H to the Izzo!

By Jeff Guinee

During the offseason, Patriots' captain and All-Pro special teamer, Larry Izzo, was part of an NFL contigent that traveled overseas to visit our combat troops. Upon his return, Larry had even a greater appreciation for their work and sacrifices and decided to spearhead a charitable cause for these soldiers and their families. In order to raise money for such causes, he organized the first ever Larry Izzo Charity Karaoke Night at Avalon. Joined by his Patriot teammates, Larry hosted a unique yet fun charitable event. Here's a recap of the evening:

7:45PM- We arrived at Avalon for the charity karaoke event. The VIP line to get in is about 50yds in length and just as I'm about to walk in, an Escalade pulls up with Daniel Graham and Willie McGinest. About eight to ten fans seeking autographs swarmed the SUV before Graham could even get it into park.

7:54PM- Once inside, I noticed the array of silent auction items on the edge of Avalon's dance floor. The items included everything from Springsteen tickets to an entire Red Sox suite for a game next season. There were autographed balls from the likes of LT, Belichick, Nomar, Moss, Brady, Deuce, Vinateri, and Shockey; Signed replica jerseys of Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Vick, Dillon, Flutie, and Seymour.

7:58PM- A quick scan of the room tells me that the majority of the crowd is female. I'd say it was 65/35 women, definitely not reminescent of Gillette unless we're talking a preseason game in early August. Above the stage is a large projection screen showing images of Warrick Dunn and Larry Izzo's trip overseas this past summer. Pics of Izzo and the troops are plastered all around the bar.

8:02PM- You knew the media would be all over this type of event and it's obvious by the eight television crews that are set up side by side along the rear bowl of the dance floor.

8:04PM- Greg Hill of WAAF's Hillman Morning Show is the MC of the event. Tonight's three judges include some guy from Fidelity (he must be important or donated a lot of cake), Miss Massachusetts, and Dallas Mavericks owner Mr. Fine himself- Mark Cuban. I was shocked to see Cuban in the house but as the night wore on we found out that he has started his own foundation for the military families called www.fallenpatriotfund.org. Cuban is wearing a blue rugby with a white collar- he actually looks like Gilligan. Either way his rugby is covered in a few advertisements with the biggest being Citibank.

8:06PM- Right off the bat, Larry Izzo kicks things off and explains that he grew up as a military brat with his father being a West Point grad and serviceman his whole life. This past summer he teamed up with Warrick Dunn and the NFL to head overseas and spend some time with our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He met over 5000 troops and got to thank them personally for their work. Izzo referred to the visit "as a life changing event."

8:24PM- Hillman calls out Izzo and tells him that it's his night so he must do the first karaoke. A reluctant Izzo agrees and breaks right into 'Hello' by the Doors. While Larry does a horrible impersonation of Jim Morrison, Mark Cuban is actually head-bangin' at the judges' table.

8:27PM- Cuban rewards Izzo with a score of 53. Oh how cute, he registered his own number. The Mavs owner says "Thank God you hit harder on the field than you did with those notes."

8:29PM- Loni Paxton steps to the plate with some female and sings "I Got You Babe." Paxton looks totally lost and it is obvious since you only randomly hear his voice through the microphone. Halfway through the number, he begins to shake and twirl the mike with its cord. (Ho-Hum) Cuban tells Loni afterwards that he reminds him of Sonny. On a side note, thank God Cuban is here because the other two judges are just plain duds. The two of them are just sitting there attempting to be funny and cute but in reality they're just boring. Couldn't we have gotten better judges than Miss Mass and some Fidelity big-wig. Imagine Belichick scoring these songs, not only would these guys be scared, but Bill's demeanor and post song comments would be gospel.

8:40PM- Injured Matt Light saunters onto the stage with a walking stick. The crowd comes to life for a quick second. There must be a provision in Matt's contract that doesn't allow him to visit the barber during his rehab. The guy is sporting a huge mop. Light asked for an assistant from the crowd to help him. When a random girl is selected from the audience, she scurries up on the stage and Matt makes her hold his drink, the crowd laughs and she willingly accepts her call of duty. All 6'4, 305lbs of Light bellows the song 'Of the Red White and Blue' by Toby Keith, the patriotic tune triggers one of the soldiers on hand to jump up on stage and join in. As the song concludes, the place erupts in cheers and applause- by far the loudest yet. Cuban gives the duo a ten and says, "Dude, you rock and I'm not just saying that cuz you can kick my ass!" I never had any idea Cuban was this entertaining- the guy is skyrocketing up my depth chart of dudes I want to have dinner with.

