NFL GREATS TACKLE BOWLING PINS FOR CHARITY AT FOURTH ANNUAL NFL SUPER BOWL CELEBRITY BOWLING CLASSIC

Event Proceeds to Benefit the NFL's Youth Education Town (YET) Initiative; Super Bowl Legend Lynn Swann to Return as Event Spokesperson

TAMPA January 13, 2009 - More than twenty NFL legends will blitz the lanes at the fourth annual NFL Super Bowl Celebrity Bowling Classic, hosted by NFL Charities and Strike Ten Entertainment, the marketing arm of the bowling industry.  The annual tournament, which is open to the public, provides fans with a chance to play side-by-side with NFL greats with each bowling team captained by a former pro football star.  Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the NFL Youth Education Town (YET) initiative which provides education and mentoring services to at-risk youth in NFL cities.  This year's Super Bowl Celebrity Bowling Classic will be held at 7pm on Thursday, January 29 at Pin Chasers - Veterans in Tampa, FL, the home city of Super Bowl XLIII.  NFL Hall of Famer and former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann will return as event spokesperson for the second consecutive year.

"The Super Bowl Celebrity Bowling Classic is a fantastic event and a tremendous amount of fun for both the players and fans who participate.  Most importantly, the tournament benefits a truly worthy cause and I am extremely proud to again lend my support," said Swann.

Proceeds from the event will fund the NFL’s Youth Education Town initiative in Tampa Bay.  As its legacy to cities hosting Super Bowls, the NFL establishes these learning and recreational centers for at-risk youths.

Prior to the Celebrity Bowling Classic, the NFL greats will lead a private bowling clinic for local Tampa Bay Area elementary school children on Wednesday, January 28, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, also to be held at Pin Chasers - Veterans (private bowling clinic will be open to media only).

Nick Nicolosi, Tournament Director commented, “We're very proud to again partner with Strike Ten Entertainment to host the NFL Super Bowl Celebrity Bowling Classic.  This event has become a great Super Bowl tradition that is highly anticipated by both NFL fans as well as many former and present players who are primed to show off their bowling skills."

Legendary NFL stars confirmed to participate in the Celebrity Bowling Classic will include (subject to change):  Lem Barney of the Lions,  Billy Shaw and Thurman Thomas of the Bills, Dick Butkus of the Bears, Carl Eller and Paul Krause of the Vikings,  Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson of the Giants, Roger Wehrli of the Cardinals, Ted Hendricks of the Raiders,  Elvin Bethea of the Oilers, Don Maynard of the Jets, Leroy Kelly of the Browns, Kellen Winslow of the Chargers, Willie Lanier and Jan Stenerud of the Chiefs, Bobby Mitchell and Charley Taylor of the Redskins, Jimmy Taylor and James Lofton of the Packers, Mel Renfro and Rayfield Wright of the Cowboys, Tom Mack of the Rams, Bob St. Clair, Dave Wilcox and Hugh McElhenny of the 49ers, Lynn Swann of the Steelers and Larry Little, Jim Langer and Paul Warfield of the Dolphins.  Also participating will be professional bowling superstars Chris and Lynda Barnes.

“We're thrilled to again partner with NFL Charities and Lynn Swann to host the Super Bowl Celebrity Bowling Tournament and to do our part in supporting such a worthy cause," said Jim Sturm, President of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA).  "The continued success of the tournament speaks to the tremendous fundraising power of bowling and its resurgence as the nation's number one participatory sport."

The NFL Super Bowl Celebrity Bowling Classic is open to the public - entry fees are a donation to NFL Charities of $300 per individual, $1,000 for teams (four bowlers).  Interested parties should contact Tournament Director Nick Nicolosi at (201) 489-0049 or at n.nicolosi@verizon.net.

About BPAA/Strike Ten Entertainment

Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, the 75-year-old Bowling Proprietors' Association of America is a trade association representing the business interests of bowling center owners worldwide.  BPAA’s mission is to enhance the profitability of its member bowling centers.  As a division of BPAA, Strike Ten Entertainment is the marketing arm of the bowling industry. Strike Ten Entertainment’s mission is to increase the number of paid bowling games in bowling centers each year through promotions, publicity and industry-wide marketing initiatives.

About Pin Chasers - Veterans

Pin Chasers – Veterans has been Tampa’s landmark bowling center for 50 years. The facility is located at 5555 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, Fl, 33634.   

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