2nd Annual Stater Bros. Charities Dave Stockton Heroes Challenge to Include 9 Golf Professionals and 5 Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients
Stater Bros. Charities’ largest charity event of the year will take place at the prestigious Victoria Club in Riverside, California
Last year, Stater Bros. Supermarket’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jack H. Brown partnered with long-time friend and PGA Champions Tour Pro Dave Stockton to launch one of the largest charity golf tournaments in the region, the Stater Bros. Charities Dave Stockton Heroes Challenge, which generated more than $427,000 for local charities. This year, the legacy continues with the 2nd Annual Stater Bros. Charities Dave Stockton Heroes Challenge taking place on Monday, March 2, 2009 at the Victoria Club in Riverside, California and will include a line up that reaches far beyond the realm of the Inland Empire.
The Heroes Challenge will be limited to 128 players who will compete for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place and consist of seven of Stockton’s PGA Tour friends including but not limited to:
Donna Caponi-Byrnes - Byrnes is a Member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and is a 24-Time Winner on the LPGA Tour which includes four major championships: 1969 & 1970 U.S. Women’s Open and the 1979 & 1981 LPGA Championships. She is currently working as a color-analyst for The Golf Channel.
John Cook – Cook finished #5 on the Champions Tour Money List for 2008 after playing 26 events and 15 top 10 finishes. Cook has over 11 PGA Tour Victories and 2 wins on the Champions Tour, both at the AT&T Championship.
Hubert Green - Green is a Member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and is a 19-Time Winner on the PGA Tour including 2 major championships: 1977 U.S. Open Championship and 1985 PGA Championship.
Gary McCord – McCord was on the PGA Tour from 1974 to 1998 with two dozen top ten finishes and has been the official Golf Analyst for CBS Sports since 1986.
In addition, Brown and Stockton have invited five Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients to participate in a weekend of events including a visit to the ROTC Riverside Unit on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. Both Brown and Stockton were born and raised in San Bernardino, California and have been proud residents of the Inland Empire for most of their lives. Because of their close ties to the community, Brown and Stockton feel a great desire to give back to the Inland Empire. The proceeds from this Tournament will go directly to the critical needs facing the areas Stater Bros. is privileged to serve.
Dave Stockton, Honorary Tournament Chairman: Stockton’s resume in golf makes him one of the most accomplished PGA Golf Professionals, and his status as a local hero makes him the perfect Honorary Tournament Chairman for the new Stater Bros. charity golf event. Dave Stockton turned professional in 1964 and joined the PGA Champions Tour after serving as Captain for the victorious Ryder Cup team in 1991 at Kiawah. He accrued 14 Champions Tour victories, including the U.S. Senior Open and twice winning the Ford Senior Players Championship. Stockton also claims 10 PGA Tour victories (winning the PGA Championship in both 1970 & 1976). He became well known in the 1970′s and 80′s for doing up to 90 corporate outings a year and was crowned “King of Corporate Outings” as a result. Last year, Stockton served as the Assistant Captain to the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
Stater Bros. Charities: Since 1936, Stater Bros. Markets has been a pillar of support in the community. Last year, Stater Bros. established, Stater Bros. Charities, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The purpose of Stater Bros. Charities is to give back to the communities Stater Bros. Markets is privileged to serve. In 2008 Stater Bros. Charities donated $1.4 million to local causes. With an emphasis on programs that benefit hunger relief, children’s welfare, education for both youth and adults, services for the elderly and care for our Nation’s Veterans, Stater Bros. Charities will be able to help with some of the most critical needs facing this region.
Stater Bros. Markets: Stater Bros. Markets was founded in 1936 in Yucaipa, California, and has grown steadily through the years to become the largest privately owned Supermarket Chain in Southern California and the largest employer in both San Bernardino County and Riverside County, with annual sales in 2008 of $3.74 billion. The Company currently operates 165 Supermarkets, and there are over 19,000 members of the Stater Bros. “Family” of Employees.
STATER BROS. CHARITIES PROVIDES PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO APPROVED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Collective Bargaining: NBA Team Owners Conspire to Lower Player Salaries in New Novel
Many people express the opinion that professional athletes believe less in the spirit of the sport than in the multimillion dollar price tag attached to player status. In her new book, “Collective Bargaining: Taking Control Away From the Players!” (published by AuthorHouse) Kelly Wilken offers a fictional account of what happens when NBA team owners decide to strike back against this perceived greed by hitting season draft picks where it hurts — the wallet.
The story begins in the office of James Mitchum IV, owner of the Houston Tornados. Astounded by the 20 million dollar salary he is expected to pay his number-one draft pick, Mitchum formulates a plan that will involve every NBA team owner and shake the foundation of professional basketball.
After the season’s draft picks enjoy their night in the spotlight at Casey Center in New York, the agents step in to begin the annual bargaining ritual that brings big bucks to their clients. This year, they are in for a shock. Unbeknownst to them, Mitchum has convinced every team owner to support him in revamping the pay structure for incoming players. Every rookie receives a certain amount, no matter their place in the pick. Negotiations are out. The agents cry foul and embark on a mission to fight the conspiracy. In the middle are the players, who must decide what is more important — playing the game they love or making the millions they expected to be part of the package.
Wilken centers her story around two young athletes, Marcus Wilkerson, the number-one draft pick, and Tyson Williams, the number-four pick. The young men come from two different worlds, but they both believe one thing: the NBA owes them millions of dollars.
“Collective Bargaining” also explores the differences between American athletes and those from other countries. For the international draft picks, the unfolding drama about players’ salaries has an entirely different meaning, and Wilken delves into how cultural backgrounds may impact the response to such drastic changes to player contracts.
