Sometimes, everything seems to end up in its proper place — whether the weather cooperates or not. Such was the case with our first “SportsJam” event Dec. 5 at Sports Basement in Walnut Creek. On a day when many (if not most) of the hundreds of attendees went home with something — be it Cal basketball tickets, free ski passes or dozens of other prizes — it seemed only fitting that the biggest prize of all ended up going to the person who probably needed it the most. To say that Dublin’s Mike Oldenburg — the winner of our Big Bike Giveaway — had been in need of a bike would be an understatement. He had not only been in the market for one, he’d been on a special training program just to get to the point where he could ride one again. A long-standing back probMike Wolcott lem can do that to a person. “I’ve been working up to this for quite a while,” said Oldenburg, above, upon being presented with his Cannondale Comfort 4 bike and prize package. “My doctor said I needed to do something so I’d been walking, and then I was doing 15 minutes on a stationary bike. “I had never won a thing in my life. This could not have worked out any better — my doctor just told me I could start riding.” While Oldenburg won the biggest prize on what turned out to be a rainy day at the Sports Basement, dozens of prizes — and good times — rained down on the hundreds of attendees throughout the day. A good crowd was on hand before noon, when the downpour hit. By then, Kinders had already served up hundreds of barbecued ribs, Peets had poured dozens of cups of coffee and visitors both inside and outside of the store had enjoyed everything from outdoor laser tag to indoor karate and gymnastics demonstrations. One highlight was the High School Mascot Dance Off. Under the watchful eye of the A’s mascot, “Stomper,” the Clayton Valley Eagles won the competition and received a bouquet from Jory’s Flowers. The event benefited the United Mt. Diablo Athletic Foundation, with proceeds going directly to high school athletic programs to benefit our kids playing sports. Watch for more “SportsJam” events in your community soon! ✪ — Mike Wolcott 16
SportStars™
December 23, 2010
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