Nets’ Ecko chamber
Designer gives 5,000 tix to kids
Famed fashion designer Marc Ecko made headlines last year when he acquired the Barry Bonds record-setting home-run baseball in an auction and then allowed the public to vote on its fate. But now Ecko, who had an asterisk put on the ball and donated it to the Hall of Fame, has made an even more important purchase -5,000 Nets tickets, which he has distributed to youngsters from various recreation centers in Newark.
Ecko will attend Tuesday’s Nets-Magic game at the Izod Center. “Every kid should have an opportunity to go to a Nets game and I want to help make that happen,” Ecko, 35, told The Rumble. “I grew up and still live in New Jersey, and I’m committed to being socially responsible and to make an impact in the lives of Newark’s children.”
The Nets have teamed with New Line Cinema to hold a special screening for select season ticket holders for the upcoming basketball movie “Semi-Pro” starring Will Ferrell tomorrow night at 7 at the AMC Meadows Plaza 8 in Secaucus. Nets players Sean Williams and Marcus Williams will meet and greet invitees at the theater beginning at 6 p.m. … Nets players, coaches, the Nets Dancers and team alumni will participate in the 3rd annual “Nets Basketbowl,” a bowling event to raise money for the Nets Foundation, at Wallington (NJ) Lanes on Wednesday. For more information, contact the Nets Community Relations department at crelations@njnets.com.
Giants take it Easy
Giants safety James Butler and cornerback Corey Webster were in the Big Easy last weekend for the NBA All-Star Game and mingled with several playmates at the “Playboy Presents the Crown Royal Barbershop Lounge” VIP bash. Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens and “Inside The NBA” host Kenny Smith were also in attendance enjoying the tunes of DJ Irie and getting the chance to try out Crown Royal’s newest ultra-premium offerings – Crown Royal XR and Cask No. 16. … Though the US media contingent was lighter at the All-Star Game last weekend, Harlem’s WHCR radio found the event important enough to broadcast shows from New Orleans, the only New York radio station to be on hand. The host, Stephanie Stepp, did interviews on wide-ranging topics dealing with post-Katrina, including an interview with actors from the new off-Broadway play, “Lower Ninth.” … BDA Sports Management, run by superagent Bill Duffy, commemorated All-Star Weekend with its fifth annual BDA Brunch at the New Orleans House of Blues. The event celebrated a new partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which works with public and private partners to reduce inequities by expanding opportunities for those with great need. Duffy clients Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, Chris Duhon, Michael Conley Jr., Speedy Claxton, and WNBA star Seimone Augustus attended the brunch.
DVD of Champions
The “New York Giants: Super Bowl XLII Champions” DVD is one of award-winning NFL Films president Steve Sabol’s all-time favorites – and that’s saying something.
“You can’t believe the e-mails and voicemails I’ve gotten to name that play,” Sabol, the executive producer, tells The Rumble, referring to Eli Manning’s great escape and David Tyree’s Ripley’s-Believe-It-Or-Not catch on the winning touchdown drive. Our favorite: The Prayer & The Snare. “There’s never been a [Super Bowl] play like it,” Sabol said.
The 175-minute DVD features: Media Day highlights; a Tom Coughlin profile; The Redemption of Eli Manning; Michael Strahan’s journey from retirement to the top of the football world; and up-close and personal footage of Giants-Cowboys, Giants-Packers and, of course, the stunning upset of the 18-0 Patriots. Sabol ranks Giants-Patriots among the top 3 or 4 Super Bowls. “I want to let this percolate a little bit before I say it’s the greatest Super Bowl ever,” he said.
Giants players have a busy week of DVD promotion beginning tomorrow night, when Osi Umenyiora (11:59 p.m.-2 a.m.) will be at Modell’s on West 42nd Street for a Midnight Madness signing. On Tuesday from 1-3 p.m., Strahan will be at Wal-Mart, 400 Park Place in Secaucus; from 7-9 that night, Antonio Pierce will be at FYE in the Palisades Center in West Nyack; on Wednesday from noon-2 p.m., Amani Toomer will be at Stop & Shop in Hackensack; and from 7-9 p.m., Brandon Jacobs will be at Best Buy at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus. On Thursday, Tyree will be at Circuit City on 5th Avenue from 7-9 p.m.
Rangers’ gamble pays off
The Rangers raised $270,000 for the Garden of Dreams Foundation Thursday night at Gotham Hall. Each player was on hand for Casino Night donning his custom-picked tuxedo. While players like Henrik Lundqvist chose to go with the traditional black tux with a bow tie, fan favorite Ryan Hollweg stole the show with a cream colored jacket, black & white captoe shoes and a black fedora.
Damon’s favorite SI model
Johnny Damon may not recognize all the models in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, but he has no problem identifying one: his wife Michelle. “There is one page where I think I have met [the model] before,” Damon said. “She is pretty excited. She had no idea about the swimsuit issue. I am definitely a lucky guy.” The Damons are expecting their second child in October.
Mmmm, burgers!
New reliever Matt Wise almost didn’t sign with the Mets because they train in Florida and play in New York – in other words, nowhere near his beloved In-N-Out Burger. “I’m serious. I love ’em that much,” Wise told The Post’s Bart Hubbuch. Wise is from Southern California and grew up on the popular West Coast chain’s famous “double-double” cheeseburgers, which have been known to prompt 1,000-mile roundtrips by some crazed fans just to get them.
Wise got his double-double fix last spring as a Brewer because Milwaukee trains in Arizona, not far from a host of In-N-Out Burgers. In fact, Wise insists he moved to Chandler, Ariz., just to be near them. You couldn’t tell it by looking at him – Wise is 6-4 but a stringbean at just 197 pounds – but he stops in two or three times a week. “I go as often as humanly possible,” he said.
You can do it, Kerri!
If the mental image of dozens of morning commuters attempting handstands in Penn Station amuses you, be sure to head over to the area outside the Amtrak waiting area tomorrow morning. From 7-9 a.m., former U.S. gymnast Kerri Strug – the media darling of the 1996 Olympic gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s national team – will stand on her hands for commuters and help judge a handstand competition among children from local gymnastics clubs as well as any commuters who want to give it a try. It’s all to help get folks excited for Saturday’s Tyson American Cup at the Garden, an international competition.Tickets start as low as $25 and are available by phone at (866) 448-7849 in addition to the Garden box office and Ticketmaster.