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April-29th-2008, 10:11 PM
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/NEWS01/804170362/1026/news12
NFL greats Marty Schottenheimer, Marshall Faulk and more than 30 other retired coaches and players teed off at a Trilogy La Quinta charity golf tournament on Wednesday.
Organizers of the third annual "Gridiron Golf Classic" said they expect to raise $30,000 for local charities - about twice the amount raised at last year's tournament.
The event benefits the Junior League of Palm Springs Desert Communities, which lends support to local groups such as Martha's Village & Kitchen and Safehouse of the Desert. The NFL Alumni Chapter of Southern California co-hosted the tournament.
Samantha Buono, the Junior League's fundraising co-chairwoman, said she used some of her NFL connections to help launch the "Gridiron" event. Buono is the daughter of former Chicago Bears player Mike Pyle.
Each of the tournament's 23 golf foursomes included at least one NFL veteran. Members of Xavier College Preparatory High School football team in Palm Desert volunteered at the event.
Palm Springs resident and former pro-football standout Fred "The Hammer" Williamson said the event shows football fans that NFL players may be tough but they care about the community, too.
He also joked that golf tournaments like the "Gridiron" were the only way to keep in touch with "some of these crippled has-beens I haven't seen in a long time."
Schottenheimer, whose lengthy NFL coaching ended in 2007 when he parted ways with the San Diego Chargers, said he has no plans to return to coaching.
"It's time to find other forms of recreation," said Schottenheimer, while practicing on the Trilogy driving range. "Golf being primary."
NFL greats Marty Schottenheimer, Marshall Faulk and more than 30 other retired coaches and players teed off at a Trilogy La Quinta charity golf tournament on Wednesday.
Organizers of the third annual "Gridiron Golf Classic" said they expect to raise $30,000 for local charities - about twice the amount raised at last year's tournament.
The event benefits the Junior League of Palm Springs Desert Communities, which lends support to local groups such as Martha's Village & Kitchen and Safehouse of the Desert. The NFL Alumni Chapter of Southern California co-hosted the tournament.
Samantha Buono, the Junior League's fundraising co-chairwoman, said she used some of her NFL connections to help launch the "Gridiron" event. Buono is the daughter of former Chicago Bears player Mike Pyle.
Each of the tournament's 23 golf foursomes included at least one NFL veteran. Members of Xavier College Preparatory High School football team in Palm Desert volunteered at the event.
Palm Springs resident and former pro-football standout Fred "The Hammer" Williamson said the event shows football fans that NFL players may be tough but they care about the community, too.
He also joked that golf tournaments like the "Gridiron" were the only way to keep in touch with "some of these crippled has-beens I haven't seen in a long time."
Schottenheimer, whose lengthy NFL coaching ended in 2007 when he parted ways with the San Diego Chargers, said he has no plans to return to coaching.
"It's time to find other forms of recreation," said Schottenheimer, while practicing on the Trilogy driving range. "Golf being primary."