STARR REPORT
Tennis, everyone
Maria Sharapova, meet Rosanna Scotto – and I guarantee you’re going to like her.
Sharapova, the newly crowned Wimbledon champ, will swing by next month’s “Evian Taste of Tennis” event, emceed by Ch. 5 anchor Scotto at the W New York Hotel. At the event, scheduled for Aug. 26, Scotto will serve up dishes for charity alongisde Andy Roddick and Emeril Lagasse – with Chanda Rubin, Jonas Bjorkman and Todd English also scheduled to appear. Coverage of the event, which benefits World T.E.A.M. Sports, will air on the Tennis Channel.
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Ashlee Simpson is being honored today with the first annual “On the Verge” award, presented to her by YM magazine (and editor-in-chief Linda Fears). The awards honors Ashlee as a “future superstar” – both for her MTV show and her recording career. She’ll be feted at a lunch in the D&D building.
Last, but not least:
* Don Imus interviews John Kerry and John Edwards, by phone, today at 7:45 a.m. on WFAN (660 AM). And Fox News Channel’s Carl Cameron has the first cable interview with Edwards since he became Kerry’s running mate. That airs tonight at 6 on Brit Hume’s show.
* Jerry Springer will cover the Democratic Convention for Cleveland TV stations WUAB and WOIO.
* NY1 Noticias goes live tomorrow for the Celia Cruz Memorial from Woodlawn Cemetery (10 a.m.).
* WKTU’s Vic Latino has established a scholarship in his name to help defray tuition costs for promising students – including someone from his alma mater, Sachem High School.
* Mickey Dolenz (“Aida”) sings today at Bryant Park’s “Broadway in the Park” (1 p.m.), sponsored by Lite FM.
* My Starr Report spy in Queens tells me author Richard Sills will immortalize Joe Franklin with a bio.
* Memo to the “Today” softball team: Your competitors over at “GMA” steamrolled over ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” crew 17-2. Are you up to the challenge tomorrow?
* Congrats to “Access Hol lywood” weekend co-anchor/correspondent Tony Potts and his wife, “AH” producer Nancy Derderian, on the arrival of Bella Angel.

