Hawks Sign First Round Pick Jeff Teague

The Atlanta Hawks today signed rookie guard Jeff Teague, the team’s first round selection (19th overall) in the 2009 NBA Draft, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms were not announced.

With contract in hand, Teague will join other rookies and free agents in workouts this week on the Philips Arena practice court.

The early-entrant candidate was an All-American pick by several organizations and an All-ACC second team performer in his second and final season at Wake Forest. He led the Demon Deacons in assists, steals, three-point shooting and free throw percentage, in addition to scoring 18.8 points and connecting on .485 of his field goals.

A 6-2 guard who was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2007-08, Teague tallied 13.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals in his first season.

Tickets for the Atlanta Hawks 2009-10 season are currently on sale and can be purchased by visiting www.hawks.com or calling 1-866-715-1500. The Hawks, a member of the National Basketball Association since 1949, compete in the Southeast Division, along with the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards.
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Thrashers Sign 2009 First-Round Draft Choice Evander Kane

The Atlanta Thrashers have signed forward Evander Kane, the team’s first round (fourth overall) choice in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, to a multiple-year contract, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Kane, 17, recorded 96 points (48 goals, 48 assists) in 61 games for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League last season. He led the WHL in power play goals (23), ranked second in goals and game-winning goals (10), and placed fourth in points. He led the Giants in goals, ranked second in points, and finished third in assists and plus/minus rating (plus-51). He added 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 17 playoff games while leading his team to the WHL Western Conference Finals. He was named to the 2009 WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team and also competed in the CHL Top Prospects Game.

The 6-1, 185-pound left wing won a Gold Medal with Team Canada during the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario, recording six points (two goals, four assists) in six games. The World Junior Championships marked his second international Gold Medal in six months after winning the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in Slovakia as a member of Canada’s Under-18 team.

Kane has posted 138 points (73 goals, 65 assists) and a plus-73 rating in 134 career WHL games with Vancouver. He has added 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 32 post-season games with the Giants. A native of Vancouver, Kane made his WHL debut in 2006-07, scoring one goal in eight regular-season games and appearing in five post-game contests en route to capturing the Memorial Cup Championship.

Atlanta Thrashers Season Tickets for the 2009-10 regular season start as low as $10 per game and are available by visiting atlantathrashers.com or calling (866) 715-1500.
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Thrashers Agree to Terms with Restricted Free Agents Scott Lehman, Grant Lewis and Tim Stapleton

The Atlanta Thrashers have agreed to terms with restricted free agent defensemen Scott Lehman and Grant Lewis, along with forward Tim Stapleton, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Lehman, 23, appeared in 50 games with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League last season, posting five points (two goals, three assists) with 86 penalty minutes. The 6-1, 200-pound defenseman earned his first-career NHL recall and made his NHL debut on Dec. 18 vs. Pittsburgh.

The Fort McMurray, Alta., native has recorded 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 93 career games with the Wolves. Lehman has also appeared in 78 ECHL games with Gwinnett, accumulating 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 78 games.

Prior to his professional career, Lehman tallied 121 points (15 goals, 106 assists) in 244 regular season games with Toronto St. Michael’s of the Ontario Hockey League. In 51 playoff games with St. Michael’s, he registered 14 points (five goals, nine assists).

Lehman was selected by the Thrashers in the third round, 76th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Lewis, 24, recorded 22 assists and earned a plus-17 rating in 54 games with the Wolves last season. He ranked second on the club in plus/minus rating and tied for fourth among team defensemen in assists. The 6-3, 200-pound defenseman made his NHL debut on Mar. 3 vs. Florida, posting one shot on goal in 15:29 of ice time.

In 97 career AHL games with Chicago, Lewis has collected 38 points (two goals, 36 assists). He played in two Calder Cup Playoff games en route to capturing the 2008 Calder Cup.

Prior his professional career, the Pittsburgh, Penn., native played for Dartmouth College from 2003-04 to 2006-07, registering 77 points (13 goals, 64 assists) and 172 penalty minutes. Following the 2003-04 season, Lewis was named to the ECAC First All-Star Team and ECAC All-Rookie Team.

Lewis was originally selected by the Thrashers in the second round, 40th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Stapleton, 26, scored one goal in four games with the Maple Leafs last season. He made his NHL debut on Feb. 26 at the New York Islanders and scored his first NHL goal in his next game on Feb. 28 at Ottawa. The 5-9, 160-pound center also appeared in 70 games with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, recording 79 points (28 goals, 51 assists). Stapleton led the Marlies in points, goals and assists and ranked second on the team with eight power play tallies. He added two goals in six Calder Cup Playoff games with Toronto.

