We spotted star players from the Washington Wizards yesterday at Morton’s Steakhouse, where they had traded in their jerseys and sneakers for white chef aprons. Were they giving their Halloween costumes an early debut?
Nope.
As “celebrity waiters” behind the buffet table at the “Salute to the Stars Dinner,” they were serving delicious entrees to military personnel as part of NBA Cares Week.
Among the “stars” were four Purple Heart recipients from the United States Marine Corps: Gunnery Sgt. Josue Magana, Staff Sgt. Richard DeBoy, Sgt. James Wilburn and Cpl. Javier Hinojosa.
We got a spoonful of spinach from point guard Javaris Crittenton, who later on gladly picked up our empty water glass, saying, “I’m here to serve.”
Did you ever wait tables as a kid, Mr. C?
“No, never.”
Two-time all-star forward Caron Butler was at the meat table making little steak sandwiches for more carnivorous guests while his teammate, center Brendan Haywood, whose towering height was accentuated by his tall chef’s hat, got the fun job — the dessert station, where he doled out chocolate mousse, carrot cake, and miniature lemon pies.
After the dinner, the players, who also included center JaVale McGee, guard Mike James, forward-center Andray Blatche and forward Dominic McGuire, signed autographs and posed for pictures for their star guests.
Queens of the night
Speaking of playing dress-up, your humble lady spies were none too humble at the first Karaoke in the Capital rockathon, where we belted out our best rendition of Madonna’s ’80s ode to capitalism, “Material Girl,” while donning glamour girl props like tiaras and black shades.
We took home two karaoke trophies for “best media performance.”
Giving us a run for our money was the usually sobersided CBS “Face the Nation” anchor Bob Schieffer, who, true to his Texas roots, showed up in a cowboy hat and jeans and sang the Johnny and June Carter Cash duet “Jackson” with Lauren Moses, a professional singer friend of his.
Mr. Schieffer, who sported a scraggly new growth of beard, explained that not only was his scruffiness a part of his karaoke act look, but that he is “auditioning for a Western movie. If Tommy Lee Jones drops out, I am their man!”
Mr. Schieffer and Ms. Moses nabbed the “Best Duet” prize, with Mother Jones Washington bureau chief David Corn taking home the “You Sing and Dogs Bark Award” for his brave rendition of “Take Me to the River.”
Rep. Dennis Moore, Kansas Democrat, and our former colleague Christina Bellantoni, now of Talking Points Memo, snagged “Best in Show” trophies.
Proceeds from the event went to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, which donates instruments to young musicians.
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