October is the month of breast cancer awareness and Canon prepared some nice things for the occasion.

Canon spokesperson Maria Sharapova announced that the company would contribute $150,000 to the American Cancer Society.

Additionally, they are releasing a special “pink bundle” — a PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH, a photo printer, a ribbon charm and a mammogram reminder magnet — available for $279.99. (via Tennis Served Fresh)

I was reluctant to write about Maria Sharapova’s alleged new boyfriend, too much gossip for me to handle — I mean, not even a week has past since Ana Ivanovic and Fernando Verdasco hit the blogosphere. But then, what the hack, everyone is talking about it, so why wouldn’t I.

Anyway, the latest news is that Sharapova is dating some guy named Charlie Ebersol, the son of Dick Ebersol, an executive at NBC who helped launch Saturday Night Live. The most interesting detail known about Charlie so far is that he survived a plane crash in 2004. Read more »

Carlos Rodriguez, best-known as the former coach of once dominant women’s tennis player Justine Henin, was interviewed by Matt Cronin for FOXSports.com and gave harsh reviews of some currently top WTA players.

Ok, the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova can be satisfied, but Jelena Jankovic could feel more than offended. However, we can’t blame Carlos for being honest; I doubt he wanted to insult anyone. Read more »

Maria Sharapova is still recovering from her shoulder injury and she won’t play tennis until January exhibition in Hong Kong, but that doesn’t mean the world No.6 is not keeping herself busy. Her latest use of this free time includes a special Sony Ericsson promotion in British Hello! magazine.

In an interview for Hello! Sharapova discusses the long-undiagnosed injury which forced her to miss a significant part of the 2008 season.

Maria, it must have come as something of a shock to discover that you'd been playing with an undiagnosed tear in you shoulder…

I had an MRI scan in April because I was starting to feel it again, but they said it didn't show much apart from inflammation. After a while, though, the pain was still there.

How did the experts miss it?

Good question. I've basically been playing with a torn rotator cuff for maybe seven or eight months.

It must have affected your game…

Obviously, it it always on your mind. You are always trying to compete at the highest level, and when you're told it's a little inflammation, you think it's not that bad, but then when you find out how bad it it, it becomes a concern and you're afraid of making it worse.

Enjoy more of Maria’s modeling after the cut. By the way, the shoot took place in New York. Read more »

Maria Sharapova, Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Development Program, is launching a $210,000 scholarship program for students from Chernobyl-affected areas of Belarus.

The scholarships will be granted to 12 talented young people from Chernobyl-affected regions and enable them to study at one of two leading universities in Belarus.

The program is a joint initiative of the Maria Sharapova Foundation and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

"It has always been my dream to contribute to the recovery of a region where I have a personal connection," said the Russian. "Enabling talented young people to pursue higher education is part of a broader effort to build a brighter future for the region."

The three-time Grand Slam champion was born in Siberia a year after her parents were forced to leave the city of Gomel in Belarus because of the effects of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe.

Additional info: Sharapova was supposed to visit Chernobyl this summer, but it hasn't happened because of her rehabilitation in Arizona. (source: On the Baseline)