Yankees & Matsui Aid Tsunami Relief

[Crash Course]

This news just in:

The New York Yankees and their left fielder are both stepping up in efforts to aid the victims of South Asia's calamitous tsunami. On Thursday, Hideki Matsui made a personal donation of nearly a half-million dollars after being overcome by televised scenes of the devastation.

Meanwhile, his team announced plans to donate $1 million of the proceeds from its 2005 season opener against the Boston Red Sox, which has been scheduled for Sunday night, April 3, at Yankee Stadium.

Keeping pace with relief efforts by the MLB and the MLB Players Association, the Yankees detailed their plans to contribute to the aid of survivors.

The club's $1 million donation will match the amount already contributed by both the MLB and MLBPA.

Commissioner Bud Selig expressed his gratitude for the Yankees' gesture.

"Major League Baseball has always appreciated the Yankees' generosity and their commitment to those in need," Selig said. "This reaction to the tsunami disaster is in keeping with their long history of good works. On behalf of baseball, I am grateful to George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees for this wonderful gesture."

A nice gesture by both the Yankee and their LF. To date, there has not be a press release from John Henry, Larry Lucchino, and/or Theo Epstein in regard to this Yankee move.

Stay tuned.

[KCBOOMER]

Nice gesture and a nice post until the snide remark at the end.

[Crash Course]

Just jazzing my friends in RSN a tad there - - nothing mean meant by it.

[Crash Course]

Add Unit to the "really giving" list in NY:

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASAp..._nyy&fext=.jsp

The Yankees hope that Randy Johnson makes a big difference for them during the 2005 season, but the Big Unit took it upon himself to make a big difference in the world a couple of weeks before the start of Spring Training.
Johnson and his wife, Lisa, pitched in to support the Tsunami Relief efforts on Friday with a $400,000 gift to the American Red Cross.

"We are very grateful to the Johnsons for this extraordinary gift," said Terry Bischoff, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Greater New York. "The money will be used to provide immediate lifesaving aid and longer-term assistance to help rebuild families and communities."

Johnson was listed as one of the sports world's "good guys" by The Sporting News, and this donation is similar to other contributions the Johnsons have made to other worthy causes through their foundation, The Randy Johnson Foundation -- A National Heritage Foundation.