Pearls and Ice
Houston's mayor jumps into the Ice Bucket Challenge, calls out Jadeveon Clowney and zings the Astros
Sitting in her backyard on a sunny day wearing pearls and a roller derby T-shirt, Mayor Annise Parker beat the Houston heat for a worthy cause by taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge — and then extended the dare to three prominent Houstonians.
NewsWireHouston captured the moment and posted the freezing cold dousing on YouTube.
"I am wearing pearls because I am a mayor," Parker quips in the video. "I'm wearing my roller derby shirt because I'm cool."
"Bo Porter, you need to do this," Parker says, "because this is the only ice water bath you're going to get this year."
She then calls out Houston Texans rookie phenom Jadeveon Clowney, Houston Astros manager Bo Porter and H-E-B president Scott McClelland to meet the ice bucket challenge as well.
"Bo Porter, you need to do this," Parker says, "because this is the only ice water bath you're going to get this year. JD Clowney, you need to do this because you are now a Texan both by geography and by profession."
And then the mayor sends the frosty dare to McClelland — with perhaps the biggest zinger.
"After all of those really goofy commercials, this should be a piece of cake for you."
(McClelland has already accepted her challenge, going to YouTube with the "H-E-B Guy Ice Bucket Challenge.")
Since late July, the Ice Bucket Challenge has soaked the nation. Everyone from Bill Gates to Weird Al Yankovic has poured a bucket of ice water over his head and challenged others do the same or make a donation to fight ALS within 24 hours. Those challenged also have the option to be generous and a good sport — and do both.
The New York Times reports that the association has received more than $13 million in donations since July 29, compared to $1.12 million during the same time period last year.
"We have never seen anything like this in the history of the disease,” Barbara Newhouse, president and CEO of The ALS Association, said in the statement. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the level of compassion, generosity and sense of humor that people are exhibiting as they take part in this impactful viral initiative."