Diaz will face an opponent to be named in the coming week while Kaufman will defend her title against Dutch superstar Marloes Coenen.

Also on the explosive card, emerging star from the Strikeforce Challengers series Luke Rockhold will risk his six-fight win streak against MMA superstar and former Olympic wrestling silver medalist Matt “The Law” Lindland in a featured middleweight (185 pounds) contest.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Saturday, August 28 at 10:00 a.m. PT online at Ticketmaster.com, at the HP Pavilion ticket office, or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

A special presale opportunity for “STRIKEFORCE Insider� e-newsletter subscribers begins this Wednesday, August 25 at 10:00 a.m. PT.  A special presale code will be sent out to all “STRIKEFORCE Insiders� on Tuesday, August 24.  Sign up to become a “STRIKEFORCE Insider� at http://www.strikeforce.com/insider.html.

The 27-year-old Diaz (22-7), a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and native of Stockton, Calif., has won seven consecutive fights since his last loss in 2007.  He is coming off a first round submission victory (armbar) over fellow superstar Hayato “Mach� Sakurai on May 29 at DREAM 14 in Japan.  Prior to that, Diaz won the STRIKEFORCE title with a late, third-round TKO (punches) of Marius “The Whitemare� Žaromskis at STRIKEFORCE: Miami on Jan. 30.

The undefeated Kaufman (12-0), a former ballet dancer who hails from British Columbia, Canada, is fresh off the first defense of her title, an explosive body slam KO of Roxanne Modafferi at STRIKEFORCE Challengers in Everett, Wash., on July 23.  The 24-year-old Kaufman, who has won nine of her fights by KO, will face Coenen (17-4), a submission specialist and the No. 1 contender to the STRIKEFORCE Women’s Welterweight belt.

The 29-year-old Coenen (17-4) will fight for the first time since a third-round TKO loss to Cris Cyborg for the STRIKEFORCE Women’s Middleweight (145 pounds) Championship at STRIKEFORCE: Miami.  Coenen, a member of Holland’s Team Golden Glory and mixed martial artist since the age of 14, will be moving down in weight to challenge at 135 pounds.   Kaufman and Coenen have both defeated Modafferi, with Coenen avenging a 2007 loss via first round armbar in her STRIKEFORCE debut on Nov. 7, 2009.

Rockhold (7-1), who could prove to be one of STRIKEFORCE’s next great middleweight superstars, has won six of his seven fights via submission.  The 25-year-old member of Team AKA is coming off a first-round TKO (knees to body) of Paul Bradley on Feb. 26 at a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event in San Jose.  The impressive win was the first KO victory of the Santa Cruz, Calif., native’s professional career.  Prior to his latest conquest, Rockhold had won five straight fights by way of submission.

Lindland (22-7), who won the silver medal in Olympic Greco Roman Wrestling at the 2000 Olympic Games, scored a third-round TKO victory over “King� Kevin Casey on May 21 at STRIKEFORCE Challengers in his hometown of Portland, Ore.  A former UFC star who has been competing professionally in MMA since 1997, Lindland, 40, is also a former All-American wrestler for University of Nebraska and the 1993 NCAA Big Eight conference champion.  During his stellar career, Lindland has triumphed over a number of all-time greats including former UFC champions Pat Miletich and Carlos Newton.

About STRIKEFORCE

STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history.  The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265.  Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.”  In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose.  In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network.  The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.

About Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™  XTRA.  SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, SHOWTIME 2 HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™ and FLIX ON DEMAND®.  SNI also manages Smithsonian Channel™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution.  All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

Source: Mike Afromowitz/StrikeForce

What should have been a no-brainer for the millionaires club that is the Mets clubhouse ended up being another black eye on them because of three names that have come up in a negative light more times than not. 29 players out of the 33-man roster made the short trip and only one (pitcher Dillon Gee) was excused and even ordered to stay back at the stadium to prepare for his inaugural major league start. But centerfielder Carlos Beltran, second baseman Luis Castillo and pitcher Oliver Perez decided on their own to not accompany their teammates.

‘The Trio of Disgrace’ all had separate excuses why they stayed away from giving real true life heroes that served their country a little happiness. Beltran stated that he had a meeting about a high school that he is building in Puerto Rico. While that may have been true, surely rescheduling it or using an alternative (Blackberry’s have become today’s replacement for the board room) could have been options. If anything, he should have used the time to work on his hitting instead of educational facility construction plans. Since returning from controversial offseason knee surgery, Beltran has struggled and is only hitting .235 in 50 games.

