Hooters calendar girl Becky and David Wells Hooters Restaurant, NYC, 11/10/01 Photo by Glyn Emmerson, © 2001 NY Rock

And so, with this in mind, the 2002 crop of Hooters sweeter-than-pecan-pie Calendar cuties teamed up with David "Boomer" Wells – the former and hopefully future notorious New York Yankee pitcher – to raise spirits (among other things) and rake in some cold cash for a warm-hearted cause. In this case, on November 9th and 10th, David and the down-home divas hugged, mugged, and sharpened their penmanship skills at several autograph sessions for the benefit of FDNY Engine Company #23, NYPD Precinct #13 and Windows of Hope, a new charity set up to assist the families of restaurant workers lost in the WTC attack.

Hooters calendar girls Hooters Restaurant, NYC, 11/10/01 Photo by Glyn Emmerson, © 2001 NY Rock

Of course, the gaggle of gorgeous calendar gals (back-cover babe Becky from Sarasota, in particular) was seamlessly easy on the senses. At one point I wondered "what smells so good?" only to turn around and find them coming up behind me for the check presentation ceremony. But, clearly the rowdy working class crowd also filled Hooters to get a glimpse and maybe a high-five with David Wells, a hard-throwing, harder-living throwback to old-time baseball, not to mention all-time all-stars like Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle, who wore their hangovers as proudly as their pinstripes.

Though an autographed calendar went for only $10, since the event was for charity, anyone who wanted a one-on-one with Wells had to dig deeper into their pockets of compassion. Autographed baseballs were clocking in at a fast $50 each. And the big-ticket souvenir was the Perfect Game Package which at $250 included a Beanie Baby, game ticket and game ball.

Hooters calendar girl Becky Hooters Restaurant, NYC, 11/10/01 Photo by Glyn Emmerson, © 2001 NY Rock

To be honest, I'm not a huge baseball fan, but Boomer Wells impressed me. And his likeable regular-guy vibe along with his beer-drinking brothers and Hooters honeys helped raise over $37,000 for a great cause. Considering his bad-boy reputation, David was surprisingly well mannered at the event, which he had also helped to organize.

On his way out the door, Wells stopped to say hello to an older fan in a wheelchair. And then finally announced, "I'm going to bed," as the Hooters hens flocked out not far behind him. Some say the ladies only love him for the millions he's made, but I bet the chicks would still dig him even if he only had a few hundred thousand to his name.

November 2001

^{Hooters calendar girls and David Wells, Hooters Restaurant, NYC, 11/10/01
Photo by Glyn Emmerson, © 2001 NY Rock}

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