The La Grange, Ill., native has posted 84 points (28 goals, 56 assists) in 79 career AHL games with Portland and Toronto, adding two goals in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games. He spent two seasons with Jokerit Helsinki in Finland, recording 110 points (48 goals, 62 assists) in 111 games. Prior to his professional career, Stapleton played four seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, registering 152 points (63 goals, 89 assists) in 162 games. He was signed by Toronto as a free agent on June 6, 2008.

Atlanta Thrashers Season Tickets for the 2009-10 regular season start as low as $10 per game and are available by visiting atlantathrashers.com or calling (866) 715-1500.

Sports Celebrities Entertain Troops in Afghanistan

Photo: Former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula, center, poses for a photo with a group of servicemembers at the Pat Tillman USO on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, July 15, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Michael Greenberger

Celebrities stopped by [BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan] Wednesday to entertain troops as part of the star-studded USO's Summer Troop Visit.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the celebrities are travelling throughout the U.S. Central Command area of operations to thank troops for their service and sacrifice.

The celebrities include actors Bradley Cooper and D.B. Sweeney, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn, National Football League Hall of Famer Don Shula, and sports commentator and model Leeann Tweeden.

The group's first stop was aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft carrier currently under way in the Gulf of Oman. From the floating airport to the sands of Iraq to the hills of Afghanistan, the stars accompanying Mullen said they were excited about entertaining the troops deployed overseas.

"We feel like we want to give something back," said Shula, a well-known former Miami Dolphins coach. "We appreciate so much what our troops do, and we wanted to do something in return."

Travelling to different locations presents logistical challenges. Travel in Afghanistan is dangerous, and some of the outposts are so remote, the only way to reach them is by helicopter.

"The hardest part is getting the talent out to where they have to go," said Army Capt. Dena De Lucia, deputy chief of quality-of-life programs for U.S. Forces Afghanistan.

"Getting to remote [forward operating bases] means getting helicopters, and we got lucky this time because the 82nd Airborne graciously gave us two to use," De Lucia said.

Planning these types of trips can be as harrowing as planning an air-assault mission.

"It takes weeks and months in advance to plan something like this," De Lucia said. "It's a very arduous process. You have to contact camps and make sure they can support the visit, and make sure you can get to where they need to go."

Travelling throughout Afghanistan was difficult for the USO tour, but well worth it to both the troops they visited and the stars themselves.

"All of the places we go are really important, but the smaller locations are very austere, where they don't have hot showers or necessarily a hot meal every day," said Rachel Tischler, USO entertainment operations vice president. "So it's very special to bring that touch of home to those people that don't necessarily have those creature comforts."

Many of the hundreds that lined up outside the Pat Tillman USO here yesterday were delighted that the stars could break away from busy schedules to visit them.

"It's great to have the support of celebrities over here," Army Sgt. Linnea Biniak said. "Them being here and showing support for the troops definitely raises morale."

Inside the USO building, which is named for Pat Tillman, the ex-NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger killed in Afghanistan in 2004, the visiting celebrities struggled to give adequate attention to the servicemembers who had come to see them.

Rather than stay indoors, the stars decided to "walk the line" outside, where they could meet with more people and make sure everyone who came to see them received an autograph or personal photo.

In addition to the "grip and grins" pictures, ssome soldiers were given the opportunity to talk personally with celebrities. Army Spc. Jonathan Grizzard asked Sweeney about several of his films, including "Fire in the Sky," a 1993 film in which Sweeney plays a man abducted by aliens.

"That was the sweetest experience I'd ever had," Grizzard said. "I waited almost an hour, but I would have waited two hours -- it was totally worth it!"

"I've got several movies that people really responded to, and it's very flattering for people to bring up a movie that's 10 years old and talk about specific scenes," Sweeney said. "I kind of get to relive the process of making it, and it underscores what I think my role as an entertainer is, to help people forget their jobs for a little while and get through the day a little easier."

Elsewhere in the line, football fans shook hands and "mugged" with Dunn. Iraqi war veterans swapped stories with Tweeden from her last trip overseas.

Cooper was a big draw following his most recent hit film, "The Hangover."

Meanwhile, inside the building, Shula shared his most memorable moments with diehard sports fans eager for a glimpse of his Super Bowl ring and to get his autograph on their footballs.

Staying until well after 10 p.m., the stars made sure everyone had gotten what they'd come for before finally packing it in to prepare for another day of travelling to more Afghan locations the following day.

"It's amazing for them to come out here and represent the United States," said Air Force Master Sgt. Raymond Stone. "Not many people come out here, and I think it's great that they do it. They've got other things that they have to do, yet they've taken the time to come out here and show their support to us."

(Author Army Capt. Michael Greenberger is assigned to the 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)
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Special Olympics Georgia Masters Bowling in Savannah July 18 and 19

/PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 900 athletes from all over Georgia will come to Savannah to compete to be the best bowler in the Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) Masters Bowling. Games will be held at AMF Victory Lanes and AMF Savannah Lanes.

