Frank Mariani and Jerry Buss will be hosting their annual charity poker tournament during the Bicycle Casino's signature event, Legends of Poker. A portion of the $1000 buy-in benefits the Los Angeles Lakers' Youth Foundation which provides financial assistance to more than 30 children's charities in the Los Angeles area.
 
This year, the charity poker tournament is being held on August 17, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Each player receives 10,000 in tournament chips and each level lasts 50 minutes.   Click here to download the blind structure.You can expect to see several current and former L.A. Lakers in attendance and you may even felt your favorite player. Previous events have been attended by Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Smush Parker, Chris Mihm, Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Devean George, Kwame Brown, Andrew Bynum, Brian Cook, Devin Green, Jim Jackson, Aaron McKie, Ronny Turiaf, Von Wafer, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and Kurt Rambis.Each player receives 10,000 in tournament chips,

In addition to basketball players, expect to see other famous face such as famous athletes from other sports teams, movie and television personalities, and of course, notable poker professionals. In years past, celebrities and poker pros in attendance have included Phil Jackson, Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson, Paris Hilton, Marcia Cross, Josh Duhamel, Anne Heche, Phil Laak, Jennifer Tilly, Annie Duke, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Jeremy Piven, Regina King, Penny Marshall, Lacey Chabert, Dean Cain, Rick and Kathy Hilton, Bai Ling, Ricki Lake, Olivia Wilde, Brody Jenner, Linda Rambis, Michele Merkin, David Anders, Jon Rose, and Jon Kelley, just to name a few.

The nice thing about a poker tournament is that you never what table you will be sitting at or what table you may be moved to. You may even get to sit across the felt from Jerry Buss or Frank Mariani. The Los Angeles Lakers owner and CEO are both avid poker players and can often be found at various poker tournaments, particularly Stud and H.O.R.S.E. events. Besides tournament play, both Frank Mariani and Jerry Buss are respected high-stakes cash game poker players and Buss has been featured on previous seasons of the GSN series High Stakes Poker and the NBC late-night series Poker After Dark.

In addition to raising money for a good cause and rubbing elbows with well-known public figures, tournament entrants can win cash, prizes and bragging rights. The evening will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a no-host cocktail hour and a fabulous appetizer/dessert bar so get there early. Have fun, bring you’re A-Game, and, if you are feeling particularly festive, wear your favorite Lakers jersey.