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Withoutquestionthehighlightoftheweekwassomethingoriginallynotevenonthescheduleofevents.ninethousanddollarsFollowingtheSilentAuctionandduringtheawardsdinneronSaturdaynightJonKreamelmeyerwhooryearscoachedtheAdaptiveNordicteamandwhorecentlymovedoverintoathletedevelopmentwasbroughttothepodiumbyco-chairsSteveRaymondandJoeRooney.JKanintenselyunnybutwonderullyunderstatedandsot-spokenmantoldthestoryothenewParalympicteamjacketthathereceivedjustpriortothe2010ParalympicsinVancouver.HesaidhelovedhisjacketandlookedorwardtowearingitlongatertheParalympics.ButollowingtheclosingceremonieshewasapproachedbyhisJapanesecounterpartwhoinkeepingwithParalympictraditionoeredtoswapcoatswithhisAmericancolleague.JKsaidhewascrestallenbutreallyhadnochoicebuttoaccepttheoer.RecountingthestoryinVailjustoverayearlaterJKhelduptheJapaneseteamcoathedbeengivenandsaidthatinlightotherecenttragedyinJapanandinkeepingwiththespiritotheParalympicshewasgoingtoauctionothejackettothehighestbidderanddonatewhateverhemadetotheAmericanRedCrosssJapaneseRelieFund.Terecord-breaking9.0earthquakeandsubsequenttsunamihadjustdevastatedJapandaysearlierwhilethedramasurroundingthecountrysattempttoavertull-scalenuclearmeltdownwascontinuingtoplayitselout.FollowingJKsannouncementBradParobekoneotheweeksraceco-chairsandhimselaormallytrainedauctioneerdrovethebidding.Foramomentitappearedasthoughthebiddingwouldstalloutatroughly1000thenlaterataround2500.ButasiscriptedinsomeHollywoodmoviesuddenlyoutonowherethebiddingseemedtofndahighergear.Andasitdidtheenergyintheroombegantocrackle.3000became5000then5000became7500.ParobekwhoearlyintheeventhadtoprodbidderswasnowracingtokeepuppointingattablesthroughouttheroomasahandulobiddersoughteverishlyortherightstoJKsjacket.750080008500andthenBythetimethebiddingstoppedandthedusthadsettledMikeLosieroLibertyGlobalhadbecometheproudowneroabeautiul10000JapaneseParalympicteamjacket.MikehadworkedinJapanornineyearsandheandhiswiestillhadmanyriendsandcolleagueslivingthere.SaidLosieraterwardwhileposingorpicturesMywieandIhavebeendiscussinghowwewouldgivebacktothecountryduringitstimeocrisisandwhenthisopportunitybecameavailableshesaidgooritWearethrilledtohelponapersonallevelandasanaddedbonusthecoatftsmywieperectly.Inadditiontothe10000generatedromthesaleothejacketLibertyGlobalmatchedLosiersdonation100percent.WhatsmoreAmdocsaplatinumsponsoralsomatched50percentothewinningbid.Combinedwiththedonationsmadebyvariousattendeestheimpromptunot-so-silentauctionraised28800ortheAmericanRedCrosssrelieeortsinJapan.Noonewasmoresurprisedanddelightedbytheunlikelyturnoeventsthantheguywhoinitiallysetthewheelsinmotion.SaidKreamelmeyerlaterIneverimaginedwewouldhavethiskindoresponse.Iexpectedthejackettoraise500or1000atthemost.22