This Week in FLASports

Celebrity Golf Tournament kicks off Homestead-Miami Speedway Festivities

The 2nd annual Homestead-Miami Speedway Celebrity Golf Classic will be played Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Doral Golf Resort & Spa. Presented by Sprint Nextel, the tournament will be held on Doral's world-renowned "Blue Monster" course as one of the headline events taking place in conjunction with the star-studded Ford Championship Weekend.

"Golfing on the 'Blue Monster' is the perfect complement to Ford Championship Weekend," said Curtis Gray, President of Homestead-Miami Speedway. "Our celebrities and amateur participants will enjoy themselves on a PGA-championship course, help raise a lot of money for some phenomenal charities, and then we'll head down the road to the track where NASCAR crowns its champions: Homestead-Miami Speedway."

Celebrities scheduled to play this year include Miami-resident Juan Pablo Montoya, NASCAR's points-leading rookie and winner of the 2000 Indy 500; and NASCAR Driver of the Decade (1980s) Darrell Waltrip, three-time Cup champion and current NASCAR TV analyst. More celebrity golfers will be revealed in the coming weeks. Celebrity participants in last year's inaugural event included two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip; former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Rusty Wallace (Top 10 all-time in NASCAR career victories and earnings); NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray (2007 Pepsi 400 winner); NFL Hall of Famer/1972 Dolphin Larry Little; Miami Hurricane/NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks; NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor; two-time World Series-champion Florida Marlin Jeff Conine and Jenna Edwards, Miss Florida USA 2007.

All proceeds from the Celebrity Golf Classic will benefit three partners of the NASCAR Foundation Family of Charities: WAM (Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports), the Betty Jane France Speediatrics center at Homestead Hospital and Formula Smiles. The tournament is one of many community programs Homestead-Miami Speedway will host during the week preceding Ford Championship Weekend. Additional festivities include Ford Racefest—featuring live concerts, interactive exhibits, NASCAR drivers and the NEXTEL Cup trophy on display—the Hot Rods & Reels fishing tournament and Ford's "Bailando Por La Copa" salsa-dance finals.

"At the end of Ford Championship Weekend, Sprint Nextel will crown the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion," said Dean Kessel, director of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series marketing for title-sponsor Sprint Nextel. "It is a momentous weekend for the entire NASCAR community, and this golf tournament kicks off the festivities in a fun and competitive manner on a world-class course, all while supporting three important philanthropic efforts."

The Homestead-Miami Speedway Celebrity Golf Classic is open to amateur golfers for a $750 entry fee. Participants receive a gift bag and souvenir plaque featuring team photograph with celebrity captain. Lunch is served at Doral's Champions Pavilion prior to golf, and an awards party/memorabilia auction will follow (prizes to Top 3 teams).

For more information or to obtain invitations for the Homestead-Miami Speedway Celebrity Golf Classic, please contact Tournament Director Nick Nicolosi at (201) 489-0049 or at nnicolosi@HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com.

For information and tickets on all Homestead-Miami Speedway events—including Ford Championship Weekend, group sales and private track rental—please visit www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com or call (866) 409-RACE.

Atlanta Braves have a new Stadium for Spring Training - At least in Name

For the third time in five years, the baseball stadium at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex has a new name.

From now on, just call it Champion Stadium.

Disney officials announced Wednesday that they've entered into a 10-year agreement with Hanesbrands Inc., the parent company of Champion activewear. As part of the deal, Hanes and Champion clothing will also be sold at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, Disney resorts and at ESPN Zone restaurants and stores across the country.

Though he would not disclose how much his company will pay Disney over the next decade, Hanesbrands spokesman Matt Hall said the deal will net Disney "tens of millions of dollars."

"It certainly is the largest marketing program that we have under way," Hall said.

Reggie Williams, Disney's vice president for sports attractions, said he was "ecstatic" about the deal. "It's just the perfect name for a stadium that models itself as the end of a successful journey," he said.

These are busy times for Williams.

He acknowledged Wednesday that he and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are in talks to have the Rays play regular-season games at Disney for the second consecutive year. "The ball is in their court," Williams said. "And we're working on finding some mutually acceptable dates to continue hosting Rays games at Champion Stadium."