8:46PM- Dan Koppen wanders onto the stage with a female companion. I'm not sure if they are friends, girlfriend-boyfriend, or some random combination, but I do know that he needs a haircut more than Light. Koppen and Light look like they're from the Bad News Bears or something. What? There are no Supercuts on Rt. 1. The big guy plays the Fenway fave, Sweet Caroline, and brings the crowd to life as they join in the swaying affair. Koppen definitely doesn't look comfortable up there. He reminds me of some fat kid whose mother drags him onto the dance floor at the family wedding.

9:00PM- Two gents from Izzo's father's 1967 class at West Point grab the mikes and with the help of backup QB, Matt Cassel, sing the old school hit by the Temptations, 'My Girl.' Cassel is all over the stage, fawning over Miss Massachusetts and serenading girls with his horrendous dance moves. He looks like the scrawny white kid from Road Trip in that scene at the frat house- just plain bad but the female crowd simply loves it. Hopefully, that will be the most action he'll see all year. The guy is clearly the Jesse Palmer of the Pats- call ABC and get The Bachelor on the phone, we have a candidate!

9:07PM- Vrabel decides to kiss Coach B's behind and chooses to sing Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer'. The girls in the audience scream in anticipation- "Gina works the diner all day......"

9:28PM- Hillman introduces a local broadcasting icon and I'm not talking Jack Williams, no it's the former WCVB staple and now NECN newsman Chet Curtis. Growing up in Mass., my parents always watched Channel 5 news and I swear to God this guy looks the same as he did in 1987- he doesn't age! If you don't read the Inside Track, the guy is supposedly a karaoke stud. On this night, the guy who will never go bald belts out the song 'That's Right'. He looks perfect alongside the other big fellas with that head of hair. Hey... anyone see Nat?

9:33PM- It's Fauria's turn, he quickly announces that this is his "ode to General Hospital because growing up everyone had a friend named Jesse and everyone wanted Jesse's girl." The tight end looks like Millar in that rally video from his college days- as he points to the crowd and bounces around the stage like he was on a pogo stick. The Pats players come up behind him on stage with signs that say, "He has a good day job" and "Make some noise." All the attention springs Fauria into his own version of the running man that results in Vrabel holding up a sign that says, "Big Man on Campus."

9:37PM- Don Davis busts onto the scene and tells the crowd, "it's time to get this place bumpin" and he immediately jumps into "It Takes Two" by Rob Base. Davis is dancing all over stage, from one end to the other, changing the lyrics and throwing in Double D's (his nickname). The guy is tearin' it up. All I have to say is I hope to God this guy picks one and takes it to the house this season because you all have to see this guy boogey. The club is finally rockin! It only took two hours and hip-hop to get there. I mean the judges are dancin', the players are shakin', even Cuban is having a good time. I wish I had Cuban on tape- the guy is a walking comedy show. He's dancin' like he's all by himself on an island- he's snappin' his fingers, clappin' his hands, shakin' his hips- you know the white guy wedding dance.

9:41PM- Cuban gives Davis a 7 on the scorecard. An outraged Vrabel runs onto the stage, grabs the mike, and points at Cuban as he barks- "That's why you will never win an NBA Championship!" The place explodes in laughs and cheers- I love it!

9:44PM- Flutie and Brady come out on the stage. It's the first time we've seen or even heard these guys were in attendance so of course the place goes bonkers. All I can compare it to is that old footage of the Beatles when all the girls just scream and throw themselves at them. Brady grabs the mike and steals the night's thunder- "this song is for all my friends in the AFC East? I got friends in low places." The place goes crazy and sings in unison with the two QBs.

10:03PM- Brady vanishes as quickly as he appeared, he's probably already back watching Comcast with Bridget in his Back Bay suite. Dan Klecko and Josh Miller tandem up for the next song, within ten minutes, the crowd clears out and suddenly Avalon feels only half full. The punter and tackle sing "Pina Colada's" and that only pushes the crowd further towards the exits. Miller's addition of the harmonica was timely but unappreciated by the crowd.

10:12PM- Matt Light and a buddy with a guitar perform an original song about Mustaches. Suddenly, the whole night has taken a turn down Weird St. and I've had enough.

10:18PM- Larry Izzo invites a few of our servicemen up on stage who have just returned from duty overseas. The remaining crowd showers them with applause and that's my cue to head out. All in all, it was a great night by Izzo and the Pats.