THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505190625
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 108 lines
The guy wanted an autograph from the hulking Buffalo Bills star who was seated just a few feet away. And he had an innocent question he wanted answered. That's all.
That was five years ago. Bruce Smith's life hasn't been the same since - for which several charities in Hampton Roads couldn't be more grateful.
Beginning Saturday night, about 40 of Smith's best friends from the NFL and other walks of life will be in town for the charity golf classic that bears his name. When all is done, Smith hopes to raise $85,000 - $50,000 in cash, the rest in merchandise - for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters.
That would be a substantial increase from last year's record high of $67,000 in cash and merchandise. It also marks territory no one around the event five years ago ever thought would be invaded.
``The thing that impresses me the most is that it's only taken five years to get to this level,'' tournament director Gene Bunn said. ``That, I think, says something for Bruce, the respect he commands from the other NFL players. They respect him on the field, and they respect him off it, because they always come to support his event.''
Among those participating this weekend are Dolphins quarterbacks Dan Marino and Bernie Kosar, Chiefs running back Marcus Allen, Bills running back Thurman Thomas, Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, Chiefs linebacker and sack specialist Derrick Thomas, Saints kicker Morten Andersen, Bills linebacker Cornelius Bennett, Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe, former Tabb, Virginia and now Dolphins running back Terry Kirby and Meat Loaf.
MEAT LOAF?
Seems the rocker would do anything for softball. When tournament officials weren't able to arrange flights that would get him to Norfolk for Sunday's 4 p.m. softball game at Harbor Park, Meat chartered a Lear jet that would whisk him to town in plenty of time.
Even Smith probably would agree that that's a little extreme. But he'd also argue that it's indicative of the depth of commitment some of the celebrities have. In fact, Smith already has begun doling out the dough.
He asked that the $7,500 check he received as Miller Lite defensive player of the year be made out to St. Jude's. He recently presented it, coupled with a $5,000 contribution that had been made to support this weekend's tournament.
From the beginning, people thought Smith and Bunn collaborated on this project because they played football together at Virginia Tech.
Not true.
Bunn, a Kellam High grad, finished his career at Tech two years before Booker T.'s Smith went to Blacksburg. They knew each other because Bunn knew the Smith family and had helped recruit Smith.
In 1989, Bunn opened Legends Sports Pub. Smith would drop in during the offseason. One night, a man asked Smith for an autograph. As he walked away, he looked back over his shoulder and asked, ``Hey, why don't you have one of those celebrity golf things?''
Bunn was standing behind the bar. He had started a charity tournament just that year. The venture had struggled.
Now Smith was eyeing him.
``Gene, how come we don't have one of those celebrity golf things?''
That was in February. Three frantic months later, they introduced The Bruce Smith Charity Golf Classic. Things have been swinging ever since.
``Gene and I thought it was an excellent opportunity to take advantage of giving back to the community and having fun doing it,'' Smith said. ``This was a unique opportunity for guys to show off golf skills, benefit a good cause and have a good time doing it.''
The first two years, Smith made the invitations by pulling names out of his little black book. Then Bunn began traveling with him, meeting the stars, compiling information, handling many of the invitations.
Smith still recruits most of the new celebs, like Bledsoe, who debuts this weekend.
``Bledsoe was at the top of my wish list,'' Smith admits. ``He's a phenomenal talent. Bruce Armstrong, his offensive left tackle, told him coming here was a tremendously good time. So Drew made sure he fit it into his schedule.''
Sounds easy. It's not.
Five years ago, Bunn says, he couldn't field 18 teams at $100 per player. This year's event sold out well in advance - 36 teams paying a minimum of $3,500.
With dozens of celebrity golf tournaments featuring NFL players during the offseason, competition for headliners is keen.
Smith attends about five of them. He lines up new celebrities and solidifies relationships with those who have been here before. If Jim Kelly, Dan Marino and Bernie Kosar come here, it's probably because Smith has swung a club at their affairs.
``We reciprocate by going to each other's tournaments. It puts a crimp on an already busy schedule, but if I have to go to a Jim Kelly or a Bernie Kosar to bring them here, it's definitely worthwhile,'' he said.
That first year, Bunn had no volunteers until the day of the event. Now there's an unpaid staff of about 10 who work on this project about eight months out of the year.
``Without the help of the people who donate their time, and companies who donate their wares, none of this would be possible,'' Smith said. ``And NFL Properties donates prize items for auction and for the winners of the golf tournaments. The Buffalo Bills donate, among other items, jerseys for me, Kelly, Thomas, Darryl Talley, in addition to helmets and footballs. They give a tremendous amount to this tournament. Without them, there'd be very little to auction off.''
And there's some playful thought put into awarding the prizes. For example, the team that finishes last wins - you guessed it - golf lessons.
Smith obviously takes great pride in the success of his tournament.
``I'm still amazed we're able to pull it off and get all these people in town. But word travels. A lot of guys have heard about the tournament. In fact, they've started asking me when I was going to invite them to play.'' by CNB