Last May's three-game series between the Rays and the Texas Rangers at Disney drew a total of 26,917 fans, and Rays officials have said they would like to play either two or three games in Central Florida in April or May.

"The series we played this year was a success from every angle," Rays President Matt Silverman told the Sentinel in October. "Not only did we sweep the series, but we made a splash in the market. . . . We want to continue that momentum if we can."

Dolphins To Salute America’s Heroes At November 11 Game

The Miami Dolphins will be celebrating America's Heroes at the Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills game on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2007 with a salute to the United States military, veterans and NASA.

In partnership with Stand To, the Miami Dolphins will be honoring more than 1,500 military men and women for their service to America. In addition, the team will be saluting aeronautics heroes, Apollo 14 Moonwalker Edgar Mitchell and Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot Al Worden, along with more than 400 team members from NASA/Kennedy Space Center who will attend the game and be recognized for their extraordinary service to America. Dolphins alumni and veterans of the U.S. military Derrick Rogers, Jim Kiick and Marcia Wooden, wife of Dolphins Alumni Shawn Wooden, will also be at the game.

Fans attending the game will be able to see an ARES shuttle exhibit model that will be on display along with other military equipment including Hummers, a Coast Guard Patrol Boat and a replica F22 Raptor Mini Jet in the Grand Plaza at Gate G from noon until 4 p.m. Kids can enjoy a rock climbing wall and a laser shot machine and fans can meet the Dolphins alumni, astronauts, soldiers and veterans at the Grand Plaza at Gate G, as well as bring a care package or letters of encouragement for soldiers overseas. Dolphin Stadium will be providing veterans with the opportunity to purchase discounted food and drink vouchers as well as discounted parking for this Veterans Day game.

Polk County High School Basketball tips off with Media Madness Event

Polk County Sports Marketing, in cooperation with the Lakeland Center will host the 2nd Annual Polk

County High School Basketball Media Madness on Tuesday, November 12th, 2007. The event is sponsored by the Lakeland Hotel & Motel Association and will be held in the Jenkins Arena at the Lakeland Center at 6:00 p.m. The event will feature the head coaches from Polk County's 2006-2007 district championship teams. This year's event will include the girl's basketball programs, with each district champion head coach giving a run down on the upcoming season. While only the coaches from the playoff programs of last season will be speaking to the entire audience, every coach in Polk County will be invited to attend and bring their two top players to the event.

Amateur Sports Accolades
7^th Annual Gainesville Senior Games Highlights
October 18-21, 2007

The Gainesville Sports Commission has finished another successful year of hosting the Gainesville Senior Games sponsored by Shands HealthCare with nearly 300 athletes participating in 12 events. This year the Senior Games were held during October 18 – 21, 2007 in varies locations throughout Alachua County. This is the 7^th annual year for the Gainesville Senior Games.

Highlights of the Gainesville Senior Games:

Kristine Stopka, Track and Field, 53
She competed in nine track and field events and medaled in each event…she received gold medals in six events, 1500M Run, 1500M Walk, 800M Run, Javelin Throw, Shot Put, and Discus Throw…she receive two silver medals in the 400M Dash, and Long Jump…she received one bronze medal in 200M Dash…

Robert Jacobs, Track and Field, 84
He was the oldest participant to compete in this year’s Gainesville Senior Games Track and Field event…he competed in five events and medaled in each one…he received gold medals in Javelin Throw and Long Jump…he received three silver medals for Shot Put, Discus, and Softball Toss...

Gigi Hubbard, Swimming, 60
She competed in five swimming events…she received four gold medals for 200 yard Backstroke, 100 IM, 200 IM, and 50 yard backstroke…she received one silver medal in 50 yard Butterfly…

John Cornell, Swimming, 84
He competed in four swimming events…he received gold medals in each event…100 yard IM, 50 yard Breaststroke, 100 Freestyle, and 50 yard Backstroke…

Lisa Atkinson, Cycling, 50
She received gold medals in the 5K and 10K Time Trials…her time in the 5K Time Trial was 8:22…her time in the 10K Time Trial was 16:58…

FlaSports Calendar of Events this week, November 5-11