If anyone should feel like giving back in some way, it should be Perez. The $12 million he rakes in every year would have been ludicrous when he was effective and a decent middle-of-the-rotation pitcher. But since signing the three-year free agent deal to come back to Flushing in 2009, the southpaw is 3-8 (0-4 this season) with an ERA near 8. His reason for not wanting to go see legless and armless soldiers who have made the near-ultimate sacrifice? Perez refused to answer the question before leaving inquisitive scribes standing by his locker.

Perhaps the only one who should get a pass on this is Castillo, who was man enough to admit that he is squeamish about seeing people in that condition. He could have shown some balls and at least stood in the back, though. When you’re already in the manager’s doghouse and hitting a paltry .236, it’s in your best interest to remain inconspicious.

Some of the Mets who did the right thing and made the trip must be looking at their three teammates sideways over this. This is an embarrassment of the fullest form and one that should be dealt with in-house by the players themselves, because management did not make it mandatory.

But the problem with that is who would be the one to stand up for the majority of the roster and confront the three? The Mets lack a team leader and a true captain, the type of player that is respected and takes charge, one of the main reasons why they will miss the postseason for the fourth consecutive year.

What makes this even more disrespectful is that we are approaching the ninth anniversary of 9-11 and – coupled with the controversy over what has become commonly known as the Ground Zero Mosque – patriotism should shine even brighter right now.

About as bright as a productive baseball player’s statistics, something unknown to The Trio of Disgrace.

Photo by Bill Menzel

But Swisher has made it a habit of hitting the “walk- off� win this season. The last two Yankees walk-off wins have come off Swisher’s bat, but this one may have been more important as the Yankees prevented Baltimore from the sweep with a 3-2 win Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx.

As they embark on a nine-game road trip that takes them to American league western leading Texas for three, and three to Tampa Bay in what is a key AL east divisional series, the Yankees know how important this win was Wednesday afternoon.

“We put ourselves in a great spot, we just have to keep it going,� said Swisher about where his team stands. The Yankees have 22 games remaining, 15 on the road, two games ahead of Tampa Bay with the best record in baseball.

And his home run, 26^th of the season came at the right time because up until that ninth inning Baltimore pitching once again had the Yankees perplexed at the plate. Right hander Brad Bergesen went 6.1 innings, allowed four hits, and a run, exiting with a 2-1 lead.

With Eduardo Nunez at first, pinch running for Alex Rodriguez who led off the inning with a single, Swisher got hold of a 2-0 pitch and hit it to the opposite field. With a bad knee, Swisher got two hits on the day after going 0-for his last 14.

“The wind was blowing out and it was a big win to end the home stand,� commented Swisher. The Yankees finished 7-3 in their longest home stand of the season.

Yankees starter Ivan Nova allowed two runs on six hits and did not figure in the decision. The bullpen went three innings without allowing a run. Joba Chamberlain (3-4) got the win, and Nova’s only mistake was a 3-0 pitch to Matt Wieters in the fifth that went over the left field fence with one on that gave the Orioles their two runs.

Nova would get out of a jam in the fifth inning. With runners on first and second Orioles’ Cesar Izturis popped out to Derek Jeter at short. That kept the score at 2-1. Nova would pitch one more inning, the sixth and allowed one hit.

“If we lose today it is not a good home stand,� said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. “It was a big swing,� he said about Swisher’s home run. “Was the whipped cream fresh? They hadn’t done it in a while,� he commented about the traditional “walk-off� cream pie that went in the face of Swisher after the big home run that was hit off Orioles loser Koji Uehara (1-1).

The Yankees snapped a three game losing streak and remain the only team in baseball without a losing streak of at least four games this season.

The Yankees had their chances, and as in their previous three games failed to capitalize with runners on base. Francisco Cervelli ended the seventh grounding out to third stranding Robinson Cano at second and Marcus Thames at first, who pinch hit for Curtis Granderson.

After the game Girardi revealed that catcher Jorge Posada, not in the starting lineup, wasn’t available off the bench. The night before Posada was nipped behind the plate by a foul tip which may have caused a minor concussion.

Posada had a restless night and Girardi said, “He had concussion type symptoms after the game.�  Posada saw the team doctor, was not at the ballpark and met with a neurologist. It was determined that Posada would travel to Texas with the team after tests came back negative.

When asked about Posada’s condition and availability for the upcoming road trip, Girardi said “If tests come back today that are okay we will take him with us.�  Girardi also envisioned the worst possible situation, his starting catcher out indefinitely due to the severity and caution of concussion symptoms.

“I have contemplated not having him a little bit. If that’s the case we will have to deal with it,� he said.  And as of now, the Yankees switch hitting catcher is day-to –day.  However, as with all type of concussion type of symptoms, the Yankees will be cautious and monitor Posada before he is cleared to take the field.

