While Orioles are usually the main draw at the Osseo High School gymnasium, a pack of Wolves—accompanied by a cast of players from other NBA teams— will stop by to steal the spotlight for a good cause Friday night.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley is coming to town, and he’s bringing some friends that don’t usually show up on the Orioles game programs—Josh Howard (Washington Wizards), Demarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings) and Mario Chalmers (Miami Heat), to name drop a few.
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), John Wall (Wizards), Kevin Love and Derrick Williams (Wolves) were originally on the roster, but opted out.
Beasley’s All-Star Classic, a charity exhibition to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hopsital, Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Mad Dads of Minneapolis, and Gateway to Opportunity Minneapolis Urban League, will tip off at 7 p.m. with the doors opening at 5 p.m.
Tickets (cash only), which originally were $60 for general admission and $120 for VIP, were lowered to $40 and $100, respectively. Floor seats remain $300, but they are limited. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon at Osseo High School (317 2nd Ave. NW).
Pros won’t be the only ones sharpening their skills in Osseo Friday. Prior to the main event, Beasely is hosting a basketball mini-camp for kids in grades 3-7. The camp starts at 10 a.m. and charges $20 admission, with proceeds going to Osseo High School. A few lucky kids will be selected from the camp to shadow Beasely and friends during the pre-game media reception. And some of those “friends” scheduled to play in the exhibition include Wolves Wes Johnson, Wayne Ellington, Anthony Randolph, Anthony Tolliver and Lazar Hayward. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will serve as a celebrity coach, along with former Lakers guard Norm Nixon.
If anyone is benefitting from the dragging labor negotiations that are putting the NBA 2011-12 NBA season in flux, it’s good to see that it’s local charities—and at least for one night, Osseo basketball fans.
For more info, go to the event’s website.
