Legendary Memphis athlete Bobby "Bingo" Smith (center) was guest of honor Friday night at Orange Mound Community Center. With him are Rev. LaSimba Gray (left) and Peter Mitchell.
It might be difficult to nab a king cake, but Mardi Gras beads apparently still are plentiful two weeks after Fat Tuesday. Guests wore them at the Phoenix Club Mardi Gras Party and Casino Night on Saturday at the Cadre Building.
The annual event, which features casino-style gambling with fake money, is a fundraiser for Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis.
Lord T and Eloise with Al Kapone and Total Savage performed at the jam-packed party.
"Harrah's brings 40 some odd dealers to work the event every year," said Ben Buffington with the Phoenix Club. And, he added, "This is one of our biggest fundraisers every year."
"This party just seems to have so many loyal followers," said event chairman Gaines Conaway.
If they weren't already loyal followers, John Yacoubian and Ashley Ezekiel probably will be in the future. During the party, John asked Ashley to marry him. "I just told her that I loved her, I wanted her to be with me forever," he said.
Bingo's night
Bobby Smith got the nickname "Bingo" after he left Memphis, said Peter Mitchell, his coach at Melrose High School. Bobby's nickname in Memphis was "Shoo" because of the way he got the basketballs in the net, Peter said. "He was a terrific scorer," he said.
Bobby was the guest of honor Friday night at Orange Mound Community Center. Guests dined on A & R barbecue and cake to celebrate Bobby's 64th birthday. The celebration was one of many scheduled events held over the weekend for the former athlete who now lives in Cleveland.
Asked how he felt about the party, Bobby, who was surrounded by fans who wanted their photo taken with him, said, "It was unexpected."
While at Melrose, Bobby lettered in basketball, football, baseball and track before graduating in 1965. The first African-American athlete to be recruited by Memphis State (now the University of Memphis), Bobby ended up at the University of Tulsa, where he led the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring. He was inducted into the University of Tulsa Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984.
In 1969, he was drafted by the San Diego Rockets. He played for 11 seasons in the NBA, spending nine years with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
His No. 7 jersey has been retired by the Cavaliers. On Friday, Melrose retired his No. 15 high school jersey.
Contact Michael Donahue at 529-2797 or e-mail donahue@commercialappeal.com.
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