Chopper's Dinner
(from the Rocky Mountain News)
By Dahlia Jean Weinstein
Rocky Mountain News
March 14, 2007 - What: Chopper's Dinner
Held: Feb. 21 at the Pepsi Center
Details: Nuggets and Avs and Mammoth, oh my!
Players from three Colorado sports teams raised funds for children in the spirit of the late Chopper Travaglini. Colorado Crush and Rapids players couldn't attend because of scheduling.
History: Travaglini was the Nuggets' trainer from 1976 to 1990 and president of the Denver Nuggets Community Fund after his retirement. His compassion for kids inspired him to start Chopper's Dinner to benefit Kroenke Sports Enterprises Charities and its programs for children and families.
Best quote: "Nobody in the world is perfect except a kid." – Chopper
Chopper Travaglini Awards: Presented by Paul Andrews, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for KSE, to Colorado Avalanche right wing Ian Laperriere and Nuggets teammates Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby, who had won it three times.
Fun fact: Two of Chopper's friends – Joe Fardone, from Atlantic City, and John Perozzi, from Cherry Hills, N.J. – fly here each year to run the auction.
Platinum reception:
– Players greeted VIP guests in the Lexus Club.
– For $20 a pop, Nuggets dancers sold mystery balloons that held coupons for prizes. Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera bought several balloons and gave his prizes to the dancers, who sold them.
– Dirty martinis and Manhattans flowed from ice sculptures thanks to bartenders Anthony and teammate Allen Iverson, who also took a chance at roulette.
– Nugget Jamal Sampson ruled the craps table as teammate Linas Kleiza cheered him on.
– Mascots Rocky and Wooly hammed it up for the crowd.
– Guests and players had caricatures drawn by artists.
Main event: Emcee Kyle Keefe had questions for the players from fans in the crowd:
Q: From a 7-year-old fan, for Avalanche player John-Michael Liles. "Can you name all the planets?"
A: "Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto, but I don't think it's a planet anymore." (He forgot Neptune.)
Q: Also for Liles from a 19-year-old female fan. "Who's the best dancer on the team? Who's the worst?"
A: "Ian Laperriere – he's both!" (Apparently, he dances like Michael Jackson, circa early '80s.)
Q: For Colorado Mammoth head coach Gary Gait. "Which Mammoth player could play the next James Bond?"
A: "Josh Sims – he's suave."
Q: For Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny, from a 7-year-old fan. "Do you ask your roommate on the road to leave the bathroom light on in case there are any monsters?"
A: "No, my roommate is Skras (Karlis Skrastins), and by the time I get in my bedroom, he's out cold."
Q: For Marcus Camby, "Who's your hero?"
A:"My favorite hero of all time is Dr. J (Julius Erving), a fellow U-Mass alum."
Q: For the Avs' Andrew Brunette. "Who's a better captain, Captain Kangaroo, Captain Crunch or Captain Sakic?"
A: "Do I have to answer this? OK, Captain Crunch."
Surprise entertainment: Direct from Las Vegas, The Rat Pack Is Back, a tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean.
Dahlia Jean Weinstein is the society writer.
weinsteind@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-2882