Dave Hooker audio:
Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl has spent the majority of his life making others laugh, but Thursday night the tables were turned on him.
Pearl was roasted by a host of local celebrities at a $200-a-plate benefit held for the Volunteer Ministry Center at Knoxville Convention Center.
The center is raising money for a new building being constructed on Broadway. The center's mission is to take homeless people off the streets and get them into housing. In 2007, the Volunteer Ministry placed 77 homeless people into housing.
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam served as master of ceremonies.
"It's great that Bruce shows up for big events like this, but he also shows up for benefits where there are only 10 people there,'' Haslam said. "Very few people have taken this town the way Bruce has.''
Dane Bradshaw, one of the biggest fan favorites to play for Pearl, recently finished his first pro season in Holland and was on hand to roast his former coach.
"People always ask if I'm going to come back to UT and get into coaching,'' Bradshaw said. "I had a great opportunity to learn under such a great instructor, disciplinarian and teacher of the game … but we're not here to talk about Pat Summitt tonight.''
Bradshaw said he felt real good about the $100,000 scholarship Pearl endowed in his name, and joked that Steven Pearl, the coach's son, was the first recipient.
Bradshaw's pokes at Pearl were among many that drew laughter from the crowd of about 400.
Associate head coach Tony Jones revealed that Pearl was once known as "Cadillac'' Pearl for his habit of renting the large luxury car on recruiting trips to impress prospects.
Summitt also had her fun, playfully second-guessing Pearl's style of not calling timeouts.
"I figure at being 31-5 (36 games), that this year he took home an average of two (unused) timeouts per game, which would add up to 72 timeouts for his young men to rest,'' Summitt said. "Do you think that would have helped them?''
Bob Kesling, the voice of the Vols, put together a video montage of Pearl losing his clothes, his body sweat and his composure.
"I call it the wide world of Pearl,'' Kesling said. "It's the thrill of victory, and the thrill of 'what the hell is he gonna do next?' ''
Former UT player and Kesling's radio partner Bert Bertelkamp was one of many who made light of Pearl's pending raise, which is expected to lift his pay to around $2 million annually.
"Bruce spends countless hours speaking to student groups, including standing on tables in dormitory cafeterias, constantly urging them to please come see the basketball team play,'' Bertelkamp said. "This year you can expect to see Bruce promoting student attendance at football games, since the students are now having to buy their (football) tickets to help pay his salary.''
UT football coach Phillip Fulmer had a memorial service to attend and couldn't make the ceremony, but Fulmer sent a message via video.
Fulmer recalled one basketball game he was sitting behind UT's bench when Pearl addressed him.
"I did find it interesting one game when you turned to me and said, very honestly, 'This stuff is really hard when they expect you to win,' '' Fulmer said. "Well, welcome to the club big boy.
"I think you have learned to sweat gracefully.''
That was certainly the case for Pearl at Thursday night's roast, and all for a good cause.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 101
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
That was so odd, I was sitting here thinking as I read the article: Does Coach ever just like to sit and watch when both teams are playing well??
That's a question I'd love to see him answer.
This will sound silly to some of you, but there are timss when basketball is like a well-scripted ballet: everyone is doing their jobs, no fouls, no turnovers, good shooting.....by both teams, and it is really fun to watch.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
I've got to add another part: another of my favorite sports events is to watch a REALLLY good defense play. Florida against OSU was a good example.
Another was UT against Ark this year.
For a whole season, 2 D's stand out: UT's 1985 team that trashed Miami, and the Bama team that won the NC when Jay Barker was QB.
BillVol writes:
mparker, what is your point?
jimr07 writes:
mparker--i really did not understand your post. is there a message there?
oldvolsfan writes:
parker has no point.
oldvolsfan writes:
parker has no point.
oldvolsfan writes:
parker has no point
volwalk writes:
roast>>mparker
schymtz writes:
We get the point!
TommyJack writes:
doldrumzzzzzzz
Silent_Fulmer writes:
And FOOLMORE couldn't be there, imagine that!
Silent_Fulmer writes:
Sorry, don't give me FOOLMORE was at a memorial service. Like anyone has never said there grandparents passed away to get out of anything.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
hmm, sorry, forgot audiecne that lurks here.
okay, here we go, rw-written for you 'special' ones.
------------------------------
I really enjoy watching the following:
a) well-played basketball
b) good football defense
I would be curious to know if Coach Bruce Pearl, the U. of Tennessee men's basketball coach, ever just sits back in a well-played game and simply enjoys the game for a while.
------------------------------
Sigh.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
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Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
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Hotllama2 writes:
mparker - I love how you act like we're the "special" ones. You're the guy who randomly interjected the '85 UT team that "trashed" Miami and Bama with Jay Barker. WTF? First, this article is on basketball. Second, don't ever come on here and give Bama props again.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
hotllanta2:
do what I please, dude. you care to try to enforce it otherwise??
tnbanker_govols writes:
I thoroughly enjoyed the part where Fulmer was welcoming Pearl to the so called "club." Dang Phil, Pearl's been there for a while....where are you at?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
oh, and hotlanta2:
the whole point of what I posted was about the enoyment of watching high-quality play. sorry to offend your friggin' hatreds, as I am a UT fan first and an SEC fan second.
