Jerry Rice to play here April 22

LIHU’E — Gabby and Marianne Manintin, longtime supporters of island style

softball and baseball watched from the shelter of their van as inside the fence

of the Vidinha Stadium baseball complex, a group of tee-shirted “athletes”

milled about Dickie Chang, Tiffanee Sugai, and Bruce Smalling.

Further back

beyond the dugout of the baseball field, the Kaua’i High School Red Raiders

went through their routine practice as one of the coaches from the Waimea High

School Menehunes’ team joined the group, swinging a bat to warm up. He had

just come from a KIF baseball game at the Ron Martin field where Waimea had

come from behind to beat Kapa’a.

“We’re just getting ready,” the Manintin’s

laughed. “The tailgate party comes on April 22!”

Jerry Rice, receiver for

the San Francisco 49ers, will be on Kaua’i to compete in a softball game that

will benefit the Hawai’i Hotel Association – Kaua’i Chapter in a fundraiser to

benefit 30 non-profit organizations and agencies.

Joining Rice on the Jerry

Rice 127 Foundation Team are Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions running back

(retired), Bryant Young, San Francisco 49er defensive tackle, Terance Mathis,

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver, Amani Toomer, New York Giants wide receiver,

Jason Elam, Denver Broncos kicker, Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes, San Francisco

49ers wide receivers, Roger Craig, San Francisco 49er running back (retired),

and Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers linebacker.

Challenging these

professional football players will be members of Team Hawai’i which will depend

on each island where the events will be hosted. On Kaua’i, Team Hawai’i

members will be made up of representatives from the Hawai’i Hotel Association –

Kaua’i Chapter.

Additionally, a select group of softball (baseball) batters

will be vying for a special homerun derby coordinated by Tiffanee Sugai of KQNG

radio and Dickie Chang of the Wala’au tv show.

The Jerry Rice 127

Foundation Hawai’i Tour 2000 will have Rice participating in five events that

will be held on Oahu, Kaua’i, Maui, and Kona, Hawai’i. Rice will either

actively participate as a player or a coach and will address children in the

audience before each event about the importance of staying drug free and living

a positive life.

Proceeds raised at this event will be donated to the

Hawai’i Hotel Association – Kaua’i Chapter through the Jerry Rice 127

Foundation.

There will be a designated time during the event where Rice and

other NFL players will sign autographs for fans.

The Jerry Rice 127

Foundation, named for his NFL-record 127th career touchdown, supports different

charities through events such as basketball games, softball games, and golf

tournaments.

“To help children be all they can be” is the goal of the

Foundation, and in the past, has helped raise funds for the March of Dimes, Big

Brothers Big Sisters and the Omega Boys Club on the mainland. This is the

first time Jerry Rice will be in Hawai’i to help raise funds for local

charities.

Raymond Farris, longtime trainer and friend of Rice, is the

event coordinator for the Jerry Rice 127 Foundation, and on Kaua’i, events are

being coordinated by Sugai and Chang.

Farris’ list of clients include such

notables as Barry Sanders, Eddie George, Terrell Owens, Terance Mathis, Amani

Toomer, Sean Dawkins, and J.J. Stokes.

The Visitor Industry Charity Walk,

hosted by the Hawai’i Hotel Association – Kaua’i Chapter, was first sponsored

on Kaua’i in 1980, and is touted as Kaua’i’s largest single-day fundraiser.

The event features breakfast prepared by volunteers from the Hawai’i Hotel

Association as well as entertainment and prizes, and benefits about 30

non-profit organizations ranging from crisis intervention to youth activities

and park restoration.

This year’s Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Mayt

20.

For more event or ticket information, call the Jerry Rice 127

Foundation event office at 245-9449, or log on to the Tickets Plus web site at

www.tickets.com.