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DEL.ICIO.USSmoltz on Smoltz
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“There have been a lot of things that have been unscripted in my life,” said John Smoltz, who buzzed the ‘Fly on his way into a rehab appointment the other day.
The 41-year-old is recovering from shoulder surgery; last year his agent announced Smoltz and his wife were divorcing after 16 years. Starting up Kings Ridge Christian School in north Fulton County offered plenty of challenges as organizers worked with city officials on zoning, annexation and such.
“I’m a big believer in being diligent, pushing forward with my faith,” Smoltz said. “The things that happen to me now or in the future are peripheral. I’m not complete. God hasn’t completed me yet.”
On Nov. 9, he and comic Jeff Foxworthy will muse on life’s ups and downs. “An Evening with Smoltz, Foxworthy & Friends” starts at 7 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta.
General admission tickets start at $39. Sponsorship packages start at $1,200 for two tickets, a baseball signed by Smoltz and Foxworthy, access to the Cadillac Club and VIP seating and parking. The “Hall of Fame” sponsorship package, at $29,000, includes tickets for 12 and a private reception at Smoltz’s estate, a pre-concert reception with Smoltz and Foxworthy at Encore Park and loads of other perks.
For information see www.JohnSmoltz.org or call 770-841-6576.
Smoltz had asked Foxworthy to play a bit part in the event, but his longtime friend and fellow Christian jumped in with both feet.
“It’s so much appreciated,” he said, adding that he gives Foxworthy full license to josh at his expense. Proceeds benefit Smoltz’s foundation, which supports a number of organizations including Kings Ridge, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
“We hope this is a huge success and a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s really the first time I’ve asked and gathered this much support from family and friends.”
Smoltz says he wants to finish his baseball career with the Braves, and that “it wasn’t hard - it was pretty much impossible” to watch this year’s season.
“I have always been a person who realizes I’m not going to be just a baseball player,” he said. “. I believe God takes desires away and adds desires. There’s life after baseball.”
Like politics? Might the ever-squabbling city of Milton, which has gone through three city managers and even hired an organizational psychologist once, use someone with an affable personality and leadership skills?
“There’s no way,” Smoltz said with a laugh. “I would probably be fired quick.”
Moving forward, the father of four kids ages 9 to 17 said he’d like to host events for fathers and their children.
“I have a lot of family time to make up,” he said.
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Comments
By brenda
October 14, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
I hope Smoltzie talks about why he was too important to close for the BRaves when they needed him to but now he is begging them to let him close. I also hope he covers why he acts like a christian even though he hates gays and divorced his wife. I sold him his forst home when he moved to Roswell in the late 90s.