Tall Santa Clauses to Hand out Gifts at the Crown
Published on December 18, 2002 under NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., December 18, 2002 â The Fayetteville Patriots players will hand out gifts, eat lunch and play games with Larry's Kids Friday at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville on Friday.
Larry Smith, a disk jockey at OLDIES 96.5 FM in Fayetteville, has headed the charity since 1998. Each year, Smith's charity raises money to buy Christmas presents for children in need.
This year, at least 154 children will receive Christmas presents thanks to the Larry's Kids program.
The Patriots helped again this year by holding a silent auction during the December 7 game against the Huntsville Flight at the Crown Coliseum. A few items were auctioned off on Smith's radio show as well.
Auction items included four autographed basketballs; one signed by the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team; one signed by former UNC star player and former Denver Nuggets head coach Doug Moe,and Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe; a ball signed by Washington Wizards head coach Doug Collins; and a ball signed by both UNC head coach Matt Doherty and UNC legend point guard Phil Ford.
Other auction items include, a Wizards hat signed by Wizards rookie forward Jared Jeffries, a practice jersey signed by Nuggets forward Juwan Howard and autographed hockey jerseys from the New York Islanders, the Tampa Bay Lighting and the Edmonton Oilers.
The money raised went toward buying Christmas gifts for the more than 150 children who will be at the Crown Coliseum on Friday. The afternoon will start off with the players giving presents to the children.
Afterward, the players will sit in the stands and eat pizza with the children. The players will then play games and show the youngsters a few pointers.
"I can't say enough about the generosity of the Fayetteville Patriots,'' Smith said. "They were such a big help to us last year and this year it looks like it's going to be even better."
Larry's Kids will attend the Fayetteville Patriots Saturday night game against the Mobile Revelers, starting at 7:30. Before the Patriots take the floor, the East Carolina Pirates will face the Campbell Fighting Camels in men's basketball at the Crown Coliseum at 5 p.m.
Tickets for the Patriots game will earn fans admission into the Pirates-Camels game. Tickets for the game start at $6. The Patriots return to the Crown on Dec. 27 to face the Asheville Altitude on Like Mike Night.
The first 2,000 fans receive a Like Mike Poster from the motion picture "Like Mike," starring rapper Lil' Bow Wow.
NBA G League Stories from December 18, 2002
- Riverdragons Outlast Lowgators - Charleston Lowgators
- Groove Suffer First Home Loss In Five Games - Greenville Groove
- Tall Santa Clauses to Hand out Gifts at the Crown - Fayetteville Patriots
- Flight To Hold Extreme Night This Saturday - Huntsville Flight
- Lonely at the Top - G League
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