Healthy Hollywood: Will Ferrell’s Sporty Showdown

Will Ferrell is lacing up his sneakers and ready to hit the tennis court for charity.

The “Anchorman” star is teaming up with the world’s number two player, Novak Djokovic, for a heated match against “House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey and his partner, Australian Open champ Stan Wawrinka. The celebrity/pro-am showdown takes place on March 4 as part of the 10th annual Desert Smash Showdown in La Quinta, California.

The event benefits Cancer for College, which helps raise money for college scholarships for cancer survivors.

“We get to see directly where the funds go as we help these survivors realize their dream of a college education. To meet these amazing kids and their families is powerful,” Ferrell reveals.

While the tennis match is meant to be good fun for all, Ferrell is psyched to ace Spacey.

“Those Academy Awards aren’t going to help him on bit when I’m raining fire on him from the baseline. It’s going to be a sight to behold. If an exhibition of pure athletic prowess does not make you want to give to this great cause, I don’t know will,” adds Will.

Beware! Spacey is no shrinking violet on the court. He’s also got his eye on the winning shot. “I have taken the assignment like the greatest method actor who walked the face of the boards of the most inspired playhouse of all time… I have been training for months and coached by the best of the best (that’s right even Lendl put me through routines in Miami – it was horrible and he treated me like something stuck to the bottom of his tennis shoe) – but nonetheless…,” challenges Spacey.

Ferrell hopes Desert Showdown will fill the house to rock star capacity, adding, “It’s going to make Coachella look like a pancake breakfast.

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it, it’s going to be a lot of work, but there’s nothing easy about cancer. It can devastate a family physically, emotionally and financially. It’s what makes Cancer for College so important. They make a college education a reality for these survivors who have been through so much. Helping these families after all they have through is the absolute least we can do.”

For more on the event or to make a donation, check out www.desertsmash.com.

— Terri MacLeod