Nets ready to spread holiday cheer
The Nets will hold their annual toy drive on Wednesday when the team plays host to the Jazz at the Izod Center.
The Nets are teaming with Family Promise for the toy drive, which will benefit homeless children and children from low-income families in the metropolitan area. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the game. Toy bins will be located at the Izod Center box office lobby, at every gate, and at the Winners’ Club.
All fans who donate a toy will receive a voucher for a future Nets game. In addition, Nets star Devin Harris will make a donation of toys through his 34 Ways to Assist Foundation…
Jen Raftery of Ocean City, N.J., is a member of the Nets dancers. The squad will perform on Good Morning America on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.
Kiwanuka helps Ugandan cause
Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka delivered toys Tuesday for the National Coalition of Organizations (NECO) to 12 year-old Ugandan Samuel Tebawesa, who was recovering from open heart surgery at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.
The health and welfare of Ugandan children is a cause that is important to Kiwanuka.
His grandfather, Benedicto Kiwanuka, was elected Uganda’s first prime minister in 1961 and assassinated in 1972 by Idi Amin.
“They [NECO] started out taking children from Uganda, bringing them here, and having different kinds of surgeries specifically for hearts,” Kiwanuka told the Rumble. “And recently they’ve gone to Uganda and are acually teaching the doctors how to perform these surgeries, and they’re getting the hospitals to be self-sufficient.”
Kiwanuka brought his mother and visited with young Samuel and met the doctor who operated on him.
“The biggest part is his mom and my grandmother are from the same village,” Kiwanuka said. “There’s a good chance that maybe somewhere down the line, I’ll be able to help somebody that I’m related to. The doctors who are involved in the organization, they’re the ones who are actually doing the work.”
RU to get some cool bowl gifts
OK, so it’s not a BCS game, or even a New Year’s Day bowl. And it’s even a little earlier than Rutgers would have hoped.
But for the Scarlet Knights, Saturday’s St. Petersburg Bowl vs. Central Florida (8-4), has its advantages.
One, Rutgers is favored to win, and if they do, it will be their fourth straight bowl victory.
Two, the Scarlet Knights (8-4) will be seen in a primetime slot, 8 p.m., on ESPN2 — always a bonus when it comes to recruiting. And three?
Well, let’s not forget about the swag. For playing in the bowl, Rutgers players will come away with pride, passion, a sense of accomplishment — win or lose — and an iLuv iPod/DVD player.
They also will take home three other parting gifts, courtesy of Oakley: A Holeshot 3-Hand watch; Eyepatch sunglasses, and a Surf Pack backpack.
Not bad. And just to keep them motivated to win the Big East next year, Rutgers should keep in mind that Cincinnati’s players will come away with a Lane recliner, after participating in the BCS Sugar Bowl by virtue of winning the conference.
Sightings
Carlos Beltran and his wife Jessica joined baseball Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith and Justin Timberlake at Hudson Terrace on Tuesday to celebrate Timbaland’s new album release. . . . David Lee leaving a $200 tip on a $400 bill at SideBAR, even after his alma mater, the Gators, lost to the Crimson Tide eight days ago.
Tiki’s company in playground biz
The playground has long been a place where kids can work together and form new relationships.
The lack of funds to build play areas in public places, however, has put many play areas in jeopardy, especially in inner cities. This week two groups dedicated to restoring playgrounds as a place for social unification for kids will join forces.
TikiRec — the company former Giant Tiki Barber has formed to build playgrounds in inner cities, and “Let All The Children Play,” a Long Islandbased group devoted to creating programs which foster healthy relationships between able bodied children and children with learning and physical disabilities — have announced a joint venture to build new state of the art facilities in the tri-state area.
The first one will be built in Eisenhower Park on Long Island in early 2010, with expansion to other areas to follow. TikiRec already has built new playgrounds in Manhattan and Newark in 2009.
Knicks’ Lee to grant wish
Knicks forward David Lee will be taking a 12-year-old child (first name only: Keano) from the Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley chapter shopping at the NBA Store this afternoon.
This day was setup by the Garden of Dreams Foundation, whose mission is to make dreams come true for kids in crisis. NBA TV with Ahmad Rashad will be documenting the entire visit for a future telecast.
Hall-uva discussion
Pro Football Hall of Famers Harry Carson and John Riggins will join former Giants linebacker Carl Banks and defensive tackle Jim Burt and fans outside of Gate D at Giants Stadium at 6:15 tonight before tonight’s Giants-Eagles game.
They will talk about who should be inducted into the 2010 Hall of Fame Class as part of the Van Heusen Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan’s Choice tour.
Fans will have the opportunity to interact with the Hall of Famers, view memorabilia from the Hall and vote for their picks for the Class of 2010 on Fanschoice.com.
Fanschoice.com is a forum for fans to “voice their choice” and cast their ballot for the players, coaches and contributors they believe deserve to be inducted into the next Hall of Fame class.
Former Giants quarterback Phil Simms is currently in the Fan’s Choice Top 25 — the next official board of selectors cut down is on Jan. 7 — and fans can vote daily to make sure he makes the Top 15.