Good Sports

The event: An athletes’ night out at Windows on the Bay restaurant in Newport Beach. The Friday cocktail party raised funds for two local charities, the Newport Beach Police Volunteer Program and Orange County Works, which helps find jobs for foster children and at-risk youths.

Sports night: A dozen sports figures, including basketball stars Shaquille O’Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz, towered over about 300 people. Party-goers dined and danced until 1 a.m.

How did Windows attract such an impressive lineup of athletes? They’re buddies of Windows owners Scott Shuttleworth and Jack Tiernan, who works with Malone’s sports agent, Dwight Manley. “People know we’re not too old and we like to have fun,” Shuttleworth said. “It enables us to generate funds for worthy causes.”

Diet plate, anyone?: Chefs at Windows created a special platter for Shaquille not carried on the regular menu: a tower of 15 burgers. “He ordered a burger and he kept emphasizing how hungry he was,” Shuttleworth said. No one got an accurate count of just how many of the burgers Shaquille downed on his own, but “the waiter did remove an empty platter.” The 15-burger Shaquille plate will be available for special order from now on.

The players: Teemu Selanne and Steve Rucchin of the Mighty Ducks, Donyell Marshall of the Golden State Warriors, Chuck Finley of the Anaheim Angels and Mark Collins of the Seattle Seahawks.

Bottom line: The party

raised about $5,000 for the two groups. The Newport Beach Police Volunteer Program trains citizens to assist the Police Department by performing non-enforcement activities such as traffic control, filing and graffiti patrol. Orange County Works is based in Irvine and helps foster care and needy youths with job placement.

What’s ahead: Windows on the Bay plans to have a fund-raiser for a local charity once a month. Call (949) 722-1400. To apply for the Newport Beach Police Volunteer Program call (949) 644-3662. Orange County Works can be reached at (949) 442-1480 or visit its Web site at ocworks.org.