The following post was written by contributing sports writer, Mike Mendez, of the blog, YourMVP.

For the 4th Annual Fashion and Football Congratulations Gala, held at The Samsung Experience on April 26, 2011, many items were donated for the silent auction. Mainly sports memorabilia and a few entertainment things here and there were displayed next to many of Samsung’s latest gadgets. All proceeds from the auction went to  The Jarvis Green Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that assists single working mothers in disadvantaged, low income areas whose lives have been affected by tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina.

For a sports fanatic, like myself, some of the items on display were legendary relics to behold. Here’s a few that have caught my eye…and nearly my wallet.

This is a 1969 NY Jets  team signed helmet.  Noteworthy signatures on the other side of this helmet include Don Maynard and the immortal “Broadway” Joe Namath. This helmet is a true fanatic’s gold crown as just about every member of that team played a role in winning that Super Bowl trophy, including the most famous defensive line ever, otherwise known as the New York Sack Exchange.

a 1969 NY Jets Super Bowl III helmet signed by the entire team. Greats like Matt Snell, Emerson Boomer, and Winston Hill's autographs can be seen here.

Speaking of the Super Bowl, let’s jump a few decades to 2007 to examine this piece. If you’re a native New Yorker, then you must have known what it was like watching Super Bowl XLII when the New York Giants faced off against the undefeated New England Patriots. It seemed as if the Patriots winning the SuperBowl was just a solid conclusion and that the New York Giants were just another obstacle in their way. And then it happened—the best defensive effort throughout four quarters of football led by Michael Strahan and the most incredible catch by David Tyree that anyone has ever seen (otherwise known as the catch heard round the world) spelled out Super Bowl victory for the Giants.

A Super Bowl 42 signed team helmet

This next item comes from nothing less than a true class act: Vince Lombardi. This man was considered a god among men. He was also the greatest leader of men that any sports team has arguably ever seen, so much so that the coveted Super Bowl trophy was named in his honor. His success stemmed from an incredible ability to coach and his gift of gab was second to none. Below is quite possibly the greatest speech ever given to a group of men on a football field:

“Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization – an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win – to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don’t think it is. It is reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That’s why they are there – to compete. To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules – but to win. And in truth, I’ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat. I don’t say these things because I believe in the “brute” nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, I believe in human decency, but I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.”

There was also a signed copy of what is known as the mantra of the Notre Dame football team, autographed by one of the best coaches in Notre Dame football history, Lou Holtz, along with various pieces being auctioned off:

Lou Holtz and the Notre Dame Motto

If you look right next to the Beiber clutter, you will see a signed photo of soccer great, Pele, in action

A signed bat from Yankees 1st Baseman, Mark Teixeira

A Jackie Robinson framed keepsake

Jarvis Green being interviewed

Learn more about The Jarvis Green Foundation and how you can help, click here.

Thanks to The AUDRA Catalog and The Fashion and Football Gala for inviting me to look upon these treasures of the sports world.