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Rodman Hosts Annual Corpus Christi Best of the Best Showcase |
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 The 2009 Best of the Best Showcase featured one of the best basketball players of all time on Sunday, October 18, 2009. Prince Marketing Group’s Dennis Rodman, who led the NBA in rebounds for a record-setting seven consecutive seasons, was the celebrity guest at Sunday’s Showcase at the American Bank Center Convention Center. Free merchandise, live music and snacks were just some of the perks from Sunday’s 13th annual Caller-Times Best of the Best Showcase. Ronney Heslip, a Hamlin Middle School coach and art teacher, walked away with a memento that he will always cherish thanks to Rodman. The former NBA player and reality TV star autographed a watercolor portrait of himself, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen that Heslip created. “Everybody’s a Jordan fan,” Heslip said, “but I’m a Rodman fan. ... You just didn’t know what he was going to do (on the court).” Heslip, who watched Rodman play since the late ’80s, said he painted the portrait more than 10 years ago following Rodman’s 1998 NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls. He said meeting Rodman and getting his autograph was one of his favorite moments. “I let him know where my loyalties lie,” Heslip said. “He’s on the painting twice.” Heslip was one of more than 10,000 people who attended the annual event. The annual showcase, which began in 1997, featured more than 100 vendors in 180 categories vying for Best of the Best award. The event has since drawn more than 120,000 people from across the Coastal Bend. Attendees made their way through the exhibit hall collecting information about businesses in the Coastal Bend. Many, such as Saul Oriz Sr., stood in line for more than an hour to meet Rodman, his all-time favorite basketball player. “I’m a basketball fan because of Rodman,” Ortiz said. “He’s the all-time greatest defensive player and rebounder.”
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