Shouts of “all in,” “raise” and “pocket aces” echoed throughout UCLA’s Ackerman Grand Ballroom last night at the Project Nicaragua Poker Tournament.  UCLA students battled for prizes including paintball passes, an Amazon Kindle, an Ipod Shuffle and more! A deejay kept the energy high and after drinking some NeuroGasm, the players were up and dancing in between hands. NeuroSonic helped poker players stay focused to calculate the odds and make the best calls. NeuroBliss kept smiles on everyone’s faces no matter what cards they got – it’s hard to tell when someone is bluffing if they are always smiling! The tournament benefited the Project Nicaragua Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing medical relief and advancing the level of healthcare in Nicaragua. With help from their chapters at UCLA, UCSD, Harvard and Ohio State, Project Nicaragua has been able to pass legislation to have Nicaraguan rice enriched with Folic Acid to help prevent disease.

Last weekend over a hundred guests got together for an exciting evening of No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em at the Pro Kids Celebrity Poker Challenge, a featured event at the San Diego Open (formerly the Buick Invitational). At the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, guests enjoyed a silent auction and opportunity drawing to win jewelry, golf packages, casino visits, travel experiences, spa packages, and more. Fabulous prizes were also up for grabs for the first-, second-, and third-place winners. Proceeds support Pro Kids’ mission to challenge underserved youth to excel in life by promoting character development, life skills, and values through education and the game of golf. Special guests included Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, Phil “Unabomber” Leak, Howard Wright, the cofounder of Pro Kids and a former NBA Player, Jesse Orosco (The San Diego Padres pitcher), Jared Elchleberger (former Mets and Marlins player), Billy Ray Smith (former San Diego Chargers Player) and John Dutton( MLB Pitcher for the LA Dodgers). But the sure bet was Neuro — as guests enjoyed Poker themed Neuro cocktailslike Straight Bliss, Royal Gasm and Full Sonic.

Nick Lachey, Gary Plummer, Nancy Odell, Gary Payton, Clyde Drexler and more!

Video coming from the golf tournament soon. We were on CBS yesterday! Check it out.

This event was a dream come true who anyone who grew up watching sports in the last 20 years. The tournament was full of MVPs, Super Bowl champions, World Series winners, and NBA champions. The poker tournament was a charity event raising money for All Stars Helping Kids. Marcus Allen is very involved with All Stars Helping Kids and is also hosting a charity golf tournament with Neuro! Pictures for that event later this week.

Everyone partook in some intense bowling before the poker. Lucky Strike offers a unique bowling experience with plush couches and neons lights. While you are bowling videos are projected onto the bowling lanes. After the bowling everyone got down to playing some poker. Since it was for charity, it was very friendly poker. Old sports rivalries were put aside and everyone had fun. Keith Zubchevich, Nancy Odell’s husband, won the tournament.

Neuro was featured and many of the athletes got a chance to try it. The response was great! There was a wide variety of professional athletes. Baseball stars Kenny Lofton and Barry Bonds both played in the tournament. Basketball legends Julius Irving (DR J!), Clyde Drexler and Gary Payton attended the event. There were even more football greats including Lawrence Taylor, Jonnie Morton, Richard Dent, Willie Gault, Rodney Peete. Nancy O’dell and The Lachey brother also came to try their luck at some cards.

Here are a few select pictures. More are coming tomorrow!

Willie Gault former Raider wider receiver.

Former Laker, Gary Payton

Nick and Drew Lachey

There will be MANY more pictures tomorrow!

MORE PICTURES! There were so many people there that it was hard to choose which pictures to post.

Marcus Allen and a Neuro Bliss

Nancy Odell

By popular demand here are a few more pictures of Nick and Drew Lachey

Lawrence Taylor with Neuro

Superbowl Championship Ring and Neuro Sonic

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