There was concern in the Yankees clubhouse for their teammate. Before the results came in they had no time to reflect on how important the win was that kept the Yankees for the moment two games up on Tampa.

“He’s a big part of our ball club and hopefully he will be back in the lineup in a couple of days,� commented Brett Gardner who drove in the Yankees first run of the day in the third. His double to left scored Curtis Granderson who singled and stole second.

It was Swisher’s third career game ending home run. “I guess it’s my day,� he said. “It’s a monster win for us.  “Obviously it’s a concern,� he said about Posada’s condition.

For the moment the Yankees condition is sitting well despite another brief losing streak. And they do expect Andy Pettitte to rejoin the pitching rotation in the next few days. Pettitte was scheduled to have a rehab assignment at Double A Trenton and if all goes well he could get a start on the road trip.

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

Joe Girardi

Nick Swisher

ARod

Buck Showalter

Matt Wieters

For More Info contact Bob at TrainorComm@gmail.com.

Actually, the former home run king actually met Ashe a few times during their storied careers.

“I met Arthur twice,” said Aaron, who was honored along with former USTA president Judy Lavering and AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega. “Once when he was about to do a television show with my wife. She used to do a television show in Atlanta. And then I met him in Milwaukee, but I read so many things about him, I knew I admired him and what he stood for. He was an example of what I always wanted to be in my life.”

Aaron sees Ashe as a mirror to his own career. When he came up to the Milwaukee Braves back in 1954, he experienced the same racism as the former US Open Champion did in the 1960s. “I think he handled it some of the same,” he said.  “I would say Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson almost had the same kind of reaction as Jackie [Robinson] and me or everyone with some color.”

Things on the racial front have gotten better according to Aaron, but he does feel that there is still room to improve.

“One of the things that bothers me is that after Jackie Robinson broke in 1947, we had so many American blacks playing baseball,” he said. “It’s not that case anymore. It seems like it has gone backwards and it’s gone the other way around. Had things had gotten better, yes. We can stay in the hotels we want to stay at and we can go wherever we want to go. But if you don’t have the money, then you don’t have the money to do those things.”

Of course there are reasons for it. Economics for one, according to Aaron, as young African Americans are choosing to go the quicker money in football and basketball, rather risk a longer career in baseball. So, he feels baseball needs to get the message out and get more and more athletes playing the sport.

The same holds true for tennis, but events like tonight’s, of course improve the sport’s standing in the community.

And maybe one day Aaron will see another African American champion on at the US Open. Although James Blake was the sport’s top player, he never won the big match.

For now, though, Aaron will enjoy the game as it is. A follower of the sport since John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg had their epic battles in the last 1970s and early 1980s; Aaron likes Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to meet in the finals during this tournament, and is a real big fan of Kim Clijsters.

“She showed that she can weather some adversity when she went to have her family and now she’s back and on top,” he said. “I wish her all the luck in the world.”

Fitting words from a fitting honoree.

DALLAS COWBOYS

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the ‘Boys  - aka America’s Team – would actually host the Super Bowl in their own stadium on February 6? Don’t count on it, but expect them to finish atop the division and make some noise in the playoffs. The loss of OL Flozell Adams will be felt greatly but the addition of WR Dez Bryant may soften the blow. For QB Tony Romo, it’s put up or shut up time, and the same goes for HC Wade Phillips.

PREDICTION: 10-6 (11-5 in 2009)

NEW YORK GIANTS

Coasting at 5-0 a year ago, the G-Men appeared to be on their way to a dominating season before the wheels came off. Now HC Tom Coughlin must pick up the pieces and that will not be an easy task. Their once impregnable defense is going through a transition period and they still lack a set of receivers that put a scare into anyone. Their backfield? If RB Brandon Jacobs can stay healthy, it will be formidable, but he hasn’t been able to do that in the past. QB Eli Manning needs to be nearly perfect for Big Blue to make the playoffs, and he is far from that.

PREDICTION: 9-7 (8-8 in 2009)

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

HC Mike Shanahan needs to put his stamp on this team right away and straighten out the situation concerning overweight and non-conditioned DT Albert Haynesworth. The overpaid former All-Pro has been a distraction since he came to town and the only way this team will succeed is if he gets his ass in shape or is shipped away. New QB Donovan McNabb is a vast improvement and will look to avenge when the ‘Skins play the Eagles twice.

