Virgen: A different, yet great Irrelevant Week expected

Irrelevant Week is in its 39th year in Newport Beach. But this one definitely has a different feel of all the previous ones.

The fun week, celebrating the final player selected in the NFL Draft, is now a part of The Foundation for the Undefeated, the non-profit based in Newport Beach that champions stories of perseverance in sports to inspire greatness in others.

I would think the Undefeated will also organize some of the same activities blended in with some new events and maybe some big-name celebrities.

I had heard there might be an invite for T.J. Simers for the annual All-Star Banquet. I also heard Simers has a lot of time on his hands so there is a great chance the guy will show up.

It’s called the All-Star Banquet, but it appears they made an exception with him.

The banquet, where Mr. Irrelevant is roasted and awarded the Lowsman Trophy (a figurine fumbling a football), is at a new spot this year. The event will take place at the Island Hotel, rather than the Newport Beach Marriott.

The irrelevant fun starts on Tuesday, when Mr. Irrelevant goes to the Angels game and will drag the infield.

On Wednesday, Mr. Irrelevant will make like the ultimate tourist and hit the beach, as well as cruise the bay, and explore all the sights of Newport Beach, including one of my favorite spots: the Balboa Fun Zone.

By this point in this column, you’re probably wondering: who is Mr. Irrelevant? That would be Lonnie Ballentine, a 6-foot-3, 219-pound free safety out of Memphis. While the NFL is sometimes known for crime-blotter-type stories, Ballentine looks like the opposite.

He’s 21, married and a father of two girls. The Houston Texans made him Mr. Irrelevant by selecting him at No. 256, the dead-last pick in the NFL Draft.

I spoke with Ballentine over the phone in May and he seems like a good man. I’m sure he’ll have fun here, but the night life will most likely be tame for this year’s parties/events.

In the past, that wasn’t necessarily the case, as in 2008 when David Vobora, the Mr. Irrelevant, requested a night at the Playboy Mansion. Media was not allowed.

This year’s Mr. Irrelevant will have family in tow, and I’m sure they’ll have a blast at Disneyland on Friday.

Yes, Ballentine will be in high demand throughout the week and will stay busy.

Ballentine’s daughters, Londyn, 4, and Laila, 2, will see their dad get a spin workout with a GRIT Cycle Karma Ride Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at GRIT in Costa Mesa. He will help raise money for Special Olympics Southern California.

While Ballentine prepares for the All-Star banquet, everyone can see him on NFL Network, where he’ll be featured on its shows.

The NFL’s Play 60 campaign will take center stage as part of Irrelevant Week on Saturday at Jim Scott Stadium. Play 60 encourages kids to be active for 60 minutes a day in order to help reverse the trend of childhood obesity.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature NFL and college players who will sign autographs. The Unified Flag Football Exhibition Game will also take place in another event that will focus on Special Olympics Southern California. NFL Players will team up with Special Olympics athletes for the big game.

The NFL’s Official Punt, Pass and Kick Play 60 Mini-Combine Skills Circuit will kick-off the event at 10 a.m.

That’s basically when the fun will end, as Ballentine will head back to Houston on Sunday.

It should be a fun week for Ballentine and for the Newport Beach community.

For ticket and event information, visit theundefeated.org.