Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub walked the runway at Una Notte in Italia like a laidback GQ model, even as the sell-out crowd of more than 600 went wild with his appearance. But it was rockin' defensive end Antonio Smith in cowboy hat, boots and Festari suit, juking to Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup," who sent the cocktail-attire crowd into a frenzy.
And so it went at the Omni Houston Hotel, where the Texans ruled the runway, along with two dozen CEOs, doctors and top execs who got their groove on as they strutted to their personally-selected music.
J.J. Watt, fresh from the cover of Sports Illustrated, was a hit as he swayed down the catwalk to Justin Bieber's "Baby." (Watt was backstage at Bieber's Toyota Center concert earlier in the week.) Hottie wide receiver Kevin Walter showed the moves that had both men and women swooning and who could resist the runway charm of T.J. Yates or Owen Daniels?
James Dorsett brandished one of the tossed bras as if it were the spoils of victory.
Chair Jana Fant on the arm of hubby Richard Fant was joined in the spotlight by the night's emcee Dominique Sachse and honorary chair Debbie Festari. Each year Debbie and Rudy Festari serve as honorary chairs of the evening that raises serious dollars for Family Services of Greater Houston. And each year they entice a troop of Texans and other notables to don their stylish menswear and walk the runway. Houston Texans GM Rick Smith and his glamorous wife, Tiffany, are regulars at one of the runway tables.
Among the gents in the spotlight, dodging tossed bras, panties, rose petals and dollar bills were Roger Clemens, artist Taft McWhorter, Dr. Aashish Shah, John Thrash, Calvin Schlenker and Mike Denney. But the three who took honors for their catwalk performances were the jiving John Paul Tamborello, Scott Holstead (who emulated singer/dancer Psy as he rocked to "Gangham Style") and James Dorsett, who brandished one of the tossed bras as if it were the spoils of victory.
In the audience that showed their approval with signs, whistles and cat calls were Joella and Steve Mach, Park and Mary Eliza Shaper, Stephanie and Bill Perkins, Diane Lokey Farb, Vicki Rizzo, Monica Hartland and John Blaisdell, Becca Cason Thrash, Monsour Taghdisi and Henry Richardson, Chree Boydston, Liz and Tom Glanville and Tara and David Wuthrich.
