Daily Distractions: Are you ready for some ping pong?

Clayton Kershaw ping pong

Clayton Kershaw and Neil Patrick Harris once stood on opposite sides of a ping-pong table. (courtesy the Jimmy Kimmel show)


The Dodgers’ best pitcher has already used his prowess on the mound to raise awareness and considerable money for charity. Since he’s the best table tennis player on the Dodgers too, why not keep a good thing going?

Tomorrow night, Dodger Stadium will morph into the most star-studded, expensive, baseball-park-turned-ping-pong venue we’ve heard of. For $1,000, you can watch Kershaw, his manager, and some of his Hollywood pals and Dodger teammates whack around some small white balls for charity. For $2,000 (individual) or $10,000 (group), you can join in.

“Modern Family” actor Eric Stonestreet will emcee the event and DJ Skee will control the music. Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson is scheduled to participate, as is Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. (We’re hoping for some NBA-related smack talk between the two.) Among those also scheduled to participate: Jason Bateman, Adrian Gonzalez, Ken Jeong, Alyssa Milano, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Larry King, Tony La Russa, Maria Menounos, Lamorne Morris, Christopher “Drama” Pfaff, Ben Lyons, Willie McGinest, Tim Federowicz, Matthew Perry, George Lopez, Andre Ethier, Josh Henderson, J.P. Howell, Mardy Fish, Rick Honeycutt, Jerry Hairston Jr., Drew Kenney, and A.J. Ellis.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Here’s some more information.

Kershaw pitched well last night and today is Don Denkinger‘s birthday. On that note:

• Don Denkinger recently said of instant replay, “if it’s set up properly, the greatest thing to happen to Major League Baseball.”

• Tim Federowicz’s grandfather flew in from Erie, Pennsylvania when the homestand began to watch his grandson play in person. Federowicz played once, Friday against the Red Sox, and went 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

• The Dodgers are 5-5 in their last 10 games but remain World Series favorites.

• Kershaw doesn’t have a contract beyond 2014, but in anticipation of his next extension:

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.