Dallas and Collin County Texas Tech Alumni Association members enjoyed a Mardi Gras Style Casino Night on March 5. CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO SEE MORE PICTURES ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
On March 5, 2011, the Dallas & Collin County Alumni Chapters teamed up for their Third Annual Mardi Gras Style Casino Night at the Westin Park Central in Dallas.
The event had almost 200 people in attendance along with special appearances by former Texas Tech football players Baron Batch and Lyle Leong. Each chapter was able to raise close to $4,000 for their scholarship funds through this event.
The most popular silent auction item this year was a signed Texas Tech helmet autographed by Tech football coach Tommy Tuberville, Batch & Leong. The winning bid was $600! The event has grown significantly in attendance and sponsorships over the last three years, but what’s more amazing are the people who return each year to support the Texas Tech Alumni Association and the local chapters.
Dallas and Collin County would like to thank Mickey & Julie Thomas with MJ Thomas Engineering, LLC for their headline sponsorship this year along with Terry, Linda, Casey, & Clint Fuller.
The Sprint Center in Kansas City is home to the Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament.
This is one of the best times to be a basketball fan.
I’ve had the privilege of getting to go to Kansas City for the Big 12 Basketball tournament the last two years and I can honestly tell you that there are few places that embrace the sport like this place does.
The atmosphere is everything you could imagine. From events, restaurants and bars outside the arena to a full house for every basketball game — no matter what teams are on the court. The Big 12 Conference got it right when it decided to extend the contract through the next few years in this city.
The Texas Tech players get a chance to enjoy some of the things the city has to offer as well and there’s already one win in the books for the scarlet and black. And I even bumped into a couple of Red Raiders on my first day, including Tech grad Craig Stadler – no, not the former PGA player. This Stadler is the program manager for Rally Marketing Group, helping coordinate the Phillips 66 events around the arena to help promote their product. And hey, I even got a free backpack out of it.
A lot of fun stuff to do outside the arena if you can brave the cold weather!
It’s no mystery when you come here that you have to go out and experience not just the amazing restaurants downtown, but also the best barbecue joints in the country.
So I had a friend pick me up from the hotel to go check out Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, one of the most famous barbecue places in Kansas City.
It’s a very home-friendly place with a diner atmosphere to it. And as you wait in line thinking, “Is this it?” you can just turn to your right and see all the celebrities along their “Wall of Fame” who have been there to get some of the best barbecue in Kansas City.
People like James Spader, Sally Field, Steven Spielberg and even former President Jimmy Carter. The set up is nothing impressive, but maybe that’s because they want you to be thinking about the food more than the atmosphere.
For just $8.50 you get a mammoth beef sandwich on white bread and a side of the infamous Arthur’s Fries. And as you can see in the photo, it’s enough to fill you up for two meals. If you are a barbecue fan and you come this way for the tournament, you have to try this place.
Next we decided to head back downtown to the 801 Chophouse, one of the more premier places in K.C.
Now this is a place that prides itself on food and atmosphere. More than 1,000 bottles of wine adorn the glass wall that you face when you enter the place and the entire restaurant has a very New York feel to it with dim lighting and soft music. When you get to the menu, don’t be scared — just suck it up and think, “You only get to go to a place like this once in a while.”
I highly recommend the Kansas City strip, which comes in a 12 oz. or 16 oz. size. You can get it any way you want it and they will bring out the cut for you to see before they cook it. If you want it my way, try it black and blue — seared just enough on the outside with a little more raw taste on the inside.
Fill up a glass of their select Cabernet wine and throw in a side of mashed potatoes, and it’s everything you could hope or imagine when it comes to getting a great steak and dining experience.
Lots of Texas Tech fans here to support the Lady Raiders and Red Raiders during the tournament!
And yes, there’s also been plenty of great basketball to watch. The Lady Raiders dominated their first round game against Oklahoma State after somewhat of a shaky start, beating the Cowgirls, 75-52, to win their first Big 12 tournament game in five years. Next up is the Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday night while the men take on Missouri in what will be one of if not the final game for head coach Pat Knight. Knight was fired on Monday after three full seasons at the Red Raiders head coach, but said he was departing on great terms with the university and will always be thankful for the opportunity he got to be the coach at Texas Tech.
Texas Tech head coach Pat Knight with the other Mike Jones of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
If you want more, come find me on Twitter to follow all the action from the arenas and what is going on in the nightlife! And if you can’t make it here this year, hopefully I will see you out here in 2012.
Chris Snead, Associate Vice President and Director of Facilities for the Texas Tech Alumni Association, takes part in the Pink Treadmill Party on Wednesday night at a Texas Tech women's basketball game.
February is known for having one of the reddest and pinkest days thanks to Valentine’s Day. But people also have another reason to keep their pink on throughout the month.
Breast cancer awareness is growing stronger each year and a big reason for that is the participation and support of women’s basketball and other sports each season. In an expanded effort from National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, February has become the month for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Pink Zone games across the country. Teams toss the normal school uniforms for pink ones mixed with the traditional school colors to help show awareness throughout the month and raise money.
Texas Tech’s game against No. 1 Baylor on Saturday will be its Pink Zone game for 2011, as the Lady Raiders will bring out the pink Under Armour uniforms to wear against the Lady Bears.
Fans also had the opportunity to help raise money for breast cancer awareness by participating in the Pink Treadmill Party at Texas Tech women’s basketball games. Chris Snead, Associate Vice President and Director of Facilities for the Texas Tech Alumni Association, got the chance to walk on the treadmill Wednesday night. TTAA Associate Vice President Jim Douglass took part in the event last season. The Pink Treadmill Party is part of the effort from the Marsha Sharp Leadership Circle and Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was founded in 2007 in honor of the former N.C. State women’s basketball coach that passed away two years ago after battling breast cancer for more than 22 years and continued to coach throughout that time.
Former Texas Tech women’s basketball coach, Marsha Sharp, is the current executive director for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. She and current Tech women’s basketball coach, Kristy Curry, were close to Yow throughout the years and each stay involved with the foundation.
Fans can learn more about how to get involved by going to www.kayyow.com.
Dayme Walther
