Celebrity Poker: Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan has joined the ranks of celebrities who caught the poker bug. Some top names, both from the world of sports and the world of poker have agreed to join the Eight Annual Tucker Celebrity Golf and Poker Tournament in Minnesota.

It seems like Mr. Tucker has outdone himself this time as he has not only got Michael Jordan to join but also athletes Charles Oakley and Scottie Pippen. To match the top athletes some of the best poker players in the world will also play. Among the best known are Patrick Antonius, Phil Ivey and former world champions Chris Ferguson and Johnny Chan.

The poker tournament held last September 8th and cost $2,500. The golf tournament will start the next day at the Rush Creek Golf Club. The earnings will go to the Trent Tucker Youth Program. Mr. Tucker who won an NBA championship in 1993 is known for his charitable work among the youth. The event is has several sponsors including the World Poker Store.

It’s very pleasing to see such a great lineup of poker professionals devoting themselves to such an admirable cause. Phil Ivey might be the general public not be known for much else than his great poker skills and excellent poker face but Phil Ivey is a great philanthropist who gives plenty to different charities.

In a room of stars, Michael Jordan proved he still shines the brightest. Poker icons and NBA legends packed Canterbury Park last Friday night September 8 for the Inaugural Trent Tucker Celebrity Poker Tournament benefiting the Trent Tucker Youth Program, but in the end Michael Jordan ended up with all the chips.

Michael Jordan gained the chip lead early on the 85- person field, which featured a lengthy list of fellow NBA greats such as Scottie Pippen, Charles Oakley and Kevin Garnett along with a dozen poker professionals including Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, and Greg Raymer. With Bravo's Celebrity Poker Host Phil Gordon announcing, Jordan took home the final pot and first place with pocket fives.

"I just came to have a good time and help the Trent Tucker Non-Profit Organization," said Jordan.

"This was for fun, and I just played my cards. I didn't care if I won or lost," added Jordan, who donated back the first place prize money to the Trent Tucker Non- Profit Organization.

The tournament brought together the largest collection of NBA stars and poker players ever to compete in the same tournament, which was viewed by over 500 spectators. Tournament seats were available to the public for $2,500 with $2,000 going to the charity.

About Michael Jordan: Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. The family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina when he was still a toddler. Jordan was not a rags-to-riches story, his childhood was reasonably comfortable.

Jordan played basketball for Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ironically, Jordan was cut from the varsity team as a sophomore. The number of records that Jordan holds will boggle the mind of even the most seasoned mathematics wizard. In 1984 Michael Jordan was the third player to be drafted after Hakim Olajuwon and Sam Bowie.

Michael Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. Jordan went on to guide the Bulls to six NBA Championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998). During all his championship winning years he was also named as NBA Finals MVP.

After a summer of playing basketball during breaks from filming the live-action cartoon movie Space Jam, Jordan returned with a fierce determination to prove that he had the ability to get back on top.

In 1997 he was ranked the world's highest paid athlete, with a $30 million contract—the largest one-year salary in sports history—and approximately $40 million a year in endorsement fees.