Normally, I talk about Disney related topics in this blog, but today I want to talk about how UCLA easily crushed Mississippi State with a score of 29-70. While USC got upset by Kansas State 80-67. I think this shows that this year, the Trojans wern't even good once, and the Bruins are still forever. I also want to give a shoutout to our Bruin brothers, Belmont who nearly upset Duke. We were rooting for you, but great job keeping it close. I know my bracket is not doing very well this year, but that's OK. As long as UCLA are national champions, the little game of bracketology doesn't really matter. I think it was actually developed at USC so their student body had something to keep them occupied during March Madness. I can't wait for Saturday's game and watch UCLA go to the Sweet 16 (again).
Quick Takes:
Parks and Resorts: On the occassion of Disney opening the Walt Disney World Boys and Girls Club, Disney released their 2007 Community Engagemnet Report. Here are a few highlights:
- Efforts to celebrate diversity, such as sponsorship of the Disney Entrepreneur Center, the 2007 Hispanic Summit organized by the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and participation on the Orlando Mayor's Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.
- The company's $12.5 million contribution to the Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center, $10 million commitment to Florida Children's Hospital and $1 million renovation of the Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park.
- Efforts to create opportunities for Central Florida's children, including a $1 million contribution to rebuild the Pine Hills branch of the Central Florida Boys & Girls Clubs, a $750,000 donation for a teen center in the Tupperware Brands Boys & Girls Club in Osceola County, $700,000 in Disney's Helping Kids Shine Grants awarded to 38 charitable organizations and $250,000 awarded to outstanding Central Florida teachers and their schools.
- Contributions to ongoing community efforts, including more than 562,000 pounds of food donated through Disney Harvest to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and $220,000 in matching funds to LYNX for extended bus routes.
- Approximately 6,000 wish trips granted to children faced with life-threatening medical conditions.
- Disney VoluntEAR efforts that resulted in 586,000 school supplies for local children, $264,000 for Junior Achievement through the Disney – Helping Kids Shine Bowl-a-Thon, $3.1 million in commitments to the Heart of Florida United Way, more than 23,000 toys donated to Toys for Tots and 2,500 pounds of debris collected from the Brevard County coastline.
- Efforts to protect wildlife and wild places through programs like Disney's Environmentality Challenge and $1.5 million in contributions from the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund.
Good going Walt Disney World, for making Central Florida a better place. We thank you!
Studio Entertainment: The Jonas Brothers' "Look Me In The Eyes" is number 1 on MTV's signature program TRL. It looks like these Disney stars have crossed over to the main stream. Let's hope this doesn't end up being a bad thing.
Consumer Products: Disney Interactive Studios announced Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals, a sequel to the first Spectrobes game that has shipped over 1 million units worldwide. This is signifficant because Spectrobes was the first Disney Interactive Studios game that was created from original intellectual property, If this success continues to grow, video games might be a franchise creator just like the Disney Channel. Wouldn't that be awesome.
Video of the Day: Watch this ESPN video of "Thursday's Biggest Upset", Kansas State defeating USC.
What to Watch: "Disney's Hannah Montana 'Sweet Niblets, We're Related?' Week" continues on Disney Channel with a brand new episode entiled, "(We're So Sorry) Uncle Earl" at 7:30/6:30. We finally get to meet Uncle Earl. How exciting.