A Night of Dancing Sugar Plums and Defensive Tackles _ All for Charity

Janie McCauley, AP Sports Writer

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Shawn Estes, right, and St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa, second from right, practice their swordsmanship during a rehearsal for All-Star Night at the Nutcracker at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 13, 2002. Estes and LaRussa were among a group of San Francisco Bay Area athletes and other celebrities that performed in the Oakland Ballet's Christmas production.

They fill some big shoes in 'The Nutcracker.'
Dancers get dream roles

Mary Anne Janco, Philadelphia Inquirer

Milt Stanley isn't a dancer. He's a lab manager for Sun Chemical. But once a year, he takes the stage, does a waltz and a bit of acting.

SEATTLE MARINERS' JEFF NELSON TO PERFORM IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET'S NUTCRACKER

Seattle Mariners' pitcher Jeff Nelson joins Pacific Northwest Ballet this season to perform in the role of the "Grandfather" during Pacific Northwest Ballet's presentation of Nutcracker, the Northwest's favorite family holiday tradition.

'Nutcracker' true stories

Ann Murphy
SF Chronicle

"Nutcracker" is really much more than it's cracked up to be. <a href=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/11/30/PKGIV3AF1T1.DTL target=_blank>more</a>