But, to repeat, don't EVER think you will intimidate me into posing to freaking please someone like you.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
tnbanker:
Phil is on the watch list for expulsinon. I like Phil, but he has struggled lately and it is NOT getting any easier.
Everyone in the SEC is getting serious on the football and basketball programs.
CoverOrange writes:
Silent_never do good, 10:13 am, please read the article on John Stuckey.
Volunatic writes:
A bit off-topic here, but anyone else notice that Kentucky offered a basketball scholarship to AN EIGHTH GRADER?!?!
That reeks of desperation.
Volunatic writes:
"Silent_Fulmer"-- did it ever occur to you that you're a moronic jerk?
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/m...
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
careful spam, several of the posters in this particular thread have great trouble with 'off-topic'. Some of them should be threatening you shortly.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
spam, concerning the 8th-grader...there are women's teams doing that too. Iowa State offered 2 kids in the eighth grade a year or so ago.
Seems to me a huge risk. There are TONS of kids who are great at 14 and then don't grow or develop their game past that point. In other words, they are technically and physically advanced at 14, but then everyone catches up or blows by.
Sure, there are the Labron James out there, but there are also the Kwame Brown's.
Volunatic writes:
sphs_vol-- you mean it isn't steve spurrier?
Laydbakvol writes:
Did you know that if you take "Bruce Pearl" and assign the numerical values of 1-10 to each letter, square the even ones, throw out the ones that end in 5 (number of games TN lost), take the total and divide by 31 (number of games TN won), Add 431 (Lofton's trey totals), reassign corresponding letters to each of the remainding 25 numbers you get "BruceAlmightyNCAAChampion" Is that weird or what?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
spam: very clever :)
sphs_vol, I think you are kdding, so I'll kid you back;
there is a theory that the world ends in 2012, another theory says in 2029. If it worries you, Send all your money to me, and I'll give you a plastic bag, a chinese fortune cookie, and some duct tape.
Prohecy: someday, there'll be a war in the Middle East between two neighbors.
Prophecy 2: The world will end someday.
Prophecy 3: It will snow in Canada wnen it's cold enough.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
sphs, don't get all worked up. He's just a guy. He plays basketball for fun. He screws up. His wife is smarter than he is.
All that doom prophecy phooey is phooey. the Bible writers where talking about Romans.
Teh world will end when it ends: the sun will go out, or maybe a comet will hit, or a galaxy will collide. All beyond your control, all beyond your time frame.
Relax and watch the Vols play football in about 4 months.
TommyJack writes:
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Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
CoverOrange writes:
There was also a prophecy of the anti christ appearing at the turn of the millennium and known by the letter "M". 8 years and counting or is should we take a closer look at McCain? j/k
Now back to the show.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
sphs, whatever;
you are welcome to your beliefs, and the Buddhists have theirs, and the Jews, and the Muslims, and the Hindu's....believe what you want.
TommyJack writes:
mparker: interesting. I guess.
magentatoes10 writes:
don't ever blog again mparker. you suck
CoverOrange writes:
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Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
wd40, don't bring logic onto this thread. It's been full of nastiness all day, so why spoil the fun??
btw, heard that white litnium grease is useful on garage doors. Just thought I'd be 'ramdon'.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
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Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
wd40, do you think overrated and mcbrim could be RIGHT about our fan base?? I'm really beginning to wonder.
overatedvols writes:
Hey what is this gibberish? Let's get back to the main topic here.
Tigers are better than the Vols.
dave1#220678 writes:
Fritter spelled backwards is Rettirf. Now what would that possible mean?
TommyJack writes:
sphs_vols: Is that conspiracy being planned on a grassy knoll?
TommyJack writes:
dave1: endtimes.
CoverOrange writes:
Never said I was an atheist.
Millions of muslims would argue with you over Muhammad being a prophet. They also believe Jesus was a prophet. And, believe it or not, they worship the same one God Christians do. BTW, so do Catholics.
No body has believed in multiple gods since the Romans and Greeks.
Revelation: to reveal. To whom was it revealed? To St. John the Divine. A human being. By an angel. Same with Muhammad.
Not arguing which is right or wrong. Just drawing a parallel.
Mparker, read somewhere that if you rotate your tires they'll last longer.
CoverOrange writes:
dave1, means Shields Watkins needs to be resodded.
dave1#220678 writes:
TJ: Could be. I believe it points to Retief Goosen being involved in the JFK plot. Rettirf is pretty darn close to Retief!
CoverOrange writes:
overrated, bricks are better than refried beans.
dave1#220678 writes:
WD40: LOL! Now I think I like your theory better. Although Retief Goosen has been known to be on a grassy knoll or 2.
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