All-American Dream: Charity Classic

When you put a mix of NBA stars and former Zag basketball stars together at the McCarthey Athletic Center for a basketball game, it really isn’t about winning or losing.

It’s about raising money for charity, and having fun doing it.

It’s always unforeseen, too, when the star of the evening at Gonzaga University isn’t even a Gonzaga alumnus, but a 6’5” former standout from EWU.

Rodney Stuckey showed his mad skills by outscoring everyone and even hitting four 3-pointers in the final quarter.

Indeed the All-American’s Charity Classic event, sponsored by Northern Quest Casino, is guaranteed to bring people from miles, sometimes even states, away. With over 3,100 in attendance on the night of Sept. 4, one thing is clear: everyone loves to see the Gonzaga Bulldogs play.

Among the thousands of fans was Lindsey Hammond, a student at the University of Idaho, who came to the game with her grandparents and claimed she has been coming to Gonzaga basketball games since the second grade. Although she has no direct affiliation with the school and lives an entire state away, the Gonzaga basketball team has her hooked.

“I love how they play like a team,” she said. “I’ve always loved GU ball. I’ve played basketball for 10 years and I coach it for JV girls basketball in Moscow. And I really model my teaching after the Gonzaga team.”

Many who were initially disappointed that both former Zags Dan Dickau and Adam Morrison didn’t make it (the same two that the event was supposedly featuring), quickly forgot about them as they watched stars like Stuckey and Richie Frahm dominate the court.

The event didn’t only entertain the fans, it also raised over $8,000 to Catholic Charities and over $15,000 to the American Diabetes Association. The Charity Classic followed an entertaining week in Spokane that also featured the Celebrity Poker Tournament held on Sept. 3 at Northern Quest Casino. In fact, two poker champions were the coaches for the Charity game: WPT’s Mirage Poker Showdown champion Gavin Smith coached the Blue Team, and 2008 World Series of Poker Player of the Year Erick Lindgren coached the White Team.

But it is highly doubtful that anyone remembers who won, because the scorekeepers repeatedly added points to the losing team to keep the game interesting. Essentially, what kept the fans excited and interested in the game was the lax environment, the silly announcers (who at one point joked that David Pendergraft “had more fouls than points”), and of course, Stuckey’s repeated two-handed jams.

So it’s obvious what keeps the fans coming back. But what keeps the stars coming back?

Former Zag Frahm said it best when he explained why he has always enjoyed playing for the Charity Classic.

“I’m just happy to be a part of the game,” he said. “Especially tonight. Even though it’s my fourth time here, it’s the first time we’ve gotten most of our Elite Eight guys here.”

“Plus,” he added, “it’s for a great cause. We hope they keep this kind of thing going. People here love the Zags and love to watch them play.”

Boston Celtics player and former USC star Brian Scalabrine was also present that night and was one of the few players who wasn’t a former Zag participant.

“It’s really all the Gonzaga guys. I just have a place in my heart for GU basketball,” said Scalabrine.

Then he cracked a smile.

“I’m like… a groupie,” he said. “And, it’s competitive. When you put the Floyd brothers and [Mike] Nilson in there, it gets brutal. It’s really an interesting game.”

Indeed it was, but perhaps competitive wasn’t quite the word.

“It probably would have been more competitive,” said Zag Will Foster, who was present at the event but didn’t play, “if the white team gave the ball to Stuckey more.”

It turns out the white team, due to their loss, will end up having to give a total of $1,000 to charity. But, according to Brooks, they’re happy to do it.

“It’s for the community,” he said. “If it’s for charity, anything for charity, 100 percent of us would do it. Anytime.”

Story by Cat Ferman.