T.O. Gets His Glam On in D.C. For A Good Cause
Photo courtesy the Alzheimer's Association
It wasn’t a football field, but freshly minted Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens was comfortable and confident in the spotlight at the Sixth Annual National Alzheimer’s Gala, hosted by the Alzheimer's Association Wednesday at the National Building Museum.
T.O. received the association’s first Young Champions Award for increasing awareness of the disease, which he’s done through PSAs and activities such as Memory Walks in San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Dallas. Owens’ grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1996, and though she hasn’t been able to enjoy his success on the field, she’s been an inspiration for Owens.
“She’s definitely been my source of strength, my determination,” Owens said.
For those wondering how close the always controversial player came to joining the Redskins during the offseason, Owens said it never really came to that point.
“I think there was some interest, whether it was hot, cold, or lukewarm, there was an opportunity there,” Owens said. “But once I got to Buffalo and spoke with [that] staff, it turned out to be a deal by the end of the day.”
The event drew a long list of celebrities and elected officials (who all tripped over each other and yours truly to get their picture taken with T.O.) French President Nicolas Sarkozy was honored with the Chairman’s Leadership Award, which the French Ambassador to the United States, Pierre Vimont, accepted on the president’s behalf. Sarkozy has been at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research and its funding in France and Europe. Chris Matthews of Hardball emcee'd the event, with Maria Shriver and Lea Thompson as honored guests. Coach Frank Broyles, a football legend at the University of Arkansas, is a volunteer spokesman for the organization and was also listed as an emcee. His wife Barbara, who had been his high school sweetheart, died of Alzheimer’s in 2004.
“I think what’s helped me the most is our family came together. We decided we were going to make it the best of circumstances, not the worst,” Broyles said. “We were going to cherish every moment that we had with her until she died.”
The coach also had football predictions for the 2009 college season, forecasting Southern Cal and Florida as the favorites. And he’s decidedly not with President Obama on the BCS playoff system.
“I hate that playoff system, because I think it would ruin the bowls,” he said. “I’m dead set against it.”
To read more about the association, check out www.alz.org