The early indications of the pink jersey auction at the Okotoks Dawgs’ annual fundraiser were positive.
The key indicator was my attempts to buy a Dawgs’ jersey during the Wear Pink Day breast cancer research fundraiser on Sunday were unsuccessful.
The definition of a poor live or silent auction is when I get a winning bid. I have a tendency to go to these things with a garage sale mentality — maybe I can get this on the cheap.
My strategy was to bid on either manager Brandon Newell or first base coach Pablo Forno’s jersey. No offence guys, but coaches' jerseys aren't as sought after as players.
I had to eliminate Newell. He’s a grad of the University of Washington Huskies. My dad, brother, grandfather and assorted cousins are all grads of Washington State University — I couldn’t dream of going to any family function with a jersey from a U-Dub grad.
The pink jersey of the affable Forno would be perfect for me. Forno appears to be like me — he’s going to be around town for a while.
I had visions of me, 10 years down the road, still trying to get an action shot from the first-base side, with my pink jersey on, calling Pablo over and reminiscing: “Pablo, this mustard stain is from Wear Pink Day 2015, the relish, 2017, the mayo? I don’t know. I hate mayo.”
I was too slow. The auctioneer was talking faster than Mick Jagger on six Red Bulls and I missed it.
The bids for the remaining jerseys were too rich for my blood. That’s a good thing. The Dawgs and the fans raised $22,000 to battle breast cancer.
I was in on the bidding because I owed the Dawgs. They generously provided me with 300 berm tickets for race packages for a recent High River half-marathon with proceeds going to the Foothills Aim Society for special needs adults.
Take a look at any fundraiser from Cayley to DeWinton and often the Dawgs are helping.
However, at the auction the Dawgs provided the venue, it was the generosity of the fans who raised the money.
Congratulations – you look great in pink.
As for next year, I will have to go even cheaper than the coaches to get my pink jersey.
I just hope the batboy is big enough so his jersey will get over my growing potbelly.
