Charity trumps crosstown rivalry

Rick Devereux

It’s not easy finding something USC and UCLA alumni agree on, but the

Carson Palmer Charity Open at Pelican Hill Golf Club Monday is one

exception.

Former UCLA and current Carolina Panthers running back DeShaun

Foster was out swinging the clubs at Palmer’s charity tournament that

helped raise money for the Hillview Acres Children’s home in Chino

Hills.

Foster, who attended Tustin High and played against Palmer when

the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, who won the Heisman Trophy in

2002 at USC, was at Santa Margarita. Foster said he put aside petty

rivalry in order to help a greater cause.

“I chose this tournament mostly for what Carson is trying to do,”

Foster said. “I enjoy Carson. He’s a good person so I support him.”

Hillview Acres is a residential treatment center offering programs

for young victims of severe abuse and neglect ranging in age from 6

to 16.

“My wife and I went out there and visited their facilities and saw

that it’s a group of kids who are awesome and fired up to have us

there,” Palmer said. “They need help. Their facilities are really run

down.”

Palmer, the first pick in the 2003 draft, was able to gather more

than 30 celebrities to help support his charity and play in the

tournament.

“Who doesn’t want to come to Newport Beach and play at this golf

course?” A.J. Feeley, quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, said. “And

plus, I know Carson. Carson and I get along really well and it’s one

of those things that if I had a golf tournament, I know Carson would

come out to that. You kind of do that for your buddies.”

Professional football players were not the only athletes in

attendance. Former professional baseball player and UC Irvine

standout Brady Anderson and former professional basketball player

Greg Anthony played in the event.

“I got an opportunity to meet Carson before he got drafted by the

Bengals,” Anthony, now an ESPN analyst, said. “He should be commended

because doing these types of events takes a tremendous amount of

time, effort and energy on his part.”

Palmer also announced the creation of the Team Palmer Pledge

Program where people can donate money for every touchdown pass he

throws this season.

“People can put in $50, $1,000, whatever they want, and it goes

straight to Hillview Acres,” Palmer said. “We’re trying anyway we can

to develop and find more and more funds for these kids.”

Serious golfing took a back seat to philanthropic endeavors

Monday.

The scramble, best-ball format meant that each foursome, plus one

celebrity, worked together as a team to aim for the lowest score. But

some celebrities weren’t pulling their weight.

“I’m nonexistent,” said Feeley, who, at Oregon, was a college

rival of Palmer. “I’m kind of like the invisible man on my team. Look

at me, I’m wearing flip-flops.”

Dressed in proper golf attire didn’t help Palmer, who said he was

playing terribly.

“We’re not below par, which is pretty embarrassing for scramble

[play],” Palmer said. “In your own tournament you’re not supposed to

win, at least that’s what I’m saying.”