Instead, about 600 students, faculty and staff -- many decked from head to toe in blue and orange -- contracted Tiger fever as they eagerly waited to see Detroit center fielder Curtis Granderson in their halls.

Granderson visited Central to discuss the importance of education and accomplishing goals during two morning assemblies with the school's students.

Granderson, whose parents were public school teachers, is one of a few dozen major league baseball players with a college degree. He said earning the degree was always one of his goals -- along with becoming a professional athlete.

"Baseball is similar to school," Granderson said. "If you continue to practice and you continue to do your homework, good things will happen."

Central students raised $1,075 for Granderson's Grand Kids Foundation, which helps support inner-city schools, and also wrote about their goals and the challenges they face for an essay contest. The six contest winners chosen by their peers and school administrators got the chance to eat lunch with Granderson Thursday afternoon.

Granderson said his parents put a strong emphasis on doing well in school. That carried through his life and culminated with him earning his college degree. He said it was one of his greatest accomplishments.

"I used to love getting great grades," he said. "Education has always been very important to me."

Students also were able to ask Granderson about his childhood, most embarrassing moment, hardest games and famous teammates.

"It was amazing," Central student Zak Wilkins, 10, said. "He's a great ball player and I liked seeing him today."

Granderson also told students maintaining a good attitude will help them achieve their dreams.

"Stay positive and stay ahead and things will always get better," Granderson said.
After the assemblies, Granderson stayed in the school gym to meet students personally and later used his athletic expertise to help referee a dodgeball game.

"He's very educated and articulate," Central secretary Eileen Nelson said after the event. "He's a good role model for the kids."

On Saturday Granderson will host a celebrity basketball game at Avondale High School in Auburn Hills. Proceeds will benefit Detroit and Flint schools.

Source: http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2008/01/granderson_is_a_hit_with_flush.html