Press Release
Source: Scholastic

On Thursday August 11, 2011, 12:02 pm EDT

NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Six-time NBA All-Star and New York Knicks captain Amar’e Stoudemire has signed with Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, which has acquired world rights to STAT: Standing Tall and Talented, a chapter book series for middle-grade readers launching in August 2012. Stoudemire is committed to turning kids, especially boys, into readers. The new series, named after his nickname STAT, will be based on the life of Stoudemire, who overcame many obstacles to become one of the most popular figures in sports today. The deal was negotiated by Happy Walters from Rogue Sports, Aaron Spiewak from Designers Management Agency, and Cathy Hemming from McCormick and Williams for Amar’e Stoudemire and Debra Dorfman, Vice President Publisher for Paperbacks, Non-fiction and Licensing, from Scholastic.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110811/NY51025 )

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“Amar’e Stoudemire is a NBA megastar and a New York hero. He is passionate about reading and education and we are proud to partner with him to publish a new chapter book series that will inspire more kids to embrace reading through Amar’e's story,” said Debra Dorfman.

“I am excited to create my book series with Scholastic,” said Amar’e Stoudemire. “They are the best in the business so I trust them with my stories. I decided to write for children because although I am an avid reader now, I wish I had read more as a child. I hope that together with Scholastic, we can creatively inspire a new generation to read.”

The first book in STAT: Standing Tall And Talented will be published in both hardcover and paperback on August 1, 2012, to be followed by new books in October 2012 and January 2013. In STAT #1: Home Court, eleven-year-old Amar’e Stoudemire has a lot going on. He plays sports with his friends. He takes his school work seriously. He helps out with his dad’s landscaping company. And he loves to go skateboarding in the park. But when an older group of boys start bullying his friends on the basketball court, Amar’e is forced to step in and use his athletic ability and intelligence to save the day. He realizes that basketball is his true passion.

About Amar’e Stoudemire

Widely considered one of the best high school players in the country, Amar’e Stoudemire was selected ninth in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. His ability to adjust and learn helped him become the first player to be drafted out of high school to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. In 2010, Stoudemire joined the New York Knicks for his ninth year in the league. This six-time NBA All-Star is a well-respected professional basketball player who continues to leave a legacy in the game and in the community through his award winning outreach.  

Through the Amar’e Stoudemire Foundation, Stoudemire is focused on creatively inspiring youth to avoid poverty through education. Amar’e has been able to provide needed resources for New York’s Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Beacon Centers, AAU programs, youth basketball tournaments and projects abroad.  Stoudemire was named a Good Will Ambassador to the country of Sierra Leone and he is currently developing a community center in the African nation of Mali. In Spring 2011, the National Father’s Day Council honored him as one of their Fathers of the Year.  Learn more about Amar’e Stoudemire at: www.Amarestoudemire.com; facebook.com/AmareStoudemire; twitter.com/amareisreal; and youtube.com/stattv.

About Scholastic

For more about Scholastic (NASDAQ:SCHL – News), visit our media room at:  http://mediaroom.scholastic.com

Ethan Hawke reacts with his son as the Phoenix Suns play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City o… Read Moren January 17, 2011. The Suns defeated the Knicks 129-121. UPI/John Angelillo

Ethan Hawke became a father to his fourth child, baby girl Indiana.  According to New York Daily News, the 40-year-old actor and his wife Ryan Shawhughes were seen walking around New York City with their baby over the weekend.

This is Hawke’s and Shawhughes’s second child together. They are also parents to 3-year-old daughter, Clementine.

The 40-year-old actor also has two children with former wife Uma Thurman: 12-year-old daughter Maya, and 9-year-old son Levon.

According to New York Daily News, Shawhughes was the former nanny to Hawke’s two older children. The couple wed in 2008. This is the actor’s second marriage.

People magazine had quoted Hawke has saying in 2006 that parenting was his greatest joy and was “the only role that, if I fail, I will consider my life a failure.”

There are conflicting reports today about the future of Mike D’Antoni as coach of the New York Knicks. One report says D’Antoni could be a candidate for the newly-vacated job as head coach of the Toronto Raptors, thus bailing on the Knicks. Another report calls that notion “amusing” and says there is no truth to it.

Ah, who do you believe? Whatever. Here is a better question, appropriate I believe with the 2011 NBA Finals going on right now between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. Can the Knicks ever reach championship level with D’Antoni running the show on the bench?

No doubt D’Antoni is a terrific coach. In seven full seasons as an NBA coach his teams (Phoenix and New York) have gone to the NBA playoffs five times. His Phoenix teams were always high-flying, high-scoring squads led by Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash. Now, he is in New York and with Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony the Knicks are pointed in the right direction.

Thing is, can D’Antoni get a team all the way to the mountaintop? He is an offensive coach, and a very, very good one at that. He talks about defense, but if you have watched his teams for years you know that is mostly lip service. For D’Antoni the path to victory is outscoring the other guy.

If you have watched the NBA playoffs you know they are not about offense. They are about toughness. They are about rebounding. They are about getting stops in the final few minutes and making life as miserable as possible for the top scorers on the opposing team. They are about executing at crunch time. D’Antoni’s Knicks did not execute at crunch time in this year’s playoffs against Boston, and got swept. His teams have never been about toughness, rebounding or getting stops.

So, the question will hang out there until the Knicks either move on from D’Antoni or he proves it isn’t a valid one. Can the Knicks win the big prize with Mike D’Antoni as head coach? I have my doubts.

Your thoughts?