The Show Must Go On

[CeltsSteve@xxxxxxx]

http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/inside_track/track09252002.htm


Trial won't bench Pierce charities 

by Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa 
Wednesday, September 25, 2002


It's been a rough couple of days for the NBA's rising All-Star, Boston Celtic scoring machine Paul Pierce. But the high-profile trial of three men accused of attacking the hoop hunk won't stop No. 34 from throwing two big charity events this week.
Security will be tight when Pierce visits Project Hope in Dorchester tomorrow to turn over a check for $50,000 to the facility that comes to the rescue of single-parent families in need. The money comes from the NBA's Community Service Award, which Pierce, who recently competed in the world hoop championship, won last year.

There will also be a big emphasis on safety at Sunday's Paul Pierce AT&T Broadband Celebrity Challenge at Lederman Field on the Esplanade. The event, to benefit Pierce's Truth Fund for disadvantaged youths, will feature the Celtics co-captain, his teammates and a posse of celebs competing in events like softball and home-run hitting.

It's open to the public.

And organizers say the day o' fun will be more ``spectator friendly'' than Pierce's celeb-a-thon last year that attracted the likes of Hollywood It Boy Matt Damon and ``American Pie'' creampuffs Tara Reid and Shannon Elizabeth.

``Security is always an issue,'' said one of Paul's peeps, ``especially in light of the week's events.''

Pierce testified yesterday at the trial of William Ragland, 30, Anthony Hurston, 33, and Trevor Watson, 35, who are charged in connection with the stabbing of the Celtics captain inside the Buzz nightclub two years ago. The hoopster was unable to positively identify one of his alleged attackers yesterday.

Earlier, three fearful witnesses changed their tune from their grand jury testimony against the three associates of the Made Men rap group. One witness fainted in court as the prosecution fumed that someone had gotten to the witnesses.

File under: The Truth Of The Matter.