Thurs. July 29

 Josh Beckett. Where have I heard that name lately? Well, at the A.R.T.'s Loeb Theatre where one clever attendee at "Johnny Baseball" wore a Beckett Sox shirt with the double meaning of the oft-injuredpitcher and the dead playwright. Not bad. But lately what we've heard from Beckett has been poor start to the season, perhaps the result of injury, then a long time on the DL, a comeback at Pawtucket and now he's rejoining the slumping Sox on the west coast swing, The Nation is grumbling as well it should, as every year we think we should be playing baseball in the lyric little bandbox come October. We do not have "bridge" years here, do we? Amidst this summer of our discontent - and Beckett's inactivity - there remains the Beckett Bowl, the 4th bowling-themed event hosted by the pitcher. It takes place at Lucky Strike Lanes and is called "Athletes Throw Strikes for Children." Absolut vodka is a co-sponsor and it at starts at 7 Thursday July 29.

Do we know who's rolling gutter balls with Becks? We do not, but we can tell you past Beckett Bowls have included teammates Jacoby Ellsbury (also on the DL), Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester, David Ortiz, Jason Varitek (on DL), Clay Buchholz (just off the DL), Tim Wakefield (getting hammered regularly) and Mike Lowell (rehabbing).

The big ball rolling festivities will conclude with a concert by country music sensation Jason Aldean at at the House of Blues. Tickets for the bowling event and concert are available now. To see the bowling and the  concert: $250. To see the concert: $40. To be considered a VIP, meaning a seat at the HoB and a meet-n-greet with Aldean, it's $125.

Time frame:      
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Red Carpet appearances at Jillians/Lucky Strike Lanes Boston (free, open-to-public)
7:00 pm: Welcome From Josh Beckett and Celebrity Introductions at Lucky Strike Lanes
7:15pm – 8:45pm: Celebrity Bowling event
8:45pm – 9:15pm: Live Auction and Awards Ceremony
9:15pm – 9:30pm: Bowling Event Closing and Transition over to House of Blues for post-event concert.
 
Where does your BB money go? Well, it goes to The Josh Beckett Foundation, a charitable organization established in 2007 by Beckett to support community-based programs that strive to improve the health and well-being of children, especially children that are seriously ill, disabled, poor, or otherwise disadvantaged. The Foundation provides Beckett with an opportunity to have a direct and permanent impact on the lives of children throughout New England and in his hometown of Spring, Texas. Since its inception in 2007, Beckett Bowl has raised more than $750,000 for the Josh Beckett Foundation and Children’s Hospital.

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