Jared Allen’s Charity Golf In A Different Direction

Jared Allen’s Charity Golf In A Different Direction

Marines screaming on the backswing? Slip ‘n Slide punishments for failing to reach the green in regulation? Demanding push-ups at the 10th tee? A roasted pig at the turn?

When Jared Allen(notes) of the Minnesota Vikings puts on a golf outing, you can bet that it wouldn’t meet with Judge Smails’ approval. But you can also assume that it will be a great deal of fun. Allen hosted the Night-Ops Charity Golf Tournament last Saturday at the Ancala Country Club in his offseason home of Scottsdale, Ariz., to benefit his new Homes for Wounded Warriors foundation, which provides new and modified homes for returning veterans with disabilities. Allen got the idea after a USO tour of Iraq and Kuwait in March of 2009. When he returned, a friend in the military told him that injured and disabled vets often have inadequate facilities to help them with their new challenges.

It’s a subject close to Allen’s heart, as his grandfather, uncle and youngest brother have served or currently serve in the military. “Unfortunately, people get hurt in war,” Allen said at the event. “When they come home, we’re going to be there to fix their house or get them a new house. We want to make them feel comfortable and have one less thing to worry about.”

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But with Allen in charge of this thing, no way it was going to be a solemn affair. Long known as one of the game’s free spirits, Allen took his own unique view on life and applied it to what he hoped wouldn’t be “another (lame) golf tournament.” Things started out on the right note, when American Gladiator Hollywood Yates sang the National Anthem. Then, the participants had to endure harassment from Marines on every hole — distracting them on their backswings, and frequently demanding push-ups for sub-par results.

Some duffers received different consequences — UFC star Chuck “Iceman” Liddell had to blast through a Slip-and-Slide after failing to reach the green in regulation on the 14th hole. And the shotgun start at 3:30 p.m. insured that there would be nine holes of night golf. There was also a Hole-in-One contest … at 10:30 p.m. A great time was had by all, and it was an excellent example of Allen’s own attitude towards life as personified by the mullet he doesn’t wear anymore — he’s still “business in front, and party (with two ‘Rs’) in the back,” and he still gets extra mayonnaise every time.