Kids time.(GOOD GUYS)

Players who are involved with educating and mentoring kids through programs and financial support:

Scholarships: Padres Trevor Hoffman, Ryan Klesko and Woody Williams have funded 80 Padres Scholars combined, thanks to $200,000 from them and a match from team ownership. Hank Blalock of the Rangers gave a $10,000 scholarship to a local high school student, and teammate Michael Young awarded 10 scholarships to cancer survivors, including four at $2,500 each (along with a laptop) and six at $1,000. During his pro career, Keyshawn Johnson of the Panthers has accounted for $500,000 in scholarships to finance the college education of 25 kids. LaDainian Tomlinson of the Chargers gives 15 $2,000 scholarships annually in both San Diego and Waco, Texas. Jalen Rose of the Knicks each year gives five $10,000 scholarships to Detroit high school seniors.

Mentoring: Chauncey Billups of the Pistons teamed with Regis University basketball coach Lonnie Porter to form the Porter-Billups Academy at Regis. With the help of a $100,000 donation by Billups, the academy mentors 130 inner-city Denver kids during a three-week summer session. Graduates are monitored in high school, and the academy covers costs of those who eventually enroll at Regis (about $24,000 per student). Marcus Camby of the Nuggets has a mentoring program in which high schoolers help elementary school kids weekly for two years. He has given the first four graduates of the program $5,000 college scholarships. Ashley Lelie of the Broncos has started Big Catches ...