Unbeatable heroes performance - 2006-06-29
Brad McDonnell -- UNT Daily
Marquis Daniels won't be leaving the Mavericks to pursue a baseball career, nor will any of the other sports and entertainment celebrities who participated Saturday in the fifth annual Reebok Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game at the Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.
Daniels attempted to swing at the ball during the pregame Home Run Derby, but the bat slipped from his hands, flying 70 or so feet towards a ducking crowd standing outside the third base dugout. Nobody was hurt.
"I think I'll stick with basketball," Daniels said.
Current and retired players from the NBA, NHL and NFL teamed up with television and movie celebrities to raise funds for the Mike Modano Foundation, Todd Wagner Foundation and the Heroes Foundation, all benefiting children's charities.
"When you're involved in sports it's amazing how many kids and how you're looked up to," said Home Run Derby winner and Dallas Stars captain Mike Modano. "It's unique how you can touch kids' lives in that kind of way."
The near sellout crowd watched the Black Socks, led by Modano and Dallas Cowboys' Roy Williams, defeat the Red Socks 15-11 in the nine-inning event, which offered a heaping dose of celebrities playing out of their traditional form.
Spectators watched as Mavericks owner Mark Cuban scurried around for balls the infield; Williams and Cowboys' teammate DeMarcus Ware trade highlight-reel plays; and towering NBA stars Chris Bosh (6-feet-10) and Kenyon Martin (6-feet-9) appear misplaced on the baseball diamond.
Along with Daniels fellow Mavericks Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse and Darrell Armstrong accompanied entertainment celebrities including Geoff Stults (Wedding Crashers), brother George Stults (Seventh Heaven) and Carlos Bernard (24).
Hall of Fame ballplayer Brooks Robinson coached the Black Socks, while former big leaguer Ken Griffey Sr. managed the Red Socks. Before the first pitch was thrown, Robinson predicted a win.
"We're a cinch, our team's ready," Robinson joked about his hyped players. "I had to give a couple of them a let down pill - they're not regulated - you can take those."
Williams and Ware offered Cowboys fans a bit of optimism for the upcoming NFL season. Ware, playing for the Red Socks, made several shoestring catches in the outfield matching similar plays from Williams.
"Me and Roy were going back and forth and we had a great time out here," Ware said after the game. "I'll make sure to come back next year."
The charity event has raised over $1 million since it began in 2002. Todd Wagner, movie producer and creator of 2929 Entertainment, is among the founders of the charity game. Wagner contributed the event's success to the combined efforts of the three charity foundations.
"This event just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year," said Wagner, former Broadcast.com partner with Cuban. "It's fun to see guys out of their elements on the baseball field."
While "out of their elements" might be an understatement for some, all the participants were certainly inside their elements when it comes to supporting the community.
