Professional athletes showcased their skills on the basketball court Saturday night at Trinity University for local disc jockey Big Tigger’s 8th Annual Celebrity Classic.
The all-star charity game was the highlight of a three-day event to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
The teams were evenly matched, with coaches Caron Butler of the Washington Wizards and Roger Mason, a Maryland native who left the Wizards for the San Antonio Spurs in 2008, facing off. Another Wizard, Andre Blatche, joined the game.
Washington, D.C.,’s own Shawne Merriman, a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, proved his athletic abilities extend beyond football. Other DJs from WPGC went elbow-to-elbow with the professionals, including Freaky Tye, DJ Flexx and Herkules.
Renowned saxophonist Michael Phillips, who is signed to Michael Jordan’s record label, played the national anthem, while Wizards players dazzled the crowd during half-time with trampoline-assisted dunks.
A few other athletes showed up to support the cause as well, including the Redskins’ Fred Smoot, the NBA’s Vince Carter, and the NFL’s Deon Grant, Jerry Porter and Darnell Dockett. Cali, a reality television star from VH1’s “Real Chance of Love,” had a front-row seat for the event. “I guess that’s where reality TV gets you,” joked Tiana Harris, a local actress who has appeared in episodes of HBO’s “The Wire.”
— On Friday, another athlete got into the social act. Redskins backup quarterback Colt Brennan hosted his own party at the Midtown nightclub. But not before three eligible young ladies took over the club. Miss D.C. 2008 Kate Marie Grinold, Miss Virginia 2008 Tara Wheeler and Miss New York 2008 Leigh-Taylor Smith held their own party before Brennan’s bash, a breast cancer benefit called “Beauties for Boobies.” The trio raised about $600 on Friday, before running the Race for the Cure on Saturday morning.
— And legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson was the featured guest at ESPN Radio’s “Lunch with a Legend” Friday at Morton’s steakhouse downtown. When ESPN talk show host Kevin Sheehan asked him what was his first thought when he saw Patrick Ewing play for the first time, Thompson smiled and crossed himself — acknowledging that he felt blessed to have such a talent on his basketball team.
-additional reporting by Tiffany March
Photo: Carrie Devorah
