Adrian Peterson, Larry Fitzgerald, All NFL Players Banned From Playing in Charity Poker Events
The National Football League (NFL) has banned its players from participating in charity poker events on Wednesday including the much ballyhooed Starkey Hearing Foundation Pros for Africa, which benefits the hearing impaired in African nations.
Those slated to participate in the event included Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, St. Louis Rams wide receiver Mark Clayton, and Cincinnati Bengals safety Roy Williams. Fitzgerald and Peterson were two of the primary headliners of the event. The two pros have been especially active in African causes.
Had they been allowed to take part in the $2,000 buy in with $500 rebuy event, they would have assisted in raising even more money for a very worthwhile cause. Among the celebrities on hand to take part in the event were poker players Phil Hellmuth, Howard Lederer, Annie Duke, and Johnny Chan. They sat among such actors/singers such as Steve Martin, Don Cheadle, Kevin Sorbo, Jordin Sparks, and Lou Ferrigno. The event was not even set to give away cash prizes to those fortunate enough to last to the latter stages. Top prizes included a 2011 CSM #2 Shelby Mustang, which was awarded to the winning player. Other prizes included iPads and trips to places such as South Africa, Mexico ad South America. Given the fact that none of the 350 participants received any type of cash prizes, it is curious that the NFL would still go to such great lengths to distance itself from something even remotely tied to gambling. The NFL players did not end of playing, they just mingled with the crowd and watched the event.
The NFL has long condemned any form of gambling in connection with the league. Only recently have commentators begun mentioning the point spread, which is the handicap or “cover” assigned by oddsmakers, during games.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
