May 23, 2010

To watch a highlight video from True Blue Celebration, click here .

True Blue Celebration, the UCLA Athletic Department's annual fundraising auction/dinner was held Saturday evening at the John Wooden Center, and was once again a fun event.

The silent auction opened at 4:00 pm and close to 500 items were available for bidding. Supporters in attendance could sample many different wines and have fruit and cheese while they searched for the item that was best for them. During the silent auction several current and alumni student-athletes mingled with the crowd. One could chat with athletic director Dan Guerrero, alumni quarterbacks Wayne Cook and Matt Stevens, current quarterback Kevin Prince and defensive tackle David Carter, current hoopster Malcolm Lee, alums Andre McCarter and John Vallely and gymnast Anna Li, just to name a few.

One wall in the silent auction room was filled with jerseys of Bruin alums - UCLA and professional jerseys - as well as some other pro performers and most of them were autographed. Supporters could bid on Darren Collison jerseys from UCLA and New Orleans, Russell Westbrook jerseys from UCLA and Oklahoma City, Bruin jerseys of Kevin Love, the O'Bannon brothers, Matt Barnes, Maurice Jones-Drew and Troy Aikman, just to name a few. There was also a Gary Beban "throwback" No. 16 signed by the Heisman Trophy winner.

There were autographed helmets (Aikman, Beban, Terry Donahue, Jones-Drew), football and basketballs; numerous photos of Bruin alums, framed and unframed, signed and unsigned; apparel from different Bruin teams and other memorabilia. There were hotel getaways, golf outings, restaurant and wine certificates and other one-of-a-kind opportunities.

At the same time, assorted student-athletes were attempting to raise $10,000 for scholarships with the "Drive To $10,000." One hundred numbers for $100 and the grand prizes were the "Ultimate Bruin Fan Package" and a Manzanillo Vacation. Everyone who purchased a number received some prize, whether it was a bottle of wine, adidas apparel or other gift. By midway through the dinner, all 100 numbers were sold and the student-athletes met their goal of $10,000.

When the silent auction concluded, the MVPs who had purchased the full $200 package switched rooms for the dinner. Unlike past years when the dinner was a buffet, Saturday's was a sit-down served dinner that included grilled chicken breast with bow-tie pasta and Jim Beam slow-roasted tri-tip among the items.

Most of UCLA's coaches were in attendance, including Rick Neuheisel, Ben Howland, Nikki Caldwell, Valorie Kondos Field and Mike Maynard, just to name a few. The football alumni included James Washington, Skip Hicks, Chuckie Miller, Duval Love, Ron Pitts, Stevens, Cook and Alterraun Verner. Basketball alumni included Jamaal Wilkes, Keith Erickson, Vallely, McCarter, Michael Warren, Russell Westbrook, Jason Kapono (he donated $2,500 for scholarships), Kenny Washington, Marques Johnson and sons Kristaan and Josiah and Jerry Norman. Nan Wooden, Coach John Wooden's daughter, sat at a table with Dan Guerrero and Ben Howland. Olympians such as Lisa Fernandez, Steve Lewis, Sinjin Smith, and Mebrahtom Keflezighi and Bruin Hall of Famers such as Lisa Longaker also mingled with the attendees.

Stevens and Chris Roberts mc'd the live auction, working with auctioneers Larry Zucker. ESPN's Neil Everett interviewed Guerrero, Neuheisel, Howland, Caldwell, Kondos Field and Keflezighi in between auction items.

Guerrero spoke about serving on the men's basketball committee and being part of the new television contract and expansion process. When Everett asked about his greatest moment at UCLA, Guerrero replied that it was putting on his baseball jersey for the first time (Guerrero played second base for the Bruins in 1972 and 1973) and knowing it was the same jersey that had been worn by Jackie Robinson.

Neuheisel spoke of what he tells prospective student-athletes about UCLA, including that he met his wife at UCLA and his personal campus tour, mentioning the John Wooden Center, the Arthur Ashe Student-Health Building and Bunche Hall - all representing Bruins who made a difference in the world. Howland spoke about the tradition of UCLA basketball and that he is excited about the program's future. Caldwell spoke about John Wooden and Pat Summit and the future of her program. Kondos Field spoke about how when the gymnastics team won its sixth NCAA title in April, the team members weren't chanting "6" but "105" because it was UCLA's 105th NCAA title. Keflezighi talked about always wanting to attend UCLA, winning the New York Marathon and how proud he will be to be a member of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame (he will be inducted in October).

Among the items in the live auction were dinner with Coach Howland and his wife Kim, dinner with Wilkes and Bill Walton (Jamaal went on stage to assure everyone that Walton would be paying for the dinner but that he would not do all the talking), a 25-person tailgate party and tickets for the Houston football game, a seven-night vacation in Hawaii, a 1970 NCAA Basketball championship banner signed by most of the team at this past February's reunion, a 2010 NCAA Gymnastics champions banner signed by the team, and a pre-game package for the USC football game that includes running out of the tunnel with the team. The items all went for various amounts, with two dinners with Wilkes and Walton going for $2,500 each. When the gymnastics banner was auctioned, Kondos Field brought up her two 2010 NCAA individual champions - Brittani McCullough and Vanessa Zamarripa - to be introduced and help display the banner.

The UCLA Athletic Department is grateful to all of our fans who attended True Blue Celebration. We thank you for supporting this event that raises money for student-athlete scholarships and hope you had a great time at TBC and found something among the auction items.

We also want to thank all of our fans who support us throughout the year. Your donations and support at all of our events are deeply appreciated by the staff, coaches and student-athletes and we are glad to have you as part of the Bruin family.

Go Bruins!