
ENLARGE
Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan are back, and NASCAR fans finally have a celebrity to root for in the upcoming American Century Championship in Stateline.
Up to 80 sports and entertainment stars will compete in the 54-hole tournament July 11-13 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
Besides Jordan and Barkley, returning celebrities include Tony Romo, Mario Lemieux, Ray Romano, Carson Palmer, Ben Roethlisberger, John Elway, Emmitt Smith, Bode Miller, Jason Kidd, Brett Hull, Marshall Faulk, Ray Allen, Marcus Allen and Jerry Rice.
NBC, which televises the event and is responsible for managing the entry list, has invited 17 new celebrities. Among the new additions to the tournament are NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett, Miami Dolphins’ defensive end Jason Taylor, former NFL All-Pro offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, Vikings’ defensive star Jared Allen, sports announcer Joe Buck, former All-Star outfielder Darryl Strawberry, 11-time national sportswriter-of-the-year Rick Reilly and Alfonso Ribeiro of "Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”
Six-time champion Rick Rhoden is among eight former champions in the field. Rhoden has been troubled by lingering pain in his neck. He had surgery in January of 2007 to fuse a ruptured disk, leaving him almost pain-free for 13 months. But in February, Rhoden began experiencing pain below the area that was repaired.
His neck problems stem from a 2002 accident, when a cement truck rear-ended Rhoden's vehicle.
“I don't know what I'm dealing with. I'm trying to take care of it without doing anything,” he said. “I just want to get back to sleeping (without discomfort) again.
“I'd still like to play more, but I'm getting older, I'm hurt and it's harder to get into these events. All of those things combined don't make for a good chance to get on the seniors tour.”
Other former winners expected to compete are defending champion Chris Chandler, Jack Wagner, Billy Joe Tolliver, Dan Quinn, Al Del Greco, Lemieux and Mark Rypien.
NBC tried to add recently retired Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre to their impressive entry list, but a scheduling conflict will delay Favre’s participation at least a year.
Other celebrities to pull out in the past month are San Diego Chargers' running back LaDainian Tomlinson, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, real estate mogul Donald Trump, actor Aidan Quinn, New York Giants’ retired defensive end Michael Strahan and Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith.
Tickets available
For fans who wish to get their tickets in advance, go to
www.southtahoe.activitytickets.com.
Tickets are available daily at the gate. Prices are $15 for the July 8-10 practice and celebrity-amateur rounds and $25 for each of the three tournament rounds July 11-13. Children 10 and younger are admitted free with a paid adult, with a maximum of two per adult. Fans planing to spend the week at the event can purchase a week-long pass for $60.
American Century Championship Player List
Celebrity Claim to Fame
Jared Allen NFL All-Pro DE: Minnesota Vikings
Marcus Allen NFL Hall of Fame RB
Ray Allen NBA All-Star: Boston Celtics
Anthony Anderson Actor/Comedian: K-Ville
Ronde Barber NFL All-Pro DB: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Charles Barkley Former NBA All-Star
Steve Bartkowski Former NFL All-Pro QB
Brian Baumgartner Actor: The Office
Jerome Bettis Former NFL All-Pro RB
Lucas Black Actor: Friday Night Lights, Jarhead
Kyle Boller NFL QB, Baltimore Ravens
Tim Brown Former NFL All-Pro WR
Joe Buck Announcer: Fox Sports
Steve Beuerlein Former NFL All-Pro QB
Chris Chandler Former NFL All-Pro QB (Defending Champ)
Brandi Chastain Former US Women’s Soccer Player
Vince Coleman Former MLB All-Star OF
Jay Cutler NFL QB, Denver Broncos
Al Del Greco Former NFL K
Herman Edwards NFL Head Coach, Kansas City Chiefs
John Elway NFL Hall of Fame QB
Mike Eruzione Captain, 1980 US Hockey Captain
Marshall Faulk Former NFL All-Pro RB
Jeff Feagles NFL All-Pro P, New York Giants
Carlton Fisk MLB Hall of Fame Catcher
Grant Fuhr NHL Hall of Fame Goalie
Trent Green NFL All-Pro QB
Dennis Haysbert Actor: 24, The Unit, Major League
Todd Heap NFL All-Pro TE, Baltimore Ravens
Lou Holtz Former CFB Coach: Notre Dame
Brett Hull Former NHL All-Star
Dan Jansen Olympic Gold Medal Speed Skater
Dale Jarrett NASCAR Driver
Dick Jauron NFL Head Coach, Buffalo Bills
Michael Jordan Former NBA All-Star
Jason Kidd NBA All-Star, Dallas Mavericks
Greg Kinnear Actor: Little Miss Sunshine, Invincible
Pierre Larouche Former NHL All-Star
Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Penguins Legend
Kenny Lofton Former MLB All-Star
Neil Lomax Former NFL All-Pro QB
Keenan McCardell NFL All-Pro WR
Chris McDonald Actor: Happy Gilmore
Jim McMahon Former NFL All-Pro QB
Al Michaels Announcer: Sunday Night Football
Bode Miller Olympic Ski Medalist
Kevin Nealon Actor: SNL Alum
Terence Newman NFL All-Pro CB, Dallas Cowboys
Jonathan Ogden Former NFL All-Pro OT
John O’Hurley Actor/Host: Seinfeld, Family Feud
Carson Palmer NFL All-Pro QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Digger Phelps ESPN Analyst
Stone Phillips Former Dateline Anchor
Maury Povich Television Host
Dan Quayle Former U.S Vice President
Dan Quinn Former NHL C
Rick Reilly ESPN Personality
Rick Rhoden Former MLB All-Star Pitcher
Alfonso Ribeiro Actor: Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Jerry Rice NFL All-Time Receiving Leader
Aaron Rodgers NFL QB, Green Bay Packers
Jeremy Roenick NHL All-Star: San Jose Sharks
Ben Roethlisberger NFL All-Pro QB: Pittsburgh Steelers
Ray Romano Comedian/Actor: Everybody Loves Raymond
Tony Romo NFL All-Pro QB, Dallas Cowboys
Mark Rypien Former NFL QB/Super Bowl MVP
Bret Saberhagen Former MLB Pitcher/World Series MVP
Joe Sakic NHL All-Star, Colorado Avalanche
Mike Schmidt Former MLB Hall of Fame 3B
Michael Shanahan NFL Head Coach, Denver Broncos
Sterling Sharpe Former NFL All-Pro WR
Emmitt Smith NFL All-Time Rushing Leader
Steve Spurrier Univ. of South Carolina Football Coach
Darryl Strawberry Former MLB All-Star OF
Wally Szczerbiak NBA All-Star: Cleveland Cavaliers
Lawrence Taylor Hall of Fame NFL LB
Jason Taylor NFL All-Pro DE: Miami Dolphins
Vinny Testaverde NFL All-Pro QB
Joe Theismann Former Super Bowl Champion QB
Billy Joe Tolliver Former NFL QB
Gene Upshaw Former NFL All-Pro OG, Oakland Raiders
Jack Wagner Actor: The Bold and The Beautiful
Antoine Walker NBA All-Star: Memphis Grizzlies
David Wells Former MLB All-Star P