No need for me to add to the internet cacophony complaining about the home run derby.  It is what it is.  I like it.  I watch out of the corner of my eye and pay attention when someone does something remarkable.

Like it or not, I noticed last night that State Farm had some charity program working last night.  Here is a Press Release I got from State Farm by email after the event ended:

As you know, four of the American League’s premier sluggers will be swinging for the fences tonight. Besides a little A.L. pride on the line, each home run tonight also raises money for charity (hundreds of thousands of dollars in all) and helps get the ball rolling for State Farm’s Go To Bat campaign. Go To Bat encourages people to support their favorite charity and, each week for the next 10 weeks, one charity will be chosen to receive $18,000 and one person who went to bat for the organization will be selected by State Farm to receive a pair of tickets to the 2011 World Series.

You can check out Go To Bat at www.statefarm.com/gotobat.

I think the charitable aspect of the Derby could make a great note in your coverage of the results. Plus, who wouldn’t want to go to the World Series for free? The Rays are within reach – hopefully they can get hot here in the second half and catch the hated Yankees/Sox!

Maybe you think the event is boring but this is pretty cool.  I am going to nominate Voices for Children of Tampa Bay (you can donate to VFC and help the abused and neglected children in our community on the right side of this page).  You should nominate someone too.  I mean, the money is going somewhere.  Have a good All Star Tuesday.