Click here for images

Saturday, March 21, at Running Aces Harness Park in Columbus, Minnesota, JD Style Group presented the 2009 Minnesota Celebrity All-Star Poker Tournament with portions of the proceeds to benefit some local charitable organizations.

Among the celebrities were Darrell Thompson, NFL; Chris Carr, NBA; Larry Fitzgerald, Sr.; National Programming Network's Phil Mackey; Cory Routs and Cory (Sludge) Cove, both from KFAN; Joe Greene of K102; Crisco & Big D from KDWB; and Ron Johnson, NFL.

The public had to register and buy in at $200 in a no-limit Texas Hold'em, and about a total of 50 players competed for the prizes and winnings. First prize was a seven-day vacation to Belize for two; second prize was a Bahamas cruise, and third prize was a Las Vegas trip.

In high-stakes poker, like the NCAA Tournament, you have to survive and advance. Guess who took home the big prize? Yours truly was a tough turtle to drown — I won it, plus $103,000.