Monday, May 4, 2009
Leave it up to former SNL cast member Will Ferrell to assemble a grouping of comical characters like he did this past Saturday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center at UCLA for a charity fundraiser he hosted to benefit the Swedish School of Los Angeles, a non-profit Swedish cultural school. From tennis judge Andy Richter (and former sidekick of Conan O’Brien) to doubles opponent Rainn Wilson of “The Office” the day was not short on hilarity, ridicule, and bantering from all of the opponents.
Will began the game with a swine flu mask on as he ex-pro Mats Wilander hit the ball back and forth between one another. International Tennis Hall of Famer Mats Wilander, a former World number one who shares the distinction with a select few to have won Grand Slam singles titles on grass, hard and clay courts, happily played on as Will and Andy tossed Swedish and religious jokes his way as well as to each other.
Rainn Wilson assumed the court decked out in a sweat headband as well as a T-shirt that read, “QUIET PLEASE.” His doubles partner for the day was former UCLA Bruin and 1998 Austrailian and French Open Mixed Doubles Winner (with Venus Williams) Justin Gimelstob. As the day continued, both Wilson and Ferrell made the most of their non-professional tennis days by laying down (literally) on the court while Wilander and Gimelstob played around them. At the end of the match, the Ferrell/Wilander team claimed victory.
Off to the backyard BBQ on a neighboring court we went, where sponsored beverages Coke, Patron Tequila, and Rose’s Mojito Cocktails were poured quite generously as party-goers reveled in the outcome of the match and listened to the sounds of a Ferrell inspired cover band whose main mission was to entertain the audience with SNL type skits and by singling people out for harmless poking. It was here that Will and Viveca Ferrell presented Swedish School honoree Mats Wilander with the Viking Award. A Swedish ball had by all!