PREDICTION: 8-8 (4-12 in 2009)

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Even the hard-to-please fans in Philly have to realize that this is a rebuilding year. QB Kevin Kolb gets the nod and will have his hands full. Expect Michael Vick to get more playing time than last year and he may be the difference between third and last place if he can find some of that magic he used to have in Atlanta.

PREDICTION: 6-10 (11-5 in 2009)

And much like George, who were the least known of the Beatles, 18 year-old Ryan Harrison us definitely the least know of the American’s at the US Open.

A native of Shrevenport, LA, Harrison is playing in his first main draw at the US Open after winning a qualifier and his first round win over Australia’s Peter Luczak, 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3 6-4, but the young man on the map.

Today he almost became a star.

Unfortunately, though, these great stories don’t always work out and despite having three match points in the fifth set tiebreaker, Harrison couldn’t convert against the Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky, 6‑3, 5‑7, 3‑6, 6‑3, 7‑6.

“I mean, it was a great experience,” said the young Harrison.   “I mean, the whole last week and a half almost two weeks now has been incredible for me.  I mean, I’ve always believed in myself and I’ve always believed that I could come in here and compete at this level.

“But to go out there and actually execute and to win some of the matches I did, you know, I’m extremely happy about and extremely proud of.  But in all honesty, I could have lost second round quallies.  I mean, I was in full leg cramps down 3‑0 in the third set, and I fought through that and had a good match and then played one of the best matches I’ve ever played in my life.  Just got a little bit tight whenever I needed to come through.”

Now that he got his name on the map, it will be interesting to see what this young man does. Last year, everyone had Melanie Oudin as the next great thing and that hasn’t turned out as expected. And even great things were expected of John Isner, Sam Querrey, James Blake, and even Andy Roddick, but those varied expectations have been tempered.

And now we have Harrison, who seems to be having a nice time at the Open, but we don’t know if 2010 is a stepping stone or just a shooting star in sky.

Harrison, though, seems very grounded and has learned from some of the top Americans when he served a practice partner for them at the Davis Cup quarterfinals in 2009.

“That was incredible for me,” he said. “To go with the Davis Cup team ‑‑ Andy ‑‑ whenever I went, Andy had just finaled Wimbledon and lost 16‑14 in the fifth to Federer.  Now I feel about 1/10th the way he felt after that match.

“There was Mardy, James, and then the Bryan brothers.  Those guys were just ‑‑ you know, entire time I was there ‑‑ the first four days I was there, actually the other hitting partner Devin Britton was experiencing a shoulder problem.  I was on the court for probably like four, five hours a day every day, I mean, just working, going straight from practice to practice.  I was involved with every single practice.

“Those guys were extremely helpful, trying to teach me how to play.  You know, the stress and pressure of Davis Cup is one that I’m sure you don’t understand until you’ve actually been in that situation.  But watching those guys, and ‑‑ you know, I watched Mardy, I watched James, how they go about trying to execute during those times.  You know, of course I’ve tried to learn from them and pick up as much as possible.

All of that is great, but these players are also opponents, and not guys he leans on. Rather, Harrison looks towards someone else.

“I mean, my dad has been a great role model for me my entire life,” he said.  “He’s literally explained everything to me from the time I was a little kid.  You know, just this is what’s important in life; this is what you always have to do, you know, no matter what.

“The moment I got out of here, you know, on the day I beat Ljubicic, the entire conversation with him was staying humble and preparing for the next round.  I’ve had a great support system.  I have a little brother and little sister, and they both look up to me.  I just try to set a good example for them.

“You know, I’m just go out here and work as hard as I can, and hopefully be a steady player that’s a contender in these tournaments.”

But until he does, Harrison has this year’s Open and it was his greatest learning experience.

“You know, I’ve always not been one to say, like, top 10 and top 5, all that stuff,” he said.  “Because my general personality has always been, you know, if I’m top 10 in the world and I’m 10 in the world, there’s still nine guys ahead of me.  So I’ve always had the mentality where I’ve wanted to be the best and I’ve always wanted to, you know, be the top, to win Grand Slams.

“But with that being said, it’s a ways away.  You know, this was the breakout run of my career, and in the round of 64, you know.  So I’ve got to really keep working and hopefully try and improve.  And guess it’s just been a great experience.”

“I really hope that wasn’t my last match on Arthur Ashe Stadium,” Blake said. “I definitely want to be back here next year.  If it was, you know, I competed my heart out.  I did everything I could.  But I think I got more in me and I think I’m going to be back there.  Maybe more night matches, some more excitement for the crowds, some more good times.

“You know, I definitely believe that.  I hope it comes true next year”.

So Blake is not packing it up yet. In fact, he is just taking a few weeks off and then playing in Stockholm. This is a guy who made the third round of the Open and lost to the No. 3 in the world, so life is okay right now for the Yonkers native.

