THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 24, 1995 TAG: 9505240199
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 145 lines
JOY WILLIAMS ASKED to be pinched. She was sure it was all just a fantastic dream.
There was no way that could be Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino getting out of the golf cart just a few feet away.
NO WAY!
But there he was, big as life, in the flesh, right there before her very eyes.
``Oh my God, oh my God,'' she said with a quiver of excitement in her voice. ``I can't believe it, I just can't believe it. He is such a hunk.''
With a little coaxing from friends, Williams actually got up the nerve to approach Marino and ask for an autograph. She then got her picture taken kissing him on the cheek. Her knees buckled and she looked, for just a second, like she might faint.
``I kissed Dan Marino, I kissed Dan Marino,'' she said. ``Oh my God, oh my God. I can't believe this.''
For years, Williams had been a typical Dolphins fan - resolved to watching her favorite athlete on television and not in person.
But her husband, Bobby Williams, made arrangements through a friend to surprise his wife by taking her to the sixth annual Bruce Smith Celebrity Classic golf tournament at Hell's Point Monday.
She joined several volunteers and fans at the fourth hole where she was awed by guys such as Marino backup Bernie Kosar, New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe and others who drove up to the same area.
But it was Marino who floored her.
``I kissed him with my own lips, right on the cheek,'' she said later. ``Oh my God. I just can't believe all of this.''
But there was more in store for Williams, something that surprised even her family and friends. When Dolphins running back Terry Kirby - formerly of Tabb High and the University of Virginia - arrived without a driver, someone suggested Williams take the wheel. Seeing her obvious excitement, Kirby obliged and scooted over.
After a quick golf cart lesson, they were off.
``Oh my God,'' she repeated as the small group broke out in laughter. ``I don't believe this.''
While the events surrounding the weekend might not have been as remarkable for some as they were for Williams, such opportunities are what make the classic special.
``We don't have a professional (football) team around here,'' host Bruce Smith said at the golf tournament's awards ceremony. ``Many of these fans don't ever get to see these people in person like they do in the cities where they play. I think that makes my tournament unique among the other celebrity tournaments.''
Smith, a former Booker T. Washington High and Virginia Tech star, was beaming at the apparent success of his event. The party atmosphere at the awards ceremony left the Buffalo Bills All-Pro defensive lineman confident everybody had enjoyed themselves.
While it's fun, it's more about raising money for local charities.
Smith was hoping to top last year's record $67,000 in cash and merchandise.
``The sponsors, the volunteers, the fans, everybody in this area have just supported this thing so well and I can't thank everybody enough,'' Smith said. ``It's a great way to bring everybody together for a fun time and raise money at the same time.
``It's great to be able to give back to the community.''
Kosar gave his all back, too.
Kosar, who owns all the area's Arby's stores, is the national vice president of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
After defeating Marino in the finals of the Celebrity Shootout, a nine-hole golf tournament played earlier in the morning, Kosar donated his $2,000 prize to the local MDA chapter.
``Sure, why not. That's what this thing is all about,'' Kosar said. ``But hey, I might need it after beating Dan. I might not have a job left.''
Kosar laughed and went on about the business of playing some more golf. Like many of the athletes, he said he enjoys the relaxed atmosphere the tournament provides.
Not to mention the food.
Thomas Malbon was on hand dishing out his pork barbecue - one of Smith's favorites. ``But I think he only ate about eight sandwiches this year,'' Malbon said.
Bruce Barefoot of Footer's Sports Pub was involved with the tournament for the first year, sponsoring a hole and dishing out New York hot and Italian sausages.
Visitors to his area were having fun discussing the day.
``I hate this stupid game,'' Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman William Fuller - formerly of Indian River High - said after slicing a ball into the woods. ``It's easier to hit a quarterback. And they move.''
Rock 'n' roll singer Meat Loaf joked that this was only the second time he'd played golf. Then he knocked his shot within a few feet of the pin at the par 3 hole.
And, oh yes, there was a golf tournament being played.
The R.K. Chevrolet team took first place behind the golfing skills of Bledsoe. David Bunn's Nationwide Insurance - with former Raiders player Mike Siani - was second.
There was also a new fishing tournament featuring seven celebrities fishing for bluefish out of Rudee Inlet. That event was won by a team from The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star with Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer fishing on the Markim. The crew's five fish weighed 63 pounds.
Sunday evening's auction was the glamour event, drawing a packed house at the Norfolk Marriott. It is the biggest fund-raiser for the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, which was set up to handle funds raised by Smith's events. A softball game and a couple of other parties completed the weekend.
But there wasn't anything as special as Williams' moment with her favorite NFL player. ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
BRUCE AND THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN
LEFT: Bruce Smith, the host of the Bruce Smith Celebrity Classic,
performs his celebrity duties for autograph seeker.
RIGHT: Bills teammate Thomas Smith puts a little body English on
this putt at Hell's Point.
Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Rock-star Meatloaf laughs it up with Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim
Kelly during the celebrities' softball game at Harbor Park.
Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
ABOVE: Reggie Langhorne, retired NFL wide receiver, signs autographs
for the gallery. The ex-Smithfield High star spent most of his
career with the Cleveland Browns. LEFT: Bernie Kosar, now a
quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, helps John Brogan line up a
putt. Kosar owns Arby's restaurants in Hampton Roads.
Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Bruce Smith, All-Pro defensive end for the Buffalo Bills, shows off
his golf form on the driving range before the start of Monday's
play. The ex-Booker T. Washington High and Virginia Tech star hosts
the charity event.
ABOVE: Drew Bledsoe, quarterback of the New England Patriots, has a
little trouble with this grounder to his shortstop position during
the celebrity softball game.
LEFT: Dave Rosenfield, a man of many hats as general manager of the
Norfolk Tides, wore a few more Monday at Hell's Point golf course.
Staff photos by
D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
and STEVE EARLEY
by CNB