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05/17/2010 - Graham charity event a slam dunk
 Graham charity event a slam dunk
New-Press .com, Southwest Fort Myers
Author: Annabelle Tometich, May 15, 2010
With less than 30 seconds on the clock and with his basketball team of Mariner High alumni trailing 107-106 to a squad of NFL athletes, Tritons grad and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Earnest Graham had to get creative Friday night.
The officials somehow assessed a technical foul to the NFL team, and Graham brought a child from the bleachers to shoot his free throws. The youngster hit just one, but as a "designated shooter" his basket, of course, counted for two points giving the Mariner alumni a 108-107 win.
That's just the way things go when the charity basketball game has your name on it.
"It's been a fun night," said Graham who kicked off his third
 annual Earnest Giving Weekend with Friday's event at his alma mater. "The community really comes out to support everything I do.
"And for the athletes to come all the way down here, to take the time out, it's really just unbelievable. I've really been blessed to pull this off."
More than 350 people crowded into the Frank Morris Memorial Gymnasium to watch NFL stars such as Cadillac Williams, Clifton Smith and Tanard Jackson take on an impressive team of Mariner alumni that included former NBA center Pat Burke.
For the 6-foot-11 Burke, getting to play in his old gym one more time, while raising money for charity, was a must.
"I contacted Earnest because I had to be a part of this," said Burke.
"It's awesome. I haven't seen some of these guys in close to 20 years now, so to come back and be a part of something as special as this, it really makes me feel good."
For 2002 Tritons grad Dwayne Jackson, the night was a chance to dunk on some of the NFL's finest. Jackson and Buccaneers quarterback Josh Johnson put on a showcase of slams, assaulting the rims back and forth every chance they could get.
Graham got things started knocking down a NBA-range 3-pointer just minutes into the contest. Not to be outdone, Williams, Graham's teammate with the Bucs, started launching balls from half court. After a dozen or so misses and an equal number of air balls, Williams finally connected on a handful of crowd pleasers from long, long range.
"I was 6-of-17," Williams estimated, laughing. "I just like to come out, have fun and support one of my really, really good friends. I'm not the best shooter, but I try."
Proceeds from Friday's event will benefit the 1Voice Foundation, a Tampa-based organization that works to battle childhood cancers.
The Earnest Giving Weekend continues at 1 p.m. today with the Roll with Earnest celebrity bowling tournament at Pin Street Bowling Alley in Fort Myers. Spectator tickets are $10. |
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