The Bacon Bowl was an annual charity football game which started out being played between members of the Seattle Police Department on one side, and members of the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County sheriff's deputies, and state police working in Pierce County on the other side. Over the years, participation grew to include personnel from other law enforcement bodies in the counties. It was the second largest charity football game played in the USA. All money raised, after expenses, went to various children's charities around the Puget Sound region. Through 2001, $2.4 million had been distributed to charities.
The Bacon Bowl was played from 1979 through 2005. By 2004, there was criticism that too much of the money raised went to a telemarketing firm and expenses. In 2002, although the game raised nearly $350,000, after expenses only $18,380 went to charities. Other problems were a decrease in attendance. It was replaced in 2006 in favor of other athletic events, including a 3.1-mile (5-kilometre) run and walk. A still later replacement for the football game in 2007 was a boxing event. Over 3,000 players participated over the years. Its name derives from the eponymous pork product, a play on "pig," which is a pejorative term for police officers in the United States.
Famous quotes containing the words bacon and/or bowl:
“Those who have handled sciences have either been men of experiment or men of dogmas. The men of experiment are like the ant; they only collect and use; the reasoners resemble spiders, who make cobwebs out of their own substance. But the bee takes the middle course; it gathers its material from the flowers of the garden and of the field, but transforms and digests it by a power of its own. Not unlike this is the true business of philosophy.”
—Francis Bacon (15611626)
“Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or
the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the
cistern.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit
shall return unto God who gave it.
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, all is vanity.”
—Bible: Hebrew Ecclesiastes (l. XII, 67)