Baseball Notables to Play in Cory Lidle's Celebrity Poker Tournament

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania - as reported by the Delaware County Daily Times: “...Several Phillies have embraced poker as a competitive outlet, but none might be as fervent as Cory Lidle. The
 
The late Cory Lidle (in white) at a Charity Poker Event.  right-hander is almost always willing to talk cards, and for the second straight year he is going to turn his love for the game into a way to raise money for his favorite charity.

“The second annual Cory Lidle Celebrity Poker Tournament will take place Jan. 14 at The Palms Casino in Las Vegas, with the proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Among the baseball notables expected to be there are Jason Giambi, 2005 World Series MVP Jermaine Dye, David Wells, Adam Dunn, Eric Chavez, Bret Saberhagen and teammates Mike Lieberthal, Chase Utley and Randy Wolf.

“Other celebrities from beyond the diamond include poker professional Thomas ‘Thunder’ Keller and FOX Sports Lisa Guerrero, who happens to be featured in the latest issue of Playboy. What does that have to do with poker? Nothing. However, there will be at least one celebrity at each of the 20 tables in the tournament, so that gives you a 1-in-20 shot of being at the same table with her.

“Yes, there are seats remaining in the tournament. It will cost you $1,200 to play, with $600 going to the prize pool and $600 going to charity. A full house -- 200 players -- would mean a $120,000 prize pool.

“Last year Lidle had 103 players for the inaugural event and he already has reached that threshold. Those interested in taking part can sign up at www.CoryLidleCelebrityPoker.com, or call 615-321-0726. There will be a cocktail party for the tournament players Jan. 13 in The Palms’ Ghost Bar, and there also will be a silent auction of sports memorabilia to raise money for Make-A-Wish.

“The bad news is that if you were hoping to see plenty of pro poker players at the tournament, there probably won’t be that many. The Australian Championships and a World Series of Poker Circuit Event coincide with the tournament, so many of the top players are going to be out of the country. The good news is that if you hoped to have a snowball’s chance of winning the thing, then the absence of rounders just improved your odds.

“Lidle said that last year’s tournament featured a 50-50 split of solid players and fish.

“‘You’ll see some good play and you’re going to see some horrible play,’ Lidle said. ‘There’s a chance you could be at a table with a bunch of strong players, or that you’ll be at a table with a lot of dead money.’

“When asked who the best player is out of the celebrities, Lidle gave the right answer -- Cory Lidle. (If you don’t sit at a poker table believing that you are the baddest player on the planet, then you are instantly behind the 8-ball.) Lidle said that he considers Wolf a strong player, but that he didn’t want to place any more credit on top of his teammate’s poker ego. Asked if he hopes to have a final-table showdown with Wolf, Lidle said, ‘Oh yeah.’”