The 2010 World Series of Barbecue kicked off WSOP party week last night.  ”This is like poker’s Oscar week” joked Joe Sebok.  Once again, Howard and Suzie Lederer hosted the WSOB Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament at the Golden Nugget pool last night benefiting the Boys and Girls Club.  Without a doubt, this is always one of the best parties at the WSOP.  The tournament is inside the casino, so the pool party is family-friendly with Karaoke, a water slide zipping through a shark tank and ending with fireworks.  The WSOB charity event is an escape from the worn-out pro player faces at the Rio and reminds us that there are far worse places to be on this planet than six weeks at a poker tournament.

We missed Gavin Smith singing Sweet Caroline this year because he was playing Event #56 but it didn’t matter…it was impossible for Smith to win this year’s WSOB Karaoke bracelet because Joe Reitman sang and danced Beyonce’s Put A Ring On It wearing only a black leotard.  The video should be on WCP soon.  Ah, the WSOB is good stuff, good times, good for poker and good for black  leotard dancers around the world.

Today, Annie Duke and Don Cheadle host their annual Ante Up for Africa tournament at the Rio helping Africans in need.  Help Ante Up for Africa raise 10K before the WSOP Main Event here.

By the way, here’s a pic of JOE Reitman and I taken by BJ Nemeth and his new iPhone4.  To my knowledge, Reitman never goes by the name Jeff.

Michele: writer, culture, policy, politics, tech + mom blog - writing on culture, policy, politics, tech, apps, video games, parenting, photos, sports and sometimes a what is...

Hey, remember last year when I asked Charles Barkley how he felt about his mother calling him a mama’s boy on HBO?  Yeah, that was awesome.  And remember when I said I was watching Barkley play some basketball in a Las Vegas hotel room?  Yeah, that was awesome.

Well, today Barkley was in Las Vegas being more awesome by supporting Annie Duke’s and Don Cheadle’s Ante Up for Africa tournament at the WSOP.  This marks Ante Up’s 3rd year in raising awareness funds for the Darfur victims who suffer far more than most of us.

Big names hitting the red carpet was the usual supporters Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Alexander, Hershel Walker, Brad Garrett, Cedric the Entertainer, Sarah Silverman and Montel Williams.

To remember or understand why I said that was awesome, see video below.  To help some people who aren’t as lucky as us to have food and shelter click here.

Michele: writer, culture, policy, politics, tech + mom blog - writing on culture, policy, politics, tech, apps, video games, parenting, photos, sports and sometimes a what is...