Charity event draws impressive crowd to Gold Coast

The ProRodeo Hall of Fame announcer beamed with pride during our chat at the 7th Annual Bob Tallman Celebrity Bowling Tournament at the Gold Coast Hotel &Casino on Saturday morning as he and a group of nearly 200 came together to raise money for charity and get in a little bowling, too. Tallman, who called the action at 25 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos in Las Vegas, was joined by a diverse and eclectic group of bowlers from a variety of walks of life for the one-of-a-kind event.

From celebrities like Chris Hardwick, Lydia Hearst and Hollywood Yates and ProRodeo Hall of Famers like Clint Corey, Gary Leffew, Don Gay, Clint Corey, Ote Berry and Byron Walker to the Wrangler NFR flag girls and Wrangler NFR contestants Tilden Hooper, Aaron Pass and Shane Hanchey, the collection of people filling the lanes was quite impressive. Throw in teams consisting of a number of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association committees and sponsors with staff and cast members from Las Vegas shows like “Defending the Caveman” and “Marriage Can Be Murder,” and the tournament field ballooned to more than 150 bowlers.

Proceeds from the event benefited the Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities and the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, and Tallman makes it clear it is a passion project of his.

“We are an industry of givers who give their life and time to make rodeo happen,” said Tallman, a 2004 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee. “People from places like Boyd Gaming, Coca-Cola and Coors never say no. People will see this and go, ‘Maybe we should do that next year.’ ”

According to JCCF Program Manager Cindy Schonholtz, the tournament has raised more than $45,000 heading into this year’s installment for its charities.

“It’s a lot of fun and is a fun family event to have during the NFR,” she said. “People really enjoy coming and bringing their families, and we’ve brought the amount of money raised up every year. It’s a great turnout and a real diverse turnout, and it really adds a different element to the event.”

In addition to bowling, participants had the chance to bid on items ranging from buckles and Wrangler NFR vests to guitars and clothing in a silent auction. Tallman and announcing buddy Will Rasmussen also helped raise more money through a live auction that included a guitar signed by dozens of country music stars.

The tournament is a big boost for Speedway Children’s Charities, which provides grants to a number of Las Vegas-area children’s charities and causes.

“We raise money all year at fundraisers like this bowling tournament,” Las Vegas chapter Director Paulette Anderson said. “Next week, we will be awarding more than $200,000 in grants to 45 children’s charities right here in Southern Nevada, and it makes it extra special that the money stays here locally. Whether it’s physical, education or medical, we try to meet their needs and give them grants to help them further their programs in the valley.”

Hooper, who is competing in his fourth career Wrangler NFR in bareback riding, was on hand to bowl one of the ceremonial first balls to open the tournament. Hooper had to rely on the JCCF, which aids injured cowboys, while sitting out for more than a year to recover from neck fusion surgery.

The foundation was crucial to his return to rodeo.

“It means everything to me and is just as much a reason as anything that I’m back here getting to compete again at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo,” said Hooper, a Shreveport, La., native.

“When we’re not riding, we can’t work, and a lot of times we’re injured to the point where we can’t go get a real job. These guys step in and help us with our month-to-month expenses and make it so that, when we do get healthy, we can get back out here and rodeo.

“They’ve helped me more than words can explain, and it means the world to me.”

Wayne Brooks, who was just named PRCA Announcer of the Year again, was also in attendance, along with fellow announcers Boyd Polhamus and Roger Mooney. It was a head-turning Who’s Who of personalities at the Gold Coast’s bowling center.

Hardwick, host of AMC’s “Talking Dead” and “@midnight” on Comedy Central, was jazzed about participating in the tournament with his girlfriend, Hearst, a longtime rodeo fan.

“My dad was a professional bowler, so anything that involves a bowling tournament, I’m immediately sucked in,” said Hardwick, who hosted the popular MTV show “Singled Out” from 1995-98. “The charity sounds amazing, and I’m super excited to go to the rodeo.”

Hearst, an actress and fashion model, and Hardwick were in town to experience the Wrangler NFR for the first time and attended Saturday night’s performance.

“A lot of my family going back were cowboys and barrel racers, and I’d say I’m 50 percent high fashion and 50 percent cowgirl,” Hearst said. “It