onefrombills
09-21-2008, 07:17 PM
Winston-salem, NC - 9/20/2008
The NBA’s best paired up with the stars of the PBA all in the name of charity Saturday night at AMF Winston-Salem Lanes in the inaugural Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational presented by the brands of Ebonite International.
The event was held in conjunction with the third annual Chris Paul’s Winston-Salem Weekend, the signature fundraising event of the CP3 Foundation. All of the proceeds from the Invitational and the weekend-long charity event benefit Paul’s foundation which supports a variety of charities and programs in Winston-Salem and New Orleans.
The Invitational was taped for broadcast by ESPN and it will air on Oct. 19 to kick off the 2008-09 50th anniversary PBA Tour season. It marks the first time professional athletes from other sports partnered with professional bowlers for a bowling event with a dedicated telecast.
The Invitational saw New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul paired up with 2007-08 PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes; Miami Heat guard Dywane Wade with 2005-06 PBA Player of the Year Tommy Jones; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Jason Couch; Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay and 2006-07 PBA Player of the Year Doug Kent; and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kevin Durant and Mitch Beasley.
“I have the best partner (Barnes) out there and he’s given me great tips, so I was confident that we were going to do well,” Paul said.
The other NBA players and PBA bowlers were simply thrilled to be a part of this special charity event.
“Chris Paul is a great friend of mine and it’s always good to come out for a good cause and have fun,” James added.
“I was really pumped; it was great bowling with my partner (James),” Couch said. “I watched him play in high school and now in the NBA. I’m a huge NBA fan. It was an honor to be a part of this special event. It was huge for me to meet these guys, let alone bowl with them.”
Other activities during the weekend included a Ludacris concert, Banker’s Ball, Youth Basketball Clinic and Celebrity Pro-am bowling tournament featuring stars like singer Bryan McKnight, Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard and former NBA great Byron Scott.
“It was amazing to meet my all-time role model, Byron Scott,” Couch said. “He’s still got it (making five half-court shots during the basketball clinic).”
Be sure to tune in Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. EST for the telecast to see who wins!
The NBA’s best paired up with the stars of the PBA all in the name of charity Saturday night at AMF Winston-Salem Lanes in the inaugural Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational presented by the brands of Ebonite International.
The event was held in conjunction with the third annual Chris Paul’s Winston-Salem Weekend, the signature fundraising event of the CP3 Foundation. All of the proceeds from the Invitational and the weekend-long charity event benefit Paul’s foundation which supports a variety of charities and programs in Winston-Salem and New Orleans.
The Invitational was taped for broadcast by ESPN and it will air on Oct. 19 to kick off the 2008-09 50th anniversary PBA Tour season. It marks the first time professional athletes from other sports partnered with professional bowlers for a bowling event with a dedicated telecast.
The Invitational saw New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul paired up with 2007-08 PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes; Miami Heat guard Dywane Wade with 2005-06 PBA Player of the Year Tommy Jones; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Jason Couch; Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay and 2006-07 PBA Player of the Year Doug Kent; and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kevin Durant and Mitch Beasley.
“I have the best partner (Barnes) out there and he’s given me great tips, so I was confident that we were going to do well,” Paul said.
The other NBA players and PBA bowlers were simply thrilled to be a part of this special charity event.
“Chris Paul is a great friend of mine and it’s always good to come out for a good cause and have fun,” James added.
“I was really pumped; it was great bowling with my partner (James),” Couch said. “I watched him play in high school and now in the NBA. I’m a huge NBA fan. It was an honor to be a part of this special event. It was huge for me to meet these guys, let alone bowl with them.”
Other activities during the weekend included a Ludacris concert, Banker’s Ball, Youth Basketball Clinic and Celebrity Pro-am bowling tournament featuring stars like singer Bryan McKnight, Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard and former NBA great Byron Scott.
“It was amazing to meet my all-time role model, Byron Scott,” Couch said. “He’s still got it (making five half-court shots during the basketball clinic).”
Be sure to tune in Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. EST for the telecast to see who wins!