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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.
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
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For more information, see the official |
