Blake Griffin donates car for charity auction
BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Saturday, May 07, 2011
5/07/11 at 5:33 AM
Blake Griffin dedicated All-Star weekend, when he won the NBA's slam dunk contest by jumping over a car, to his late friend Wilson Holloway.
Now, he has dedicated the car.
Griffin donated the 2011 Kia Optima that helped win the contest to a public auction. Proceeds from the auction will go to Stand Up To Cancer, a fundraising organization benefiting cancer research.
Holloway, Griffin's boyhood friend and former Oklahoma Christian School teammate who went on to play tackle for Tulsa, died after a three-year battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma Feb. 16. He was 22.
"I am honored to memorialize Wilson's legacy by helping raise funds for cancer research," Griffin said. "Wilson was an inspiration to everybody who knew him, and a very dear friend and teammate."
In addition to Griffin's donation, Stand Up To Cancer announced the creation of Team Blake: In Honor of My Friend Wilson Holloway, a fundraising outlet through which the public can contribute at tulsaworld.com/blakedunk
"Wilson Holloway's memory lives on through the generosity of his friend Blake Griffin," said Laura Ziskin, co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer. "Basketball fans and all of us who have loved or lost someone in the fight against cancer can be a part of Blake's tribute to Wilson, to help fund critical cancer research."
The auction including the donated car runs through 8 p.m. May 15. Anyone interested in bidding should consult tulsaworld.com/blakecar
Griffin won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award Wednesday after averaging 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Los Angeles Clippers. He put together a season's worth of highlight-reel dunks, topped by his All-Star feat at the Staples Center.
That weekend also included Griffin's 14 points on seven dunks during the Rookie-Sophomore game, and his becoming the first rookie since Yao Ming in 2003 to play in the All-Star Game.
Griffin also made sure he recognized Holloway.
"He's just one of those guys that was always positive and always a great guy," Griffin said at his All-Star Game press conference. "To see him go through what he did and keep smiling and keep staying positive about it was an inspiration to a lot of people."
Fifteen hours after the All-Star Game, Griffin served as a pallbearer at Holloway's funeral in Edmond.
The following night, Griffin paid tribute to his late friend before his first game in Oklahoma City as a Clipper. He warmed up in a blue T-shirt trimmed with Holloway's gold No. 71 and the words "Just Keep Smiling" printed above the number.
Original Print Headline: Charity auction to get car
Guerin Emig 918-581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Blake Griffin donated the 2011 Kia Optima he dunked over to win this year's NBA slam dunk contest to be auctioned for Stand Up To Cancer. Griffin's donation honors former Oklahoma Christian School teammate and TU tackle Wilson Holloway, who died of Hodgkin's lymphoma Feb. 16. AP file
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