Drew Brees Celebrity Golf

When AspenSpin sees professional athletes giving back, walking the walk as they say,  we put it on our cover...unlike ESPN the mag.  Sure the sports section is filled with negative articles about salary caps, collective bargaining agreements, domestic abuse cases, DUI's and more...this is not one of those stories.  Click COOL BREES for photos.

DREW BREES is one of the GREAT guys in sports. He's a philanthropist.  He's a super-bowl winning quaterback and he's nice  to everyone--especially the kids. Brees hosted the 13th annual Cox Celebrity Championship Golf Tournament at Morgan Run in Rancho Santa Fe over the weekend to benefit San Diego charities.  The Brees Dream Foundation (website) was founded in 2003 by Drew and  his wife Brittany to "advance research in the fight against cancer and provide care, education and opportunities for children in need".  The Cox Tourney has raised for than $1 million over the years and The Brees Dream Foundation has committed more than $6 million since inception.  This years event raised $135,000 for local charities.  The 2011 recipients are:

RADY'S CHILDREN's HOSPITAL  (website)

FRIEND's of SCOTT (website)

SAN DIEGO ARMED SERVICES YMCA (website)

NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY (Pacific South Coast Chapter). (website)

Drew and Brittany Brees The Brees Dream FoundationAspenSpin loves pro sports. While golf is NOT one of our favorite activities, watching Hall of Fame caliber jocks knock the little white ball around Rancho Santa Fe was a blast.   Some of the celebs are excellent golfers, some are hackers, but everybody had fun and helped raise a few bucks for the kids.  Hall of Famers in the house included Jerry Rice, Marcus Allen, Jan Stenerud, Rollie Fingers and Grant Fuhr.  A-Spin's personal favorites included Truck Robinson, Jeremy Roenick, Carson Palmer, Mike Euzione, Dave Krieg, Marshall Faulk and Andre Reed. 

Dallas Cowboy's QB, Tony Romo enhanced his reputation as a winner by scoring 5 under par to take the championship.  He showed a ton of class by donating the $25,000 first prize back to The Brees Dream Foundation.  Stellar celebs golfers included Jack Wagner (Melrose Place), former pitcher Rick Rhoden,  former NBA player Jack Marin and No Doubt drummer Adrian Young.  Closer to duffers were, Ray Romano (Everybody loves him), Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton from Fresh Prince), QB Jeff Garcia and corner Quentin Jammer. 

It never gets old seeing the elation on the face of a kid who gets an autograph from somebody famous.  Even if the athlete retired before the kid was born.   It never gets old seeing Brees and some of the other all-stars interacting with children suffering from cancer or hanging with heroic military personnel.  A "what's up" can go a long way when it comes from an all-pro.  Unfortunately for every pre-teen who is excited to get his t-shirt or hat signed by a star, there's an over 30 dude with an 8 x 10 trying to get that signature and put it up on e-bay.

Check the Pix.  COOL BREES.

Thanks to the athletes who were all very friendly and accessible.  Thanks to crowd, who was well behaved and respectful of the golf, although, like A-Spin, they were mostly fans of the players...not the game. Thanks to Drew  and Brittany Brees and The Brees Dream Foundation for all you do.  Thanks to Cox Communications and Morgan Run for the hospitality and thanks to San Diego for being America's finest city (and for staying classy).

The kids love Jeremy Roenick. click for more pix. Tony Romo showed surperior skill in Winning the Cox Celebrity Championship.

 The Cox Celebrity Championship hosted by Drew Brees raised $135,000 for local San Diego Charities. Click for more pix.