Approximately 200 people piled into the Watson Civic Centre on June 12 for the community's Sports Dinner and Auction, to listen to sports celebrities, eat a good meal, and help a good cause.The Sports Dinner and Auction is held every three years to raise money for local projects in Watson. This year's funds will go towards Watson's McNab Regional Park.This year's special guests included Saskatchewan Roughriders football legend George Reed, young hockey star Dustin Tokarski, with Jeff Rogstad of CFQC television acting as master of ceremonies. A surprise fourth guest also made an appearance: Ted Urness, former Roughrider and teammate of George Reed.In the first few minutes of the program, Rogstad, who admitted he "doesn't do serious very well," took a moment to extend his and his family's thanks and gratitude for the help and support his mother has received.A month and a half ago, Rogstad's mother ended up in a slough on her way home to Watson, and was saved by a local couple, Cameron and Val McLeanAfter dinner, the first guest speaker, Watson native and hockey celebrity Dustin Tokarski, got up to speak.Tokarski detailed his travels from humble beginnings to hockey glory.He told the crowd that as a child, he wanted to play softball. But his focus soon shifted to hockey.The young hockey star worked his way up the hockey ladder, never giving up. Tokarski soon found himself the goaltender for the Memorial Cup Champion Spokane Chiefs in 2008, was the goaltender for Canada at the World Juniors in 2009. He also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2009-2010 season. He is currently the goaltender for the Norfolk Admirals.During his speech, Tokarski said he would "push (himself) to be the best (he) could be, control what (he) can, and after that, whatever happens was meant to be."Ted Urness introduced the big star of the evening, - football legend George Reed. Urness, who played alongside Reed for the Roughriders from 1961-1970 said, "I quickly learned that if I didn't get out of the way so that George could run over the other team, he was going to run over me. And he did!"When Reed got up to speak, he warmed up the crowd with a few jokes, then recalled the story of how, after college, he came up to Canada from the United States to play for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was discouraged at first, and he said, "If I was smart, I would have just quit and gone home but I had a wife and a kid and they liked to eat, so"In addition to his personal history, Reed had much to say on the state of sports today. "When kids are at a young age," he said, "please, teach them the fundamentals, then let them have fun, let them enjoy the game." He went on to say that many good, talented kids in many different sports end up quitting because of too much pressure from their parents, coaches, and other adults.After his speech, Reed announced through Rogstad that not only would the winner of the jersey he donated for the auction that night get it autographed to them, they would also get to go see a Rider game with the football star in the near future, and have dinner with him at the Green & White Lounge.After the speeches came the auction, in which plenty of sports memorabilia was up for sale, including George Reed's jersey. Also up for auction were a Dustin Tokarski autographed jersey, a set of Bobby Orr Famous Moments Pictures, and 50 dozen perogies.
