(Paradise Island, The Bahamas - Sept. 22, 2002) The Ocean Club resort on Paradise Island in The Bahamas and Michael Jordan hosted a star-studded field for the second annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI) held this weekend, Sept. 18 - 22, 2002. World-class athletes from across the sports spectrum participated including Wayne Gretzky, Boris Becker, Ron Harper, Dan Jansen and Julius Erving. These athletes were challenged by celebrity golfers, such as 'NSYNC's Chris Kirkpatrick, Angie Everhart, Beverly Johnson and defending tournament champion Janet Jones.
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| Michael Jordan relaxes during his celebrity invitational. (Tim Aylen) |
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NBC-TV will air the fun-filled, four-day charitable golf event on Oct. 19, 2002 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. EST. Sponsors for the MJCI included Jordan Two3, ICON International, Blue Star Jets, Kerzner International, Gatorade, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., American Airlines and Ferragamo.
"I'm delighted to be back for our second tournament at Ocean Club - it's just an amazing place," said Michael Jordan. "The group of people who come out to support us make this event spectacular. We're all out here to have fun while supporting a worthwhile cause."
MJCI guests were treated to a fun-filled weekend of festivities at the fabulous Ocean Club and Atlantis, Paradise Island resorts. The weekend's entertainment highlight was a soulful, performance by multi-platinum selling recording artist, Brian McKnight. Attendees also were treated to an exclusive fashion show debuting the spring/summer 2003 collection of Two3, Michael Jordan's line of men's sportswear
The MJCI featured more than 30 celebrity golfers from the worlds of sports and entertainment, as well as amateur participants, including event sponsors and representatives of The Bahamian corporate and local community competing in two separate competitions. The event consisted of a two-day Celebrity-Am, pairing one celebrity with three amateurs and a two-day "Celebrity Pairs."
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| Comedian Chris Tucker enjoys a laugh during the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational. (AP) |
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The players competed for a total purse of $200,000. Up to $500,000 will be given to charity including $300,000 in charitable donations for the Ronald McDonald Houses of North Carolina, the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and the Scout Association of The Bahamas.
"Michael brings an air of excitement to everything he does and this tournament is no different," said Howard Karawan, Kerzner International Executive Vice President, Corporate Marketing. "We look forward to partnering with him for years to come on this one-of-a-kind event."
During his stellar NBA career, Jordan has virtually rewritten the NBA record book as a 6-time NBA Most Valuable Player, an 11-time All-Star and a member of 6 NBA Championship teams. Following a brief hiatus after his retirement as a player in January of 1999, Jordan returned to the NBA in January 2000 as the head of the Wizards' Basketball Operations, and subsequently as a player in September 2001. A long-time philanthropist, Jordan and his wife Juanita have supported the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, UNCF/College Fund, Special Olympics and a variety of charitable organizations that support children and families.
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| News anchor Stone Phillips and Julius Erving shake hands on the 18th green. (AP) |
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The Ocean Club Golf Course was designed by world-renowned golf course designer and golfer Tom Weiskopf. Situated on the eastern end of Paradise Island and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Nassau Harbor, Weiskopf's scenic par 72 course takes advantage of the magnificent Bahamian landscape and island cross winds, challenging golfers' precision and accuracy. The Ocean Club Golf Course attracts every caliber of golfer, and challenges the most experienced of players, luring them back again and again. Troon Golf, a U.S.-based high-end golf development, marketing, and management company involved in several of Weiskopf's other projects, has been retained to manage the Ocean Club Golf Course.
Additional tournament information can be found at www.MJCIGolf.com.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2002
The Associated Press
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