Irrelevant Week kicks off

In keeping with the theme of making the last NFL draft pick their first priority, Irrelevant Week organizers have reversed the order of events for this year’s festivities that begin tonight.

Irrelevant Week XXXI will open with the All-Star Lowsman Banquet at 7 p.m. at the Irvine Marriott.

The banquet, at which Mr. Irrelevant Kevin McMahan ? a receiver from the University of Maine who was drafted with the 255th and final pick by the Oakland Raiders in April ? will be roasted and toasted and receive the Lowsman Trophy, typically caps the Irrelevant Week proceedings.

Due to McMahan’s commitment to the Raiders’ mini-camp, however, the banquet will be first and the Arrival Party, which typically kicks off the events, will culminate this year’s celebration of the underdog.

The Arrival Party, at which McMahan will be showered with gifts, will be Monday at Newport Dunes.

Other events include the Pub Crawl and Miss Irrelevant contest Friday night, and a tailgate party and Angels-Padres game Sunday at Angel Stadium.

Tonight’s banquet includes an impressive head table that features Terry Donahue, Sam Cunningham, Paul McDonald, Matt Grootegoed, Marlin McKeever, Rich Saul, Sammy Lee and Stan Morrison.

Donahue was formerly the longtime coach at UCLA and was also an executive with the San Francisco 49ers.

Cunningham, McDonald, a Newport Beach resident and McKeever are all former USC All-Americans who went on to play in the NFL.

Grootegoed, another former USC star who is now a linebacker with the Detroit Lions, starred at Mater Dei High, where he was lauded as one of the outstanding prep players in Orange County history.

Saul was a star offensive lineman with the Los Angeles Rams.

Sammy Lee won two Olympic gold medals in diving, and Morrison is a former USC men’s basketball coach who is now the Athletic Director at UC Riverside.

The master of ceremonies will be John Ireland, a Southern California television and radio sportscaster who played basketball at Corona del Mar High.

Ireland and Irrelevant Week founder Paul Salata, a former USC and NFL receiver who began the event to do something nice for someone for no good reason, will interview each of the distinguished guests.

McMahan caught 130 passes for 1,995 yards and 25 touchdowns in 44 games at Maine, an NCAA Division I-AA power. As a senior last fall, he posted career highs in receptions (59), receiving yards (893) and touchdowns (13).

For more Irrelevant Week information, call (949) 263-0727.dpt.irrelevant-logo-06-BPhotoInfoPP1S0BN620060615j0vpe5nc(LA)