Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl has spent the majority of his life making others laugh, but Thursday night the tables were turned on him.

Pearl was roasted by a host of local celebrities at a $200-a-plate benefit held for the Volunteer Ministry Center at Knoxville Convention Center.

The center is raising money for a new building being constructed on Broadway. The center's mission is to take homeless people off the streets and get them into housing. In 2007, the Volunteer Ministry placed 77 homeless people into housing.

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam served as master of ceremonies.

"It's great that Bruce shows up for big events like this, but he also shows up for benefits where there are only 10 people there,'' Haslam said. "Very few people have taken this town the way Bruce has.''

Dane Bradshaw, one of the biggest fan favorites to play for Pearl, recently finished his first pro season in Holland and was on hand to roast his former coach.

"People always ask if I'm going to come back to UT and get into coaching,'' Bradshaw said. "I had a great opportunity to learn under such a great instructor, disciplinarian and teacher of the game … but we're not here to talk about Pat Summitt tonight.''

Bradshaw said he felt real good about the $100,000 scholarship Pearl endowed in his name, and joked that Steven Pearl, the coach's son, was the first recipient.

Bradshaw's pokes at Pearl were among many that drew laughter from the crowd of about 400.

Associate head coach Tony Jones revealed that Pearl was once known as "Cadillac'' Pearl for his habit of renting the large luxury car on recruiting trips to impress prospects.

Summitt also had her fun, playfully second-guessing Pearl's style of not calling timeouts.

"I figure at being 31-5 (36 games), that this year he took home an average of two (unused) timeouts per game, which would add up to 72 timeouts for his young men to rest,'' Summitt said. "Do you think that would have helped them?''

Bob Kesling, the voice of the Vols, put together a video montage of Pearl losing his clothes, his body sweat and his composure.

"I call it the wide world of Pearl,'' Kesling said. "It's the thrill of victory, and the thrill of 'what the hell is he gonna do next?' ''

Former UT player and Kesling's radio partner Bert Bertelkamp was one of many who made light of Pearl's pending raise, which is expected to lift his pay to around $2 million annually.

"Bruce spends countless hours speaking to student groups, including standing on tables in dormitory cafeterias, constantly urging them to please come see the basketball team play,'' Bertelkamp said. "This year you can expect to see Bruce promoting student attendance at football games, since the students are now having to buy their (football) tickets to help pay his salary.''

UT football coach Phillip Fulmer had a memorial service to attend and couldn't make the ceremony, but Fulmer sent a message via video.

Fulmer recalled one basketball game he was sitting behind UT's bench when Pearl addressed him.

"I did find it interesting one game when you turned to me and said, very honestly, 'This stuff is really hard when they expect you to win,' '' Fulmer said. "Well, welcome to the club big boy.

"I think you have learned to sweat gracefully.''

That was certainly the case for Pearl at Thursday night's roast, and all for a good cause.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.