Hope goes for youth movement

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Dec 02, 2001 Source: The Deseret Sun Submitted By: Stephanie Celebrities could attract new crowd to tournament By Larry Bohannan The Desert Sun RANCHO MIRAGE -- Boy bands, Cy Young Awards and two long-time players will dominate the celebrity field of the 43rd annual Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. A.J. McLean and Brian Littrell, two-fifths of the singing group Backstreet Boys, and ’N Sync member Justin Timberlake are among the first-time players in the Classic next month. Other first-time players include actor Kyle MacLaughlin, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson and professional wrestler/actor Bill Goldberg. They are among 28 names released by the Classic Thursday for the tournament’s pro-am, to be played during the first four rounds of the five-day PGA Tour event. The celebrity field is slanted more toward entertainment figures and less toward athletes this year, though tournament director Mike Milthorpe and president Steve Morton said it was not a specific effort. And while Classic stalwarts like Glen Campbell (28 years) and Andy Williams (30 years) will also be in the field, the additions of McLean, Littrell and Timberlake aim the celebrity field at a different demographic. "What you are doing with Brian, A.J. and Justin is you skew to a younger crowd," Milthorpe said. "And hopefully you’ll get these kids who will talk the parents into taking them out. Then they can experience golf." Goldberg, who wrestles under just his last name and has also dabbled in acting, may also attract a younger crowd to the Classic, Morton said. "I think what may happen is that kids will come out and maybe they will like golf and maybe they will strike up an interest in it," Morton said. New among the actors in the field are MacLaughlin and Matthew McConaughey. Returning players include Samuel L. Jackson and Joe Pesci. Johnson, who won three game as the Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series, will be one of three Cy Young winners in the field. Johnson (four Cy Youngs) will be joined by Roger Clemens of the Yankees (six) and Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves (four). Other sports celebrities in the field include Yogi Berra, Ann Myers Drysdale and Emmitt Smith. Actors in the field include William Devane, David James Elliott, Thomas Gibson, Kevin Sorbo and Leslie Nielsen. Singers Glenn Frey and Alice Cooper return to the Classic, as do comedian Tom Dreesen, radio personality Rick Dees and television personalities Stone Phillips and Joe Kernen. Milthorpe said one or two other could be added in the next week. The Classic accepts that some of the celebrities may have to cancel because of new work commitments, but Milthorpe said each of the announced 28 celebrities has formally committed. "As of right now and from what we have been told by the publicist and from them personally, they are coming," he said. Classic officials will wait until after the PGA Tour qualifying tournaments, being played this week in Florida, before releasing names of professionals who have committed to the field. Both defending champion Joe Durant and 2000 champion Jesper Parnevik, who did not defend his title because of the birth of a child, are expected to be in the field. Milthorpe said the Classic has extended a sponsor’s exemption to European Ryder Cup member Paul McGinley of Ireland. Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: markus http://imrdsoacha.gov.co/silvitra-120mg-qrms Comment on this item. Next Item: Howie D. at the Build-A-Bear Workshop Prev Item: Day Hike and Dinner with Backstreet Boy, Kevin Richardson