Dania poker tourney offers WSOP seat, aids Gardener's charity
The first of four qualifying tournaments to benefit a former Miami Dolphin's charity begins May 29 at Dania Jai-Alai.
The "Planting the Seed" charity poker tournament runs through June 29, and is guaranteeing at least one seat in the World Series of Poker Main Event.
It benefits Gardener's Kids, a charity created by former defensive tackle Daryl Gardener.
Gardner, who played for the Dolphins from 1996-2001, raises money to help children who have been abused. Those children's issues last a lifetime, even after they have outgrown the required aid from state agencies, he said.
"I can’t describe it to you. It just makes you want to flat-out cry," Gardener said. "You try to tell them everything’s all right. But I got to the point where I said I could do more. So I try to use my status as way to take care of thses kids after the system fails them."
The tournaments are at 6 p.m. May 29, June 6, June 12 and 19. Buy-in is $250. The top 25 percent from each day advance to the June 26 final at 6 p.m., and the top 50 get cash.
The fronton also will have $30 satellites running to get into the qualifying tournaments.
Gardener's organization also has a golf tournament set for June 5. Call 954-317-6541.
NICK SORTAL began playing 3-card "gut" and "Indian poker" on high school band trips, moved on to "night baseball" and "pass the trash" during a Dr. Pepper-infused midnight game in the 1980s at the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, and now play in a regular neighborhood Hold 'Em game in Plantation. I have been given the assignment of writing about the gambling life in South Florida casinos for the Sun-Sentinel...which means sitting around watching poker on TV now counts as research.
