ClutchPoints
Professional sports have become a haven for those seeking to escape, unwind, and enjoy some entertainment for a few hours. However, all too often, the athletes themselves come under fire from fans due to the amount of money they earn. Granted, the exorbitant sums of cash pro athletes make these days are borderline absurd. But that does not mean that many of them do not do their best to give back. This time, it was for cancer research.
On Friday night, the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation held the 25th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner and Auction at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Sports legends Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Donald, and Barry Bonds were on the docket to receive Lifetime Achievement Awards. Reggie McKnight and RJ Melman garnered recognition for their humanitarian efforts.
Additional celebrity guests in attendance included Cedric the Entertainer, Jon Lovitz, Mario Lopez, Mike Tyson, Sammy Sosa, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Garvey, Sugar Ray Leonard, among many others.
ClutchPoints was invited to cover the event, which raised more than $2.8 million. What a night it was.
Any sports fan on the planet would have felt right at home. The evening kicked off with a cocktail hour (that was more than two hours) as the athletes and celebrities walked the red carpet. Inside, there were several rooms filled with memorabilia for a silent auction, with proceeds going to cancer research.
Everything from signed jerseys, basketballs, bats, to a Babe Ruth signed check, a Rocky Marciano signed photograph of one of his historic knockouts, and much, much more.
But it was not just sports memorabilia up for auction. There was something for everyone in attendance.
Are you a music fan? There were signed guitars from The Beatles, Robert Plant, and Jimmy Page (members of Led Zeppelin), Eric Clapton, and many more.
What about film and television? How about a signed poster from the cast of Friends, or a Gatling gun shadow box piece representing the Godfather, signed by Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton.
Any old school gamers out there? Mike Tyson was in the house Friday night. So to was a signed, framed copy of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out.
There was jewelry, and lavish trips to every corner of the globe up for auction. Again, all going to cancer research. That is something that is near and dear to the Pump family’s heart.
Harold Pump passed away in 2000 with cancer. His wife, Carole, died 12 years later. But their sons, Dana and David Pump, have carried their parents’ legacy forward through this event. It truly was a blessing and an honor to be in attendance.
Once the ballroom opened, the actual fun began. College basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb hosted the event for the 15th straight year, providing an ESPY-like feel. He then handed the microphone off to Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson.
Johnson’s personable nature and infectious smile set the tone for the night. Magic stunned everyone...