But it’s his health that’s the big question. At 30, you have to wonder how healthy he can stay as he goes though the grind of the season. Sure the money is good, but this is a guy who lost a year and a half with a broken neck and another injury that keeps him on the shelf may be his last.

That’s why he calls it a “sprint and not a marathon” and he attacks each match with all out effort.

“I lost in straight sets, but I put a little scare in the No. 3 player in the world,” he said.  “And I beat two pretty good players.  So even if I’m not at 100% right now, I don’t feel like I’m, you know, hurting the game by being out here.  I’m not on a pity tour just getting beat up first round every week by kind of nobodies.  I lost to a pretty darn good player.  I’m playing okay and I know I can play better because, yeah, the preparation can be better.”

With his ranking below 100, Blake may have to go back to qualifiers if he wants to get invited to international tournaments. So that may be a problem, but with the money he is making from his contract with FILA, along with the money he makes on the tour, the former World No. 4 would be a fool to hang it up if he can compete.

Of course, he doesn’t want to be what he calls a charity case and just be the guy who loses in the first round all the time.

As you know that wasn’t the case this year and if he can keep it going while staying healthy, Blake expects to play until 34 or 35 years old.

And when that time comes, the Harvard graduate will have a number of options on his play, be it in tennis, such as a broadcaster or coach or doing something outside the game.

One thing’s for certain, though, after he is done this US Open favorite will not miss the travel and has one thing in mind for his first six months after hanging it up.

“I know I’ve already told all my friends that some of them are going to come visit me and I’m going to be playing golf for six months once I’m done,” he said.  “I’m going to be home.  I travel 30 weeks out of year.  I’m going to be in my bed for at least six months straight where I’m not getting on a plane, I’m not getting on a train, I’m not getting on a bus, I’m not doing anything.  I’m staying at home, playing some golf and relaxing.  Then I’ll see what motivates me.”

*FTW World Title Steel Cage Match – Grim Reefer (c) vs. Jay Lover

*The Rockstar vs. Tommy Budzz

*Tag Team Match: The Master Wes Draven & Angel Ortiz vs. FTW Gen X Champion Dan Barry and Joey Ace

*FTW Women’s Match: Divina Fly vs. “Cutie Pie” Candy Cartwright

*Spyral vs. Earl Cooter

More Matches to be announced

*FTW debut of “The New Horror” Sami Callihan

*Special appearance by The Iron Sheik & Mick Foley

For tickets, visit www.ftwprowrestling.com or call 631-574-2214.

Date/Time of event: Saturday, September 11 at 8 PM.

Actually, the former home run king actually met Ashe a few times during their storied careers.

“I met Arthur twice,� said Aaron, who was honored along with former USTA president Judy Lavering and AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega. “Once when he was about to do a television show with my wife. She used to do a television show in Atlanta. And then I met him in Milwaukee, but I read so many things about him, I knew I admired him and what he stood for. He was an example of what I always wanted to be in my life.�

Aaron sees Ashe as a mirror to his own career. When he came up to the Milwaukee Braves back in 1954, he experienced the same racism as the former US Open Champion did in the 1960s. “I think he handled it some of the same,� he said.  “I would say Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson almost had the same kind of reaction as Jackie [Robinson] and me or everyone with some color.�

Things on the racial front have gotten better according to Aaron, but he does feel that there is still room to improve.

“One of the things that bothers me is that after Jackie Robinson broke in 1947, we had so many American blacks playing baseball,� he said. “It’s not that case anymore. It seems like it has gone backwards and it’s gone the other way around. Had things had gotten better, yes. We can stay in the hotels we want to stay at and we can go wherever we want to go. But if you don’t have the money, then you don’t have the money to do those things.�

Of course there are reasons for it. Economics for one, according to Aaron, as young African Americans are choosing to go the quicker money in football and basketball, rather risk a longer career in baseball. So, he feels baseball needs to get the message out and get more and more athletes playing the sport.

The same holds true for tennis, but events like tonight’s, of course improve the sport’s standing in the community.

And maybe one day Aaron will see another African American champion on at the US Open. Although James Blake was the sport’s top player, he never won the big match.

For now, though, Aaron will enjoy the game as it is. A follower of the sport since John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg had their epic battles in the last 1970s and early 1980s; Aaron likes Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to meet in the finals during this tournament, and is a real big fan of Kim Clijsters.

“She showed that she can weather some adversity when she went to have her family and now she’s back and on top,� he said. “I wish her all the luck in the world.�

Fitting words from a fitting honoree.