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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 19
Friday, September 19, 2008
Falcons let Quaid try out his arm
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While he was in town promoting “The Express,” his upcoming football flick, actor Dennis Quaid popped into the Atlanta Falcons practice in Flowery Branch on Wednesday to pass the pigskin.
And since Quaid portrays former Syracuse University football coach Ben Schwartzwalder in the fall film, he made it a point to swing by new Falcons head coach Mike Smith’s office.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan complimented the actor on the film, which Ryan caught at an advance screening this week. And then it was out to the field to see what moves Quaid had on the gridiron.
The left-handed actor successfully caught a few passes from Ryan and D.J. Shockley. But possibly realizing the pro players were going easy on the guy who only pretends to play for pay, Quaid quickly shed his leather jacket and had Shockley moving backward down the field in order to see how far the Hollywood pretty boy could actually throw.
The rest of the Falcons gathered around to cheer Quaid on as Shockley’s teammates ribbed him, saying, “He throws better than you!”
When one of his Falcons fans inquired about whether he ever gets tired of making sports flicks (“The Express” is his sixth, after all), Quaid quipped: “I’m always looking to make a golf movie, so if you know of a good one. …”
Alas, maybe six sports movies aren’t enough, after all.
After practice, Quaid and entourage dropped by Lefty’s BBQ in Buford to sample a rack of ribs and some Brunswick stew. The staff at Lefty’s was enthralled, save the eatery’s manager, who conceded: “I’m sorry, I don’t know who you are.”
Quaid joked: “That’s all right. I don’t know who you are, either!”
“The Express” hits theaters Oct. 10.
CABBAGE PATCH KIDS STILL ALL RIGHT AT 25
Cleveland’s BabyLand General Hospital will celebrate the 25th birthday of the Cabbage Patch Kids mass market debut this weekend, but creator and Cleveland native Xavier Roberts probably won’t be on hand. Roberts, 53, is a little shy, he said during a phone interview this week, and they’re expecting a bumper crop of Cabbage Patch fans in the North Georgia town.
Roberts said he splits his time these days between Midtown, Gainesville and London. If he wants to be recognized as the man whose signature is splashed across the left buttock of 115 million “babies,” he dons his trademark cowboy hat. If he just wants to be a guy grabbing a bite to eat, he leaves it at home. “You probably don’t know me,” Roberts joked, “but I could be the father of one of your kids.”
Cleveland will celebrate the Cabbage Patch Kids’ birthday and its Fall Leaf Festival starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The festival and BabyLand festivities are free. For details: www.cleveland betterhometown.org or www .cabbagepatchkids.com.
DEEN DISHES ON CLINTON CANCELLATION
In the October issue of Ladies’ Home Journal (Buzz only reads this for the fanciful jack-o’-lantern pumpkin pie recipes, mind you), Savannah restaurateur Paula Deen discusses why her scheduled chat with former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was abruptly canceled earlier this year. “I was going to meet her in North Carolina, where she was campaigning,” Deen told the mag. “I was gonna interview her on the foods she grew up on, very light and nonpolitical. But at the last minute her people called and said she couldn’t do it. I think because of my relationship with Smithfield.” Pro-union protesters routinely dog the Smithfield spokeswoman at public appearances across the country as they seek to unionize the food processor’s North Carolina plant.
Theorized Deen: “My guess is the union people called and said to Hillary’s people, ‘If you allow that woman to interview you, we’re going to tell everybody you’re not for the union.’ So the interview was canceled and my heart was broken. It was probably political and that’s not my agenda.”
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
“Inside the Actors Studio” host James Lipton is 82. Actor Adam West (“Batman,” above) is 80. Singer Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers is 68. Country singer Trisha Yearwood is 44. News anchor Soledad O’Brien is 42. Comedian Jimmy Fallon (“Saturday Night Live”) is 34. Actress/host Alison Sweeney (“Days of Our Lives,” “The Biggest Loser”) is 32. Rapper Eamon is 25.
SICK BAY
WXIA-TV reporter Jerry Carnes has chosen to go public with his prostate cancer battle.
Carnes, who was diagnosed in early August, said that at first he didn’t want to say anything, but realized that wasn’t his nature. “I rely a lot on faith and prayer,” he said. “I talked to my wife. I realized this is the kind of thing people need to know about. A lot of people I know don’t get tested for it. I can spread the word. I’d feel heartbroken if I kept this to myself and someone I knew didn’t get tested and discovered he had prostate cancer and it’s too late.”
Since cancer runs in his family (his father is going through chemo for prostate cancer), he’s chosen to have his prostate removed. The doctor caught his cancer early and Carnes plans to have the procedure in November.
Contributing: Jamie Gumbrecht, Rodney Ho and news services
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