FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 8th, 2015

BETTIS, BROWN, HAWK, WARD AND PAPA TALK HALL OF FAME, NFL AND GOLF IN AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA CONF. CALL WED., JULY 8, NOON ET

More than 80 Celebrities from Sports and Entertainment to Converge Upon Lake Tahoe for the American Century Championship, airing July 17-19 on NBC, NBCSN and Golf Channel

Hawk, now with Bengals, went viral at 2014 tourney with love tap for fan seeking taste of NFL

Video: A.J. Hawk Shoulder Tackles Fan

Dial 866-215-1393 to Participate

WHO: Jerome Bettis, 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and sixth all-time leading rusher in NFL history. The former Steeler will weigh in on the honor of joining the greats in Canton on Saturday, August 8. Bettis will compete in his ninth American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe and is listed by Harrah’s and Harveys Race & Sports Book at 50-1 to win the tournament.

Tim Brown, 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and sixth all-time leading receiver (yards) in NFL history. The former Raider will also talk about Canton, the upcoming NFL season, his new inspirational book, The Making of a Man, the upcoming Gene Upshaw Memorial Golf Classic and his chances (50-1 according to Harrah’s) to win the American Century Championship in his 14th start.

A.J. Hawk, linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals and member of the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XLV championship team. Hawk became the tournament’s all-time viral video champion last year when he put a pro-style tackle on a welcoming, insistent fan during a practice round. Seen by millions, the video made multiple top-ten lists and re-affirmed the fun-loving linebacker as a Tahoe fan favorite as he makes his eighth start at 200-1 in the legal Nevada sportsbooks.

Hines Ward, Super Bowl XL MVP and a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is an analyst on NBC’s Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports. Ward, the four-time Pro Bowler, is the Steeler’s all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns. He will congratulate his colleagues on Canton, discuss the upcoming NFL season, and assess his 50-1 chances to win the tournament.

Bob Papa, play-by-play host for NBC and NBCSN’s coverage of the American Century Championship.  Papa handles play-by-play host duties for Golf Channel’s PGA TOUR and Champions Tour coverage and also is the radio play-by-play voice for the New York Giants.

WHAT: American Century Championship Media Conference Call. Dial 866-215-1393 and ask the live operator for the American Century Championship Conference Call.

WHEN:      Wednesday, July 8, noon ET/9 a.m. PT

  • Please RSVP to the sender email address if joining

TOURNEY DETAILS: The 26th annual American Century Championship is set for July 17-19. The 54-hole event, televised nationally by NBC (Saturday and Sunday) and NBC Sports Network (Friday), features a celebrity field of 80-plus sports and entertainment stars competing for $600,000 in prize money. Golf Channel provides additional coverage.  Other prominent names expected at Lake Tahoe are Justin Timberlake, Charles Barkley, Aaron Rodgers, John Elway, Cris Collinsworth, Ray Romano, Herm Edwards, Steve Kerr, Steve Spurrier, John Smoltz, Roger Clemens, Ray Allen, Bode Miller, Larry the Cable Guy, Anthony Anderson, Jerry Rice and defending champion Mark Rypien. (www.tahoecelebritygolf.com)