Irrelevant Week, the annual celebration of the player picked last in the NFL draft, continues tonight with the All-Star Lowsman Banquet.
Mr. Irrelevant, a.k.a. Cheta Ozougwu, a Rice University linebacker picked by the Houston Texans, will be the featured guest at a dinner that will be followed by a "roast,'' with speakers including Paul Salata, the founder of Irrelevant Week, former USC and Los Angeles Rams coach John Robinson, longtime USC announcer Tom Kelly, former NFL players Matt Willig, Ron Mix, Ron Yary and Clay Matthews Sr., Olympic diving gold medalist Sammy Lee and former NFL referee Jim Tunney.
Ozougwu, the son of Nigerian immigrants, said he found out about Irrelevant Week a couple of weeks before the April draft, where he was the 254th pick.
"I had no idea it'd be me, but I'm definitely thankful for it,'' he said.
Proceeds from the 36th annual Irrelevant Week will benefit the Goodwill Fitness Center in Santa Ana, Orange County's only fitness center designed for people with a physical disability or chronic illness.
John Ireland of KSPN-AM (710) will be the host. The event takes place at the and Spa, 900 Newport Center Drive.
Irrelevant Week will conclude Thursday with a regatta and barbecue at the Balboa Yacht Club.
For more information, visit irrelevantweek.com, or call 949-263-0727.
—City News Service
