By Laura Medina
On the East Coast, Summer means art festival-turned-social season. Over on the West Coast, Summer translates into the charity parties bringing awareness and raising funds for diseases that strikes close to the heart and other body parts.
For Sugar Ray Leonard's 4th Annual "Big Fighters, Big Cause" Charity Fight Night for his
Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, juvenile diabetes punches him in the gut...
Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, juvenile diabetes punches him in the gut...
Why is Sugar Ray Leonard fighting against diabetes?
"First and foremost, I am a father, a parent..;and it (diabetes) doesn't discriminate. It's a horrible disease. If I can use my celebrity to make a difference, raise awareness, raise funds for research, I'm all for that."
"My father is a diabetic. A couple of my friends' kids are diabetics. It means a lot to me. It hits home for me as a parent."
To watch this one-on-one, insightful interview, watch this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0shtQn2wA8o
Ever the gracious host, Sugar Ray really lived up to his name. He is really sweet. Whenever a guest, celebrity or not, sets foot on the red carpet, Sugar Ray jumps out of the velvet rope barrier then personally greets them. Here, he is with Los Angeles County Sheriff, Lee Baca.
When it comes to the celebrity totem pole, Sugar Ray ranks up there with Mt. Olympus of Stars, legendary. How legendary? Celebrities from television, movies, and the boxing world, jump up...no question ask... whenever Sugar Ray asks for help, such as "Access Hollywood" Billy Bush.
Segrio "The Latin Snake" Mora got a hug from Sugar Ray...what a thrill!
Even though the foundation had asked him to fight for this year, Sergio decided to sit this one out this time and support those who are fighting that night and the charity. However, he did hint he might be fighting next year but not this time around. Wait and see folks, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kACKbdzcxLo
VH1's "Hit the Floor" McKinley Freeman got a jolt of fame when Sugar Ray shook his hand.
CBS' "Reckless" star, the amicable Adam Rodriguez got a kick when he found out that this scribe hails from Charleston, South Carolina where his new television is being filmed.
When asked about being and filming in Charleston, he loves it down there. Adam can't wait get back there. "In fact, we're going back to do more filming down there."
His favorite spot in Downtown Charleston? A restaurant called Husk.
As for this night's charity fight, Adam is looking forward to the matches and raising some money for Sugar Ray's foundation, having a good time; and that's it.
Watch the entire red carpet interview at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e73TjdUe-Uc
On hosting his hometown hero's charity event (both Tommy Davidson and Sugar Ray are from Baltimore), Tommy Davidson, "This is easy, as long as I don't have to read a lot. They give me little cards. That's good." Always the funny man.
When asked about having Sugar Ray ask you to help out his charity, Tommy gave a trivia tidbit. He was an amateur boxer because Sugar Ray influenced him.
"I'm glad to be here. Ray is a good friend of mine for years. He's been an inspiration for me. Period. We grew up in the same neighborhood, the same area; and I became an amateur boxer, all from watching Ray."
As an amateur boxer, was Tommy going to get into the ring with Sugar Ray?
"No! Never! I saw Hearns do it. He didn't do well. Duran didn't do well. I ain't gonna do well!"
Both Mr. Davidson and this scribe agree it's far better to join up later and get some drinks.
Want to actually watch this funny interview go down, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnjW0rIF7g0
Four nights previously, Comedy Central joined the Cancer Support Community in kicking cancer in the nuts at the Santa Monica Airport Museum.
Comedy Central's Development and Original Programming Executive and testicular cancer survivor, Jack Herrguth was there being honored with the 2nd Annual GILDA award at the Fresh Canvas Party, the yearly benefit evening for the Cancer Support Community.
Jack said if it weren't for his doctor helping him in his treatments and the Cancer Support Community giving him and his family emotional support, he wouldn't know how to cope with his cancer.
Funny, Gilda Radner was his comic idol growing up as a kid of Seventies. When he first heard of Gilda's diagnosis then eventual death from ovarian cancer as a kid, he couldn't comprehend it but sensed it was bad.
What's even funnier, Jack came to realized and sympathize with Gilda even further as an adult when he was struck with a male form of reproductive cancer, testicular cancer seven years ago.
Unlike his idol, Jack's cancer went into remission six years ago, added two more kids to his family, and now, he's being honored with award named after his dear idol, The Gilda.
Just like Sugar, but on another planet called Comedy Central, Jack asked for help from his roster of comedians he groomed. They returned the love by raising awareness for cancer support and research and for Jack in helping him when he was the one who needed the help the most.
It wasn't just a night of comedians mocking cancer. It was also a night when prominent artists donated their art work to raise additional funds for cancer research.
Billy Zane not only donated some of his latest Cubic Abstract figure sketches for auction but he was there because some of his family and friends were personally affected by cancer. The Cancer Support Community helped them too, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Pc7vrvHMw
Susan Blakely came out because she was inspired after reading Gilda Radner's biography. She was so in awe with her that Susan had to come and support the charity that first helped Gilda cope with her cancer until the very end, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxdfSK5OIgE
Sure, the West Coast Social Season during Summer may not be as culturally glitzy as their East Coast counterparts but it shows its heart by thanking those who helped them and their love ones to live long enough to enjoy their real social season, the Awards Season during Winter, and hopefully more in the future.
But as for now, they want to tackle health issues that hit home then return the love to those who are battling it.
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