Tribe, Hard Rock Sponsor Playmaker Charity Event

By Chris Jenkins

HOLLYWOOD — During the March 3–4 weekend, Seminole Sports Management (SSM) along with Michael Irvin’s Playmaker Charities and Academies joined forces in its first annual celebrity charity golf tournament and auction.

The major sponsors for the event were the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

All proceeds from the event went toward Playmaker Charities and Academies. The founder is former National Football League wide-receiver and Dallas Cowboy, Michael Irvin. It was created to serve and improve the lives of Broward County youth and the south Florida community through educational, academic, spiritual and physical support.

The festivities kicked off early Friday evening as Irvin and his invited guests gathered for a private dinner. Afterward, the Grand Ballroom at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino played host to a public mixer and a live, silent auction.

An impressive list of sports memorabilia was auctioned, with all proceeds going to charity. Some of the more coveted items included autographed footballs by Hall of Fame quarterbacks John Elway of the Denver Broncos and Pro-Bowler and Dallas Cowboy Troy Aikman. Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and the NFL’s all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith also autographed footballs for the auction.

Jerseys available to the highest bidder included baseball legend Jackie Robinson, the Miami Heat’s Alonzo Morning, and NFL Pro-Bowler Steve McNair.

Chairman Mitchell Cypress, Big Cypress Representative David Osceola and Hollywood Representative Max B. Osceola Jr., among other important figures in the Seminole community, attended the charitable event.

The celebrities in attendance were a who’s who of former and current NFL stars, political leaders, and local media. Among these persons were former Dallas Cowboy teammates Emmitt Smith and Deion Sanders, Washington Redskins future Hall of Famer Darrell Green and Minnesota Vikings future Hall of Famer Cris Carter to name a few.

Current Miami Dolphins players Jason Taylor and Kiwaukee Thomas also attended. Political radio commentator and host Rush Limbaugh, Miami Herald and ESPN sports reporter Dan Le Batard, along with guests from all around the South Florida area were in attendance.

On March 4, Bonaventure Country Club and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino were the scenes for the golf tournament and Irvin’s 40th birthday party. Thirty-five teams of four players competed in the golf event in a celebrity scramble format, with only one celebrity per team. Prizes were offered for several course contests including, closest to the pin, longest drive and hole in one.

The brains behind SSM are Manager Elrod Bowers and Non-Profit Director/Manager Tera Jenkins. Bowers says SSM is a unique operation with great potential.

“We have a lot of businesses with the tribe, and this [Playmaker Charities and Academies] is service related,” Bowers said. “As opportunities arise we want to make sure what we do falls in line with what the Tribe wants.”

In making the charity and its functions a success, the preparations and tough decisions fell into the hands of Tera Jenkins. With the Tribe for close to a year now, Jenkins has hit the ground running, but she feels part of the process has been overcoming the tremendous obstacles of a new charity.

“I think bringing awareness to people that these kids are really in need because there are so many other worthwhile foundations out there is very important,” Jenkins said. “Were not addressing the symptoms of the problems, were attacking the root of them.”

As far as Playmaker’s future hopes and ambitions with SSM, Bowers called Michael Irvin’s goal “his goal.”

“This was a great start, but it’s not the end,” Bowers said.