RSVP Calendar: Dirk Nowitzki Pro Celebrity Tennis Classic

Taking to the tennis court for a second year, Dallas’ beloved Dirk Nowitzki called upon his celebrity buddies to join him for the Dirk Nowitzki Pro Celebrity Tennis Classic, presented by Morgan Stanley, on Sept. 16, 2017, at the SMU Tennis Center. Held just weeks after Hurricane Harvey’s devastation, Dirk quickly decided to donate all proceeds to families and children affected by the disaster – and Mark Cuban stepped up to match the impressive proceeds of $960,000, helping to raise a total of $1.92 million!

Dirk Nowitzki

Participating in the weekend celebration were Dallas homeboy and multi-talented actor/producer/screenwriter Owen Wilson. Also playing were International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Andy Roddick (a Dirk fan and well-rounded athlete who recently won MVP at Dirk’s Celebrity Baseball event in June), former Dallas Stars legend and Hall of Famer Mike Modano, Mavs NBA champion J.J. Berea, and current and past tennis pros Tommy Haas, Michael Russell, Benjamin Becker, Mark Knowles and Donald Young.

Owen Wilson

The weekend kicked off with Dirk and wife Jessica hosting an invitation-only seated dinner party Friday night for players and major donors at The Joule Hotel. Tiffany Cuban, Charlotte Jones Anderson and Nancy Rogers showed their support, joining other guests that included Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, GM Donnie Nelson, assistant coach Jamahl Moseley, and current and former Mavs players Devin Harris, Harrison Barnes, Dwight Powell and Brian Cardinal. And the two newest additions to the Mavericks team, German Maxi Kleber and first-round draft pick Dennis Smith Jr., also attended.

Dirk and Jessica Nowitzki

The evening closed with the folk-rock-soul mix of singer-songwriter Amos Lee, but not before a raucous auction netted big returns! Items included a “swing for the fences” Texas Rangers package featuring batting practice for four, a meet-and-greet with All-Star Elvis Andrus and 2015 American League Manager of the Year, Jeff Banister; a Dallas Stars meet-up with star Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin plus tours of the broadcast booth and beer with Stars broadcasters Daryl “Razor” Reaugh and Craig Ludwig; and an NBA decades package that included signed basketballs from Dirk and Los Angeles Laker Champion Kobe Bryant plus courtside seats and a chance to be coach for the day shadowing Coach Carlisle.

Mercedes Owens, Dwight Powell

Also, a photo of Dirk's 30K point shot signed by Dirk, Devin Harris (he passed the ball to Dirk), Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle was a major hit. So caught up in the moment, Rick Carlisle generously let them auction off his own framed photo as well.

Laurence Glasscock, Lara Beth Seager, Jonathon Beck, Ashley Gambino

The showstopper finale garnering the biggest bids was the once-in-a-lifetime POWER DINNER for up to eight lucky people who will dine next spring at The Star’s private Cowboys Club – with Dirk; Dallas Cowboys famed quarterback and CBS football analyst, Tony Romo; Dallas Cowboys All-Pro tight end and multiple team record holder, Jason Witten; Mike Modano; Ivan Pudge Rodriguez, who was recently inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame; and Mavs player Harrison Barnes.

Owen Wilson, Donnie Nelson, Christine Nelson, Thomas Pletzinger, Tobias Tempel

The gorgeous laser-lit design was the brainstorm of creative genius Lara Beth Seager, who not only created the Heroes Celebrity Baseball game concept and its evolution over the past decade but also devised the wildly successful party following Jerry Jones’ Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. Her other achievements include several Super Bowl bashes for Vanity Fair, Bud Light ,Facebook, Pepsi, the NFL, and events for Google, Spotify, Under Armour and EA Sports.

Lesley Berry, Devin Harris

After just a few hours of sleep, Dirk and friends headed to the SMU courts where a sold-out crowd watched as Dirk, Roddick, Owen, tennis pros and amateurs battle each other for four hours in the 95-degree Texas heat. Winning the championship were American tennis pro Donald Young and amateur Justin Whitman (Kimberly Schlegal Whitman was on hand to cheer) who defeated Dallas Maverick point guard J.J. Barea and amateur Jim McKinney.

Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, Charlotte Jones Anderson

In addition to presenting sponsor Morgan Stanley, other sponsors include Nancy C. Rogers and Richard R. Rogers/Mary Kay Inc, The Dallas Mavericks, Headington Companies, Bullion Restaurant, Which Wich, Lombardi Family Concepts and Sewell Automotive. CBS Radio is the media partner. Also, on Sept. 16, BEDGEAR donated 100 percent of its online sales on bedgear.com to the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Hurricane Harvey relief efforts and $200,000 worth of performance bedding products to The Dallas Mavericks relief efforts.