Jerry Rice hit one out of the park for charity Sunday on Kaua’i. Rice, the best receiver in professional football for most of the past 16 years, was on Kaua’i Sunday afternoon for a softball game for charity at Vidinha
Jerry Rice hit one out of the park for charity Sunday on Kaua’i.
Rice, the best receiver in professional football for most of the past 16 years, was on Kaua’i Sunday afternoon for a softball game for charity at Vidinha Stadium.
Wearing shorts and sunglasses, Rice calmly explained why he had taken time out from a busy schedule to come to Hawai’i.
“This is the second year we’ve done this. It did well last year. The Jerry Rice 127 Foundation does these events to support the March of Dimes, Easter Seals and other charities,” Rice said.
He added that he and his foundation have also done charity events all over the San Francisco area.
Rice played the entire 16 years of his NFL career for the San Francisco 49ers.
Rice, who said he would be 39 this year, won’t be playing in San Francisco this fall.
But the all-time NFL touchdown leader with 127 touchdowns, surpassing the great Jim Brown (hence the Jerry Rice 127 Foundation) said he will be playing somewhere.
“I’m staying in shape. I don’t know where I will be playing this year but I’ll be playing. We’re talking to a bunch of teams, there’s a lot of interest,” Rice said.
The events promoter, Jon Michaelsen, president of Public Safety Production Services (based on O’ahu and Maui), said that next year his group will be promoting a different sport.
“We’re looking at doing a statewide golf tournament on every island, creating a celebrity pro-am type event,” Michaelsen said.
Ten year old Aiwa Brun, of Kekaha, said he was at Vidinha Stadium “to get to meet Jerry Rice.”
Brun’s friend Tony Silva, 10, Kekaha, said he wanted to meet football players and watch softball.
Koloa’s Kayla Brun, 10, was going along to get along.
“I’m here because of my grandparents,” she laughed.
The monies collected for this year’s event, attended by more than 300 people, go to the March of Dimes, Easter Seals and the Hawaiian Hotels Visitor Industries Charity Walk.
Rice’s traveling charity show was on the Big Island Saturday night for a basketball game. The group played another basketball game on Maui Friday night.
The charity tour kicked off with a softball game on O’ahu Thursday.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