This is the third year SOGA will bring Masters Bowling to Savannah.

The games, which are free and open to the public, begin Saturday with an Opening Ceremony at both lanes, which will be followed with competition. Awards will be given out throughout the weekend. Friday, the Savannah Sand Gnats will host a SOGA night at their game against the Hickory Crawdads from North Carolina. SOGA athlete Curt McKellar of Rockdale County will throw out the first pitch. And athletes will sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." The Sand Gnats, an official sponsor of Masters Bowling, also donated tickets to the athletes.

If you would like to be a volunteer, contact Leslie.Anderson@SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

For more information about the games and for a schedule, visit www.specialolympicsga.org.

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Special Olympics Georgia to Raise Funds Through THE TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola's TICKETS Fore CHARITY(TM) Program

/PRNewswire/ -- Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) will be able to reach more people with intellectual disabilities for sports programs and networking for their family members through money raised from THE TOUR Championship's TICKETS Fore CHARITY(TM) program. THE TOUR Championship, the finale of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedEx Cup gives Atlanta charities the opportunity to participate in TICKETS Fore CHARITY -- a fundraising initiative designed to improve the quality of life in the communities where PGA TOUR tournaments are held. THE TOUR Championship features the top 30 players on the PGA TOUR, September 23-27th at East Lake Golf Club.

Through TICKETS Fore CHARITY, SOGA will sell tournament tickets to benefit the organization. All net proceeds go to charity: 50 percent to SOGA and 50 percent to the East Lake Foundation, one of THE TOUR Championship's primary charities.

"Special Olympics appreciates the opportunity extended by The Barclays to participate in this wonderful fundraising endeavor," said Georgia Milton-Sheats, SOGA CEO. "It's now up to us to rally our supporters and volunteers to generate the dollars that will help us continue to make a difference in the community. "

"This is an incredible opportunity to raise unlimited funds for the participating charity and there are absolutely no costs to the organization," said THE TOUR Championship's Executive Director Todd Rhinehart. "Fans will get to witness the very best the PGA TOUR has to offer and generate revenue for charities throughout greater Atlanta in a time when charities need help more than ever. We'd like to invite the community to join us in enhancing and enriching lives by participating in TICKETS Fore CHARITY."

Tickets available through TICKETS Fore CHARITY cost $150 for a weekly grounds ticket book - good Wednesday, Sept. 23, through Sunday, Sept. 27.

Tickets may be purchased at www.theplayofffinale.com. Select SOG from the list of participating organizations. Enter charity code SOG in the TICKETS Fore CHARITY box. For more information, contact Chelsea Stewart at 404.378.8687 or at ChelseaStewart@pgatourhq.com.

Proceeds from THE TOUR Championship will benefit other local charities as well as the East Lake Foundation, (www.eastlakefoundation.com). This non-profit organization was founded in 1995 to build a better future through education, affordable housing, job readiness and connections with the broader community. In 2008, THE TOUR Championship donated $1.4 million to charities, bringing the total amount raised since 1998 to more than $9 million.

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Thrashers Sign Unrestricted Free Agents Anthony Stewart and Noah Welch

The Atlanta Thrashers have signed unrestricted free agent forward Anthony Stewart and unrestricted free agent defenseman Noah Welch, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Stewart, 24, has recorded 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 105 career NHL games with Florida and 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 130 American Hockey League games with Rochester and San Antonio. The 6-2, 240-pound center appeared in 59 games with the Florida Panthers last season, recording seven points (two goals, five assists).

Prior to his professional career, the La Salle, Quebec, native played four seasons of junior hockey with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League from 2001-02 to 2004-05. He appeared in 248 regular season games with the Frontenacs, earning 238 points (118 goals, 120 assists) and added seven points (three goals, four assists) in six OHL post-season contests. He was originally selected by Florida in the first round, 25th overall, of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Welch, 26, has seen action in 73 career NHL games with Pittsburgh, Florida and Tampa Bay, recording nine points (four goals, five assists). The 6-4, 220-pound defenseman has earned 59 points (16 goals, 43 assists) in 122 AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Rochester. The Brighton, Mass., native appeared in 40 NHL games last season with Florida and Tampa Bay, recording two points (one goal, one assist) and also tallied three assists in seven AHL games with the Rochester.

Prior to his professional career, Welch played four seasons of college hockey at Harvard University (ECAC) from 2001-02 to 2004-05. He registered 76 points (23 goals, 53 assists) in 129 games with the Crimson and was named to the NCAA East First All-American Team following his senior season. Welch was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round, 54th overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Atlanta Thrashers Season Tickets for the 2009-10 regular season start as low as $10 per game and are available by visiting atlantathrashers.com or calling (866) 715-1500.
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