Post by TheShadow on Jun 3, 2008 20:37:13 GMT -5
www.granitebaypt.com
Biletnikoff raises money for charity
By Russ Edmondson
Dozens of former NFL players, the majority of them from the Oakland Raiders, were in Lincoln Monday to participate in the fourth annual Fred Biletnikoff Hall of Fame Golf Classic at Catta Verdera Country Club.
Former Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame receiver Fred Biletnikoff and his wife Angela, Roseville residents, host this event to raise money for Tracey’s Place of Hope.
Tracey’s Place of Hope is a residential treatment center in Burlingame for adolescent girls that addresses substance abuse and its secondary effects and provides education for the prevention of domestic violence. It is named after Fred and Angela’s daughter Tracey who was murdered by a former boyfriend when she was 19 years old in 1999.
Angela said they will open another treatment center in Placer County in the near future but she is not sure where yet. She added that this event, which also included an autograph show at Coaches Restaurant in Rocklin on Sunday, raises about $25,000 annually. Wells Fargo was the major sponsor for Monday’s event.
Fred has played in the tournament for the last three years but he was without clubs Monday because of a shoulder injury.
“It’s a lot better (not playing) - I get to meet everybody,” Fred said.
Biletnikoff, the MVP of Super Bowl XI, had 589 receptions for 8,974 yards and 76 touchdowns and was selected to six pro bowls during his 14 seasons with the Raiders. He also coached receivers for the Raiders for 17 years before retiring after the 2005 season. Now he is totally focused on Tracey’s Place of Hope.
“It’s so important that we help kids and help them with drugs and alcohol and allow them to be teenagers,” Fred said. “Let the kids know that there is someone out there willing to do something for them.”
Among the former football players who were in town over the weekend to help support the cause were Tim Brown, Ted Hendricks, Pete Banaszak, Cliff Branch, Willie Gault, Chester McGlockton, Rod Martin, Clem Daniels, Steve Wisniewski, Daryle Lamonica, Otis Sistrunk, Bobby Bell, Mel Renfro, Paul Warfield, Dave Wilcox, Tom Mack and Gary Plummer. Former boxer Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, a 3-time World Champion, also played in the tournament and spoke to the crowd.
“We’ve got some of the older guys again this year,” Fred said. “Two years ago we had such a great response - they are more social with everybody.”
Ninety volunteers made sure the tournament ran smooth and Chick-Fil-A kept the fans and players fed. Visit www.biletnikoff.net for more information on the Biletnikoff foundation.