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Monday, January 12, 2009
Foxworthy talks Smoltz, charity work
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Foxworthy says it’ll be odd to see his buddy in a Red Sox uniform, but he’ll cheer him on
Of all the Braves fans upset about John Smoltz leaving for Boston, no one’s more bummed than his buddy, comedian Jeff Foxworthy.
“It’s sad to me,” Foxworthy said during an interview Tuesday. “I don’t think he ever envisioned this day coming.”
Foxworthy was at a family wedding in Texas as Smoltz was finalizing plans to make the move.
“He kept calling me and said, ‘you’re not going to be mad at me are you?’”
Of course not, Foxworthy responded. He said it’ll be strange to see Smoltz in a Red Sox uniform, but that he’ll support his friend’s new team.
“I hope they go to the World Series,” said Foxworthy, adding he’ll probably fly to Boston one weekend to cheer Smoltz at his new job site. “He was a pretty good face for the (Braves) franchise.”
Indeed, Smoltz and Foxworthy are both known for their community involvement. They recently teamed up at a charity event that raised money for the pitcher’s foundation. Coming up, Foxworthy is to be honored Feb. 20 at the Fun Fete, benefiting Prevent Child Abuse Georgia.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation will also be recognized at the event, to be held at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead.
“Let’s face it - parenting is hard work,” said DePriest Waddy, CEO of PCA Georgia. “Jeff’s sense of humor has helped many of us get through those hard times. We have always admired his work and his passion for children and families.”
Tickets to Fun Fete are $250 each. E-mail jenniferh@pcageorgia.org, call404-870-6589 or see the PCA Georgia Web site.
Foxworthy, who said his favorite Christmas presents are always the letters his teenage daughters write him, said he’s glad to support PCA Georgia.
“For whatever I didn’t have growing up I didn’t have to go through (abuse),” he said. “We didn’t have a lot, be we knew we were loved.”
His pal Smoltz won’t be able to attend, since he’ll be heading to spring training with his new team.
By the way, Foxworthy said, the Braves sought to put his celebrity to use when hashing out the $60 million deal with Derek Lowe.
“I got a message from the Braves PR department. Derek Lowe was coming in and they wanted me to come talk him into joining the Braves,” Foxworthy said. “I was like, not after what you did to my buddy.”
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