Auction Block: Special Bidding

Supporting a cause was never so easy. Check out this auction.

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This auction offers the opportunity to hold the gun.

When tonight's NCAA championship game is over, the college basketball season comes to a close. With so many new postseason tournaments popping out of the woodwork over the past two years, more than 100 division one schools played meaningful games in March. Add in the women's postseason, and all of the NCAA's lower divisions, and you're probably looking at thousands of athletes competing in the third month of 2009 (and tiny bits of the fourth).

Special Olympics athletes will too. The non-profit agency stages year-round sporting events for the intellectually disabled, including, quite frequently, March basketball tournaments.

"Special Olympics builds sports skills, confidence, strength, motivation and self-esteem - not just for athletes, but for everyone involved." says Lisa A. Smith, Director of Special Events for the Delaware branch of the organization. There's no fee to join, so the money has to come from somewhere.

In this one rather smallish state, there are over 3,000 athletes who take part in events sponsored by Special Olympics Delaware. More than 200 showed up at Delaware State University to take part in a basketball skills competition on March 26th. There were no television cameras, and no Jim Nantz, but there was also no lack of enthusiasm and excitement.

Fundraising for the Special Olympics has changed somewhat in the 21st century, and perhaps nothing has altered the landscape as much as the worldwide reach of the internet. Lisa Smith and her co-workers have raised money for SODE via eBay auctions since 2007. It's opened up the bidding process to collectors who may have never set foot in the first state.

"The online atmosphere caters to a vast, diverse audience which places no boundaries on the types of items to be auctioned nor upon who may bid." says Smith " We have had winning bidders from as far away as Michigan and Kentucky from past auctions."

While this year's auction includes plenty of items that may only interest locals—including a sightseeing tour in a vintage 1941 biplane—there are also several sports items that take advantage of the organization's friendly relations with local sports teams and figures. With Delaware sitting smack dab between Baltimore and Philadelphia, unique baseball items dominate the sports offerings. But there are also enticing experiences related to college football, NASCAR, and horse racing.

Bidding ends today, so check out the links below and bid on anything that catches your fancy. Not only can you take delivery of a special collectible or two, but you can sleep easy knowing that your generosity helped support a great cause.

Hang with an MLB scout: Probably the most unique offering available. A major-league scout will bring the winning bidder along to an Orioles vs. Red Sox game at Camden Yards. The item description specifically states that you'll get to fire up the radar gun. Suh-weet.

Tickets to Michigan State at Notre Dame football: Yeah, you and a friend get to check out Touchdown Jesus in person, and even attend the football luncheon with players and coach Weis. But wait! That's not all! Airfare included. Sham-WOW!

Drive at Dover International Speedway: You can go ten laps at Dover. If you're a grownup with a valid license, you get to drive. If you're a kid over 14, you can call shotgun. They're not fooling here—the rules state you must be physically fit enough to climb in and out through the window. That's legit, man.

Pink bat signed by Cal Ripken: If the Iron Man isn't threatened by a pink bat, who are you to argue? This is one of the Louisville Sluggers used on Mother's Day in 2008 to promote Breast Cancer awareness. Cal is clearly a good friend of SODE—he shows up all over this auction.

Phillies Luxury Box: See the World Champs take on one of baseball's worst from '09 with you and fifteen friends looking down on the Phillies and the Nationals from the sybaritic splendor of the luxury box. Even comes with preferred parking passes.

Aberdeen IronBirds Luxury Box: Or, if the Phils are too rich for your blood, you can bring twice as many friends to see the minor-league Iron Birds play in Ripken Stadium. Don't front  luxury is luxury.

Tony Gwynn signed ball: We like to imagine that Cal leaned over and had Tony sign this as they sat on the dais waiting for HOF induction. Probably not the way it happened, but it's lovely to think so.

VIP day at the horse races: OK, OK…it's steeplechase. But Winterthur is the former DuPont estate, and it must be grand in the extreme to be a VIP there. Not to mention those magical words: "open bar".

Throw out a first pitch: The Wilmington Blue Rocks offer up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to throw out the first pitch in a ballpark (unless you're the President. In that case, old hat, we suppose). You'll also get four tickets to stay and watch the game. DON'T: Let the ball bounce on the way to the plate. DO: Bean the mascot, meat. They'll be afraid to dig in on you after that.

"Eck"-signed mini-helmet: This Red Sox batting helmet fit for a leprechaun was signed by the first-ballot hall of famer who had a 20-win season and a 50-save season in the same career.

Remember: it's for a good cause.

Seen any stellar auction items we should know about? Shoot us an email at collectespn@gmail.com!

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