Shadow Buddies "Hear" Gonzalez Loud And Clear

Mar 10, 2003, 2:06:00 PM

MAR 10 (afternoon)--For the past two weeks, ESPN’s Sportscenter has exposed sports enthusiasts to a new game show by the name “HEARSAY.” Pairing some of today’s most popular athletes with Sportscenter anchors Stuart Scott or Rich Eisen, the game is a combination of Taboo and the $25,000 Pyramid with the answers centering on pop culture. The finals could have been mistaken for a key Sunday NFL match up as Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez and his partner Eisen matched wits with New York Giants LB Dhani Jones and Scott as bragging rights were on the line. More importantly, the winner of the competition would score a $10,000 donation for their respective charity.

Tony Gonzalez distributing one of his Shadow Buddies during a hospital visit.

Playing for Shadow Buddies, Gonzalez seemed to have his game face on throughout the competition. Involved with the program for the past few years, Shadow Buddies are smiling dolls given to individuals, especially sick children and elderly, in order to help speed their recovery. The dolls are condition specific and have the same ailments and their recipients so that those individuals always have somebody close by who is just like they are. Over 6,000 Shadow Buddies have been distributed in Missouri, Kansas, California, New York, Texas, Hawaii, Washington D.C. and internationally.

First off was Jones, who had won a tie-breaker with Chargers DE Marcellus Wiley after each player tallied an 11 in the preliminary round. While Scott and Jones had seemed in sync during their earlier attempts, the two ran into problems and scored a HEARSAY low three points.

Up next were Gonzalez and Eisen. In their earlier attempt, this dynamic duo tallied a HEARSAY high 12 points as each seemed to guess the answer before the other even finished giving the clue. Before their final go-around, the two seemed to feel victory was in their grasps. “The campaign is on ice for Shadow Buddies right now,” a confident Eisen said as they prepared to begin. “This would take the cake.” Gonzalez beamed back.

In the end, Gonzalez and Eisen tallied a final score of six, clinching the title halfway through the event. Yet, the real winners were the numerous individuals who will be aided thanks to the additional funds that Shadow Buddies had garnered thanks to Gonzalez.