program to deliver a message of hope and inspiration to others."
According to Wikipedia, Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It is a disease that results in chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The disease can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. The main gastrointestinal symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea, which may be bloody.
In June, Garrard met with close to 100 children at CCFA Camp Oasis in Rutledge, Georgia and will continue to encourage children at other camps in Michigan, California, Pennsylvania and New York.
Tiki Barber Tackles Sickle CellLast week, NY Giants running back
Tiki Barber announced a new campaign called Be Sickle Smart: Ask Tiki about Iron, an initiative to educate people on the blood disorder. Barber has partnered with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. to help spread the word about sickle cell and iron overload.
"I'm determined to get the message out that it's really important for people with sickle cell disease who get transfusions to know about the health risks of having excess iron, and to talk to their doctor if they might be at risk," Barber said in a statement. "Through this initiative, we want to educate patients and their families about SCD and iron overload so they're empowered to take an active role in their health -- knowledge is the key."
Although
sickle cell anemia is more commonly found in people of African descent, the disease can occur in anyone regardless of color or ethnicity. According to Wikipedia, the red blood cells change shape upon deoxygenation because of polymerization of the abnormal sickle hemoglobin. This process damages the red blood cell membrane, and can cause the cells to become stuck in blood vessels. This deprives the downstream tissues of oxygen and causes ischemia and infarction. The disease is chronic and lifelong. Individuals are most often well, but their lives are punctuated by periodic painful attacks. In addition to periodic pain, there may be damage of internal organs, such as stroke.
A-Rod is for the ChildrenYankees star
Alex Rodriguez is adding “author” to his namesake. The third baseman has connected with HarperCollins Children’s Books to publish “Out of the Ballpark”, an illustrated children’s book about A-Rod’s childhood experiences. The book will be drawn by Frank Morrison and will have both English and Spanish versions.
The publishing date is set for
February 6, 2007. Now if Rodriguez gives some hints on how my kids can score $29 million a year, consider the book to be added to library.
