Hip-hop star and actor T.I. is on board to help the Hawks rebound.
As the team seeks to move past the controversy that erupted following racially insensitive comments by soon-to-be-former co-owner Bruce Levenson, the Grammy-winning performer and reality show personality, who also has a role in the currently filming "Ant-Man," has signed on to perform and also will help announce the players at the Nov. 1 home opener versus the Indiana Pacers.
“Everybody needs to come out and make it their business to support the Hawks and support the city,” T.I. said in a statement. “I will be performing at the pregame show, the halftime and the postgame as well, all for the people who come to support my team, the Atlanta Hawks, and my city.”
The front office sounded a hopeful note: "We are beyond excited to partner with a superstar like T.I. and put on a first-class event to kick off the season and celebrate our city," CEO Steve Koonin said in a statement. "We can't wait to pound the Pacers and put on a show for the city of Atlanta like they've never seen before at a basketball game."
‘The Voice’ champ to perform charity concert
Josh Kaufman, whose soaring vocals led him to triumph on "The Voice" as a member of Team Usher and who soon debuts on Broadway, will perform a benefit concert Nov. 3 at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation.
The performance is part of the Enduring Hearts Georgia Celebrity Golf Classic. Proceeds benefit the Enduring Hearts Foundation, a nonprofit organization that awards operating grants to established members of academic staff at universities, transplant centers, and research institutes for research projects in organ transplantation. (Info: www.enduringhearts.org.)
Notables on deck to hit the links include Boston Red Sox catcher turned front-office staff member Jason Varitek, former NFL player and past University of Georgia player David Greene, former NFL and Georgia Tech player Dorsey Levens, drummer Shawn Drover, known for his work with the metal band Megadeth, sportscaster Andre Aldridge and others.
"We look forward to utilizing the success of our celebrity golf classic to spread our message of increasing the longevity of heart transplants," said Sean McCall, president of Enduring Hearts. "We are so thankful to all our sponsors, participants and celebrities that are helping make this a reality and look forward to a great event."
For information on sponsorships and playing spots, contact John Swidzinski at john@cmpr.net or call 310-426-9900.
The performance appears to be the final one before Kaufman steps into the title role of “Pippin,” unless he plans to serenade fellow passengers on the plane to New York. He’s scheduled to take his first curtain call as Pippin on Nov. 4, an engagement that lasts through Jan. 4.
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