SHOWCASE GOLF: The Show goes on again for good cause

As The Showcase Golf exhibition benefiting the Community Cancer Fund continues to grow and expand its reach to help cancer patients in the Northwest, what’s the group to do to make its latest event bigger and better?

Add more to the silent auction, sure.

Bring back Hall of Fame athletes from baseball, football and hockey. They’re here too.

Adding a Bus, he’ll be here as well.

Jerome Bettis, NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl XL champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers is just one of over 40 celebrities expected to take part when the eighth annual Showcase tees off at 8 a.m. Saturday at The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course.

“I think a lot of these players play in similar tournaments, and we’ve got a group that just love coming back here,” said Myk Crawford, marketing director of the Community Cancer Fund. “Marcus Allen (the Hall of Fame running back from the Raiders and Chiefs and Super Bowl XVIII MVP) is a good recruiter for the Community Cancer Fund. That’s how we’ve been able to get this network of guys and a lot of them keep coming here because of him.”

Also returning this year will be Larry Fitzgerald (football), Blair O’Neal (golf), Wayne Gretzky (hockey), Janet Gretzky (actress), 2021 champion Mark Mulder (baseball) and 2022 champion Ray Whitney (hockey) are also scheduled to appear.

Former champions Brenden Morrow (2017, 2016), Grant Fuhr (2015) and Neil Lomax (2015) are also in the field. Former Green Bay, Minnesota and Seattle placekicker Ryan Longwell is the only competitor to compete in the previous nine events.

Former Spokane Chief and current Chicago Blackhawk Tyler Johnson also returns.

“We don’t really ask a lot of them,” Crawford said. “We ask them to come here and have a good time. We pair them with good corporate sponsors and they all enjoy their time here. The backdrop, the course and the area is definitely a draw as well.”

New to the event this year will be former NFL quarterback Brock Osweiler, who grew up in the Kalispell, Mont. area.

“The weather is going to be phenomenal this weekend,” Crawford said. “The list just continues to grow every year because we’ve got a well-run event that makes a big impact in the community. And it’s something they can attach their names to, and makes a difference and brings in real dollars.”

In the previous nine events, the Community Cancer Fund has raised $28 million for cancer patients.

Back again this year is a silent auction, with items ranging from an autographed guitar by Jake Owen, Brad Paisley to jerseys signed by Allen and the rest of the celebrities in the field will also be on display at the course. To view, visit https://theshowcase23.ggo.bid/bidding/package-browse.

“The auction got some good traction last year,” Crawford said. “It’s a really family friendly event with food trucks and a fan area.”

Members of the Gonzaga men’s basketball team will also be at the course starting at 11 a.m. to sign autographs.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by visiting Showcasegolf.com. Kids 13 and under are free with a ticketed adult.

As there is no parking at the course, spectators are advised to use the shuttle provided by parking at North Idaho College off Northwest Boulevard in the North Lot starting at 7:15 a.m. and running until an hour after Saturday’s event. Parking is also available at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.