As the story unfolds, Wilken takes readers from state to state, following the choices each player must make. In the final chapter, decisions come to light and readers discover what wins out — passion for sport or lust for money.
Kelly Wilken was born in Youngstown, Ohio. She served more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy, working in London, England, as an administrative specialist. She also lived in Stuttgart, Germany, and Misawa, Japan. Her service in the military included work in intelligence, security and aviation administration. Serving aboard two military ships, the Steamship PFC Eugene A. Obregon and the Motor Vessel 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, Wilken visited foreign ports around the world. She retired from the Navy in 2000 and now works as a classification specialist for the federal government. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in business administration, Bachelor of Science Degree in management, and a Master of Science degree in human resource management. Wilken lives in Carlyle, Ill., with her husband, retired Master Sgt. Alan Wilken of the U.S. Air Force. They have one daughter, Jessica. “Collective Bargaining” is her first novel.
Source: AuthorHouse
220-Plus MLB Signatures on One Chevy Tahoe Hood – A One-of-a-Kind Piece of Baseball Memorabilia
Take the hood of a Chevy Tahoe; bring it to six Major League Baseball parks; have more than 220 players sign it, including the biggest names in baseball today, Baseball Hall of Fame members and future stars of tomorrow; and what have you got? One of the most unique pieces of baseball memorabilia ever created.
This one of-a-kind piece of baseball memorabilia and a unique, baseball- themed Chevy Tahoe fetched a final bid of $100,000 at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Friday, January 16. This $100,000 will be added to the $100,000 AutoTrader.com raised during the 2008 baseball season through the company’s Drive to a New Start program and all $200,000 will be donated to youth baseball programs in the six cities AutoTrader.com visited with the program.
The winning bidders, Tom and Diane Day of Corona, Calif., are big baseball fans and Los Angeles Angels season ticket holders. They plan to display the Tahoe and the hood with several other collector cars they have purchased over the years.
“The entire Day family is excited about having this terrific car and sports collectible and we’re happy the proceeds will go to benefit youth baseball,” said Tom Day.
The hood is signed by stars like Ryan Howard, Mariano Rivera, Francisco Rodriguez, Vladimir Guerrero, Carlos Zambrano, Chipper Jones, Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum. The hood also made a stop in Cooperstown, N.Y., for the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in July, where Hall of Fame members Yogi Berra, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, Tom Seaver, Whitey Ford and others also signed. And front and center on the hood is the first signature from 2008 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Goose Gossage, who toured the country with AutoTrader.com as the spokesperson for the program.
All signatures on the hood were authenticated by Steiner Sports, the leader in sports memorabilia authentication and sports marketing.
In total, about 220 current and former players signed the hood. The six teams who hosted Drive to a New Start events were the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Angels, the New York Yankees, the Philadelphia Phillies, The Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants. Youth baseball programs affiliated with each team will split the $200,000 final tally raised through the Drive to a New Start program.
The Chevy Tahoe, which was auctioned with the hood, has been dubbed the Ultimate Baseball Ride because of some special upgrades. In addition to “standard” luxury features like top of the line stereo, DVD player with several screens and custom paint, the SUV features Rawlings baseball glove leather seats and steering wheel and baseball-bat ash wood dashboard, door panel and steering wheel accents.
Drive to a New Start was one of AutoTrader.com’s 2008 marketing and community outreach programs. In each city Gossage visited with AutoTrader.com, he hosted a youth baseball clinic for inner city children, met fans and signed autographs at pre-game events and conducted on-field or in-box media interviews. At each city, Gossage helped collect players’ and coaches’ signatures on the hood, with each signature garnering an AutoTrader.com donation to youth baseball programs in those cities.
“It was a real thrill to be involved with this program,” said Gossage. “Touring the country, collecting these signatures and helping kids learn about baseball was all very rewarding. I’m glad this fetched such a high bid at the auction. That money will go a long way to helping some great kids.”
Source: AutoTrader.com
Top 25 Nationwide Tour Players Earn PGA TOUR Cards for 2009 Season
Transitions Optical Hosts Signature Toast to Congratulate Players
Twenty-five Nationwide Tour players were awarded 2009 PGA TOUR cards last night following the Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch.
Transitions Optical, Inc., the PGA TOUR’s newest official marketing partner, hosted a celebratory toast and post-card ceremony party to honor the players for their achievement.
“This class adds to the Nationwide Tour’s strong tradition of transitioning players to the PGA TOUR and having a significant impact once they get there,” said Bill Calfee, Nationwide Tour President. “With Nationwide Tour alumni amassing 237 wins on the PGA TOUR, we look forward to seeing one in the winner’s circle at the Transitions Championship next spring,” he added.
“Golf enthusiasts depend on healthy sight for optimal athletic performance,” said Dave Cole, managing director of the Americas, Australia and New Zealand, Transitions Optical. “With such obstacles as varying light and playing conditions and ongoing exposure to ultraviolet radiation, visual ability can be affected without proper eyecare and eyewear, such as Transitions(R) lenses. Through our partnership with the PGA TOUR, we’re excited to continue to educate consumers about ensuring healthy sight. We salute these 25 players for living their vision by earning their PGA TOUR cards and hope that they continue their success at the next level,” he added.
Transitions lenses, the #1 recommended photochromic lenses worldwide, are the ideal everyday choice for healthy sight, providing visual comfort and quality all day, every day. By automatically adjusting to changing light conditions, Transitions help to enhance contrast, reduce glare and minimize eye strain and fatigue.
As the Official Eyewear of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour, Transitions Optical is proud to sponsor the PGA TOUR’s Transitions Championship, which tees off March 16-22, 2009 at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Source: Transitions Optical, Inc.