There’s something about Jewels of the Night that separates it from your average fundraiser…maybe it’s the Long Beach State coaches and athletes walking around in flip-flops, or the fact that it’s actually held on the floor of the Pyramid.  If you put my feet to the fire, though, I’d probably guess it’s the long, long tables of food, as more than forty local restaurants bring enough eats to keep all of the more than 350 49er athletes in attendance from making weight next year.

You can’t judge the true success of a fundraiser until you’ve tallied how much fundage was raised (which won’t happen for a little while), but a few boosters I spoke to who’ve been attending Jewels for much of its 15-year history agreed that it was the best event put on in years.  The much-expanded number of tables filled with happy guests, along with the terrific items up for auction and a host of Olympians in attendance made it a fun, relaxing night—as did the news that the Dirtbags pulled off a come-from behind victory, and that the softball team won thanks to a walk-off home run in the 13th inning.

There were plenty of “Go Beach”s to be heard, as AD Vic Cegles and school president F. King Alexander both spoke and recognized this year’s Diamond Award recipient, Pat West.  Huge thanks were also passed around for Bruce Macrae, this year’s Jewels of the Night chairman, who did a great job pulling everything together.

The selection of silent auction items was truly astounding, meaning that there were a ton of unbelievable deals on the table (a certain LBPostSports reporter and his wife may have found themselves the new proud owners of a signed David Lee Olympic volleyball uniform).  The award for best team shill goes to women’s basketball’s Karina Figueroa, who shamelessly went after every passerby, baiting them to bid on the items going to benefit women’s basketball.  “Really,” we heard her say.  “Do you have any idea how much these go for at retail value?  This is a tremendous opportunity for you.” 

Anyone else who attended BBall camp in the ‘Myd as a kid may remember scaling these things…Wouldn’t recommend it.

The school shows off its long lineage of Olympic athletes and medal-winners.

Pat West receives her richly-deserved Diamond Award honoring her 20 years of service to the school’s athletic programs.

The Walters taking their Pyramid for a spin.