Posted: Jan. 31, 2003

Marbury

Marion

While cartoon stars like Hong Kong Phooey, Droopy Dog and the Wonder Twins have gone the way of the Buffalo Braves, the Cincinnati Royals and the Syracuse Nationals, they still remain favorites of current NBA stars like Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion and Shaquille O¡¦Neal. These NBA stars and many more will share the cartoon love during Cartoon Network¡¦s NBA All-Star Slam, a six-hour marathon on Sunday, Feb. 9.

Twelve heroes of the hardcourt, also including Elton Brand (L.A. Clippers), Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets) and Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets) will introduce their favorite cartoons while Cartoon Network plays them all day long. Other cartoon stars getting shout-outs from NBA superstar ballers include perennial favorites The Powerpuff Girls, Bugs Bunny and Scooby-Doo, as well as the Thundercats and Yosemite Sam. Excerpts and outtakes from these interviews are currently being featured on TNT¡¦s Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson (Thursdays, 6 p.m., local Phoenix time).

With the 2003 NBA All-Star Game coming to Atlanta this February, Cartoon Network is teaming with three official NBA partners¡X Gatorade„µ, LEGO Company„µ and Xbox„µ¡Xfor an on-air/online programming event and sweepstakes promotion capturing the fun and excitement of the annual NBA event for kids and families. On Sunday, Feb. 9 (11 a.m.-5 p.m. local Phoenix time), Cartoon Network will feature 12 NBA superstars introducing their favorite Cartoon Network ¡§animation all-stars¡¨ during a special mini-marathon leading up to tip-off of the NBA All-Star Game on sister network TNT.

CartoonNetwork.com, one of the top three kids Web sites among persons 2+, joins in the action Jan. 27-Feb. 7 with a NBA All-Star mini-site featuring custom animated basketball games and activities as well as tune-in information for the on-air event. Cartoon Orbit, the site¡¦s Web Award-winning online trading community for kids, will create custom digital trading cards, popularly known as cToons, for fans to collect, trade and redeem at CartoonNetwork.com.

Cartoon Network, currently seen in 82.1 million U.S. homes and 145 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.¡¦s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering the best in animated entertainment.