Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra back on the field

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Soccer fans have a heady mix of televised choices in store for them on Saturday, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona, AC Milan, Chivas de Guadalajara and Boca Juniors among the many top teams whose games will be shown during the day.

There is another option, however.

At 1 p.m. at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Mia Hamm, along with husband Nomar Garciaparra, will host their second annual Celebrity Soccer Challenge benefitting the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation.

Last year’s event raised more than $150,000 and Saturday’s game is expected to bring in more than $200,000, much of it to be used in the fight against bone marrow cancer, which claimed Hamm’s older brother, Garrett, 12 years ago.

At halftime, Hamm will introduce bone marrow recipients to the donors who helped save their lives.

The game itself will feature a mix of sports and entertainment figures, including from the soccer side current or former U.S. national team players Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett, Kristine Lilly, Tisha Hoch, Cobi Jones, Alexi Lalas, Danny Califf, Paul Caligiuri, Brian Ching and Matt Reis.

Also taking part will be baseball’s Garciaparra, Mark Langston and Jim Abbott; volleyball’s Kerri Walsh and Casey Jennings, football’s Marcus Allen, skateboarding’s Ryan Sheckler and Tony Hawk, along with celebrities from music, film and television.

For one day, at least, it might be well worth it to skip watching the Cristiano Ronaldos and Kakas of the world on the small screen.

-- Grahame L. Jones