August | 2011 | Sorbo Writer's Blog

Golfing with Kevin Sorbo isn’t rocket science: An interview with Burt Rutan

August 29, 2011 sorbowriter Leave a comment

Aerospace engineer Burt Rutan has designed some of the most important space innovations during his illustrious career. He has won the Presidential Citizen’s Medal, Charles A. Lindbergh Award, and two Collier Trophies for his work. He was included in Time magazine’s “100 most influential people in the world” and named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Inc. magazine. Newsweek has described him as “the man responsible for more innovations in modern aviation than any living engineer.”

The aeronautical genius spent decades creating new ways to travel. He designed the legendary Voyager, the first aircraft to circle the world nonstop without refueling, and developed the Ultralite, an all-composite 100mpg show car for General Motors, and Proteus “affordable U-2” aircraft.

Rutan made international headlines in 2004 as the designer of SpaceShipOne, the world’s first privately-built manned spacecraft to reach space for which he won the $10 million Ansari X Prize in the X Foundation’s competition to spur the development of affordable space tourism. The Discovery Channel featured SpaceShipOne’s exciting development and launch in two Peabody award-winning documentaries, including “Black Sky: The Race for Space.” A “60 Minutes” profile entitled, “Burt Rutan: An American Original,” aired in November, 2004, and has been re-aired twice by CBS.

The recipient of six honorary doctorate degrees is the founder and CEO of Scaled Composites, the most aggressive aerospace research company in the world that has developed and tested a variety of groundbreaking projects from military aircraft to executive jets. Based in Mojave, CA, the firm showcases some of the most innovative, energy-efficient designs ever flown.

Rutan also loves golf, and has participated in Kevin Sorbo’s Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament to benefit A World Fit For Kids! (WFIT) since its inception three years ago. He plans to attend again this year.

“It’s a great cause for sure,” said Rutan. “Also, the parties for the tournament are World Class. You will not forget the fun you had at the event, I promise. There are great venues and great fellow competitors. Everyone returns for more!”

Sign up to golf and meet Burt Rutan at this year’s 3^rd Annual Kevin Sorbo Celebrity Golf Tournament, September 23-25, at Eagle Vines Golf Course, Silverado Resort, Napa Valley, CA. Contact Event Producer Lonnie Mintz via telephone at 818-880-5511 or sorbogolf@worldfitforkids.org to register or for more information.

Read the complete interview with Burt Rutan: http://tinyurl.com/43x5qbz

Can you keep up with Kevin Sorbo and his busy schedule?

August 23, 2011 sorbowriter 3 comments

We know Kevin does all he can for his fans, but, holy cow! Check out his upcoming schedule*:

August 25-28, 2011 – Fan Expo Canada, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

August 26-27, 2011 – Comedy Bar, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (evening appearances after Fan Expo convention)

September 19-24, 2011 – Estepona Film Festival, Malaga, Spain (Kevin’s appearances September 21-22 ONLY)

September 23-25, 2011– 3^rd Annual Kevin Sorbo Celebrity Golf Tournament, Silverado Resort, Napa Valley, CA

Sunday, October 2, 2011 – 10^th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair, West Hollywood Library & West Hollywood Park, 647 North San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA, to promote his forthcoming book, True Strength: My Journey from Hercules to Mere Mortal—and How Nearly Dying Saved My Life.

October 13-16, 2011 – New York Comic Con, Javits Center, New York, NY (Kevin’s appearances Friday and Sunday, October 14 and 16 ONLY)

Friday, October 14, 2011, 8:00 p.m. – “An Evening with Kevin Sorbo”, Marriott-Marquis Times Square, 1535 Broadway, New York, NY. Presented by 258 West Authentic Signature Events.

Monday, October 17, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, Tribeca, 97 Warren Street, New York, NY

Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 7:00 p.m. – Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, The Grove at Farmers Market, 189 Grove Drive, Suite K 30, Los Angeles, CA

October 28-30, 2011 – Central Canada Comic Con, Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

*Please note that all appearances are dependent on Kevin’s work schedule. See the respective websites for updates.

Schedule Kevin Sorbo to speak at your next event

August 21, 2011 sorbowriter 3 comments

Kevin Sorbo has a special gift that few people possess: He is an extraordinarily talented public speaker. He exudes naturalness and ease whether on stage, during private functions or at special events.

Kevin’s positive “You can do it!” attitude is as infectious as it is sincere. He captivates audiences in various venues from lectures to conventions. Kevin often entertains with jokes and colorful stories. He also shares his knowledge about a variety of topics tailored to business/corporate, charitable events, church and health.

Kevin is available for speaking engagements through Ambassador Speakers Bureau and Literary Agency. Visit Kevin’s page for scheduling and more information: http://tinyurl.com/3kwxc3n

Ambassador, founded in 1973 by Wes Yoder to represent emerging contemporary Christian music artists, is the oldest, most established Christian-based talent agency in the United States. Its Ambassador Speakers Bureau, established in 1984, provides speakers for special program events around the world for the Christian and faith-based community, including university, education, religious, nonprofit, and political and business meetings. Ambassador’s Literary department represents a growing list of best-selling authors who are published by the leading religious and general market publishers in the United States and Europe.

Kevin’s television movie, “The Santa Suit,” that aired on the Hallmark Channel last December is up for the 2011 Director’s Guild of Canada Award for “Best Television Movie/Mini-Series.” Good luck, Kevin, we hope this heart-warming film wins!

Please see the DGC nominations: http://tinyurl.com/3nj9w52

Kevin recently appeared on the television ministry program, “Hour of Power,” that broadcasts from the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA:

Video: http://vimeo.com/27667146

Transcript: http://tinyurl.com/3q8c97s

Kevin is a Celebrity Staff member for Dixon Golf, a company that specializes in eco-friendly golf products: http://tinyurl.com/424dzkw

Win a meet-and-greet with Kevin Sorbo on Ebay!! Auction ends Aug. 18

August 14, 2011 sorbowriter 4 comments

Let Them Play is a California charity that provides children with no financial means the opportunity to play organized sports. The organization has a cool auction item currently on ebay that benefits the Kennedy High School Football program in La Palma, CA, while giving some lucky winner and a guest an exciting time at Kevin’s upcoming 3rd Annual Kevin Sorbo Celebrity Golf Tournament, September 23-25, in Napa Valley, CA. Wow! Get your bid in NOW. It’s Kevin’s birthday… What a great gift for him and yourself!

Here are the details:

Starting Bid: $300.00

Last day: Aug 18, 2011, 12:29:16 PDT

Item number: 280723073402

Shipping: FREE Economy Shipping

Delivery: Estimated between Mon., Aug. 22, and Fri., Sep. 2

All payments should be made in US Funds via PayPal within 48 hours of winning the auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280723073402

Meet Kevin Sorbo! Attend Kevin Sorbo’s 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament and Birthday Dinner on Saturday, September 24, in Napa Valley, CA. Winner and guest will attend the Celebrity Golf Tournament at Eagle Vines Golf Course and Kevin’s Birthday Dinner at the Silverado Resort. Winner and guest will also receive a private meet-and-greet with Kevin at the event. No transportation or accommodations are included.

Let Them Play is committed to providing children who otherwise couldn’t afford it with the opportunity to play organized sports. Proceeds from this auction will benefit the Kennedy High School Football program in La Palma, CA. Due to lacking funds the school has decided to do away with their Freshman and JV Football programs. Let Them Play is committed to helping the Kennedy High School Football program raise the funds that are necessary to keep their all important Freshman and JV programs active.

We feel organized sports are a very important part of a child’s life. They offer children many physical, social and personal benefits. Fitness, stress relief, attitude control, leadership, long-term thinking, teamwork, diversity and resilience are just some of the benefits of youth organized sports. With technology rapidly growing, kids are spending an increasing amount of time on the internet and playing video games. Organized sports help keep kids away from online predators and violent video games. They are also a great way for children to make long lasting friendships. The children that cannot afford to play are not just from inner cities. This problem affects kids in cities of all economic classes. To raise funds, Let Them Play will be auctioning off a variety of items ranging from unique one-of-a-kind experiences, meet and greets and hard to get tickets and products. Proceeds from the auctions will be given to selected youth sports organizations from all over the country.

Hot, hot, hot Kevin Sorbo… Just like these August calendars!

August 12, 2011 sorbowriter 2 comments

Thanks Loli, Sanne and Mara!

Kevin Sorbo’s Soul Surfer “is an example of movies that I want to see.”

August 5, 2011 sorbowriter 3 comments

Kevin’s movie, Soul Surfer, was released earlier this week in various media from DVD to iTunes in stores and on the internet. Alison from Canada has kindly provided her great review of this exciting film that details the life of champion teen surfer, Bethany Hamilton, following a horrifying shark attack. Many thanks, Alison!

I will have to start this by explaining that I am a die-hard Kevin Sorbo fan and will try my utmost to be subjective with this review.

The movie is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton (played by AnnaSophia Robb), the female surfer who lost her left arm to a shark attack when she was 13-years-old. It deals mostly with her love of surfing and her faith and will to get back to surfing after the attack. With the support of her parents, Tom (played by Dennis Quaid) and Cheri (played by Helen Hunt), she is able to overcome her obstacles and come out on top.

Of course, she had to come out on top; it is, after all, a family-based, inspirational movie. I would like to state that the spirituality of the movie is not rammed down your throat, even though the real Bethany Hamilton is a faith-strong young lady. It is a movie that you can take your family to and know that you can come out with a smile on your face. Yes, they do take a bit of leeway with some scenes, such as the ones in Thailand after the tsunami, but then, it is a movie and not a documentary, and we wouldn’t want to get bored now, would we?

AnnaSophia Robb does an excellent job playing an innocent, but strong-hearted Bethany. Her character is believable and likeable. Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt each do a good job as Bethany’s parents who seem to care more about her injury than Bethany does. Carrie Underwood, unfortunately, does not seem to be a necessary part in the film and barely made it as filler for me. Lorraine Nicholson, who plays Alana Blanchard, is a believable best friend to Bethany who goes through a bit of shock after being present for the shark attack. Last, but definitely not least, Kevin Sorbo plays Holt Blanchard who rescued Bethany and basically saved her life.

Kevin did an excellent job as expected when picked to be the hero. However, and, yes, I know I am prejudiced, I still believe he would have been better used in this movie by playing Bethany’s father, Tom Hamilton. While Dennis Quaid played the part well, I don’t believe he brought his “A game” to this performance. He seemed to be holding back the whole time, and he did not bring any feeling to the part. Being a fan of Kevin Sorbo’s I know the emotions he can emote, and I believe he would have brought all of himself into this part. (I did warn you from the beginning, lol!)

Finally, is the movie worth seeing? Yes, definitely. It is about time that Hollywood started making movies that we feel good about seeing. I am tired of wasting my hard-earned money on movies that I come out shaking my head over and repeating over and over, “Why did I even bother?” This movie is an example of movies that I want to see. It is uplifting and a lesson in overcoming obstacles that I can’t wait to share with my family. Bring on more movies like this one and I will gladly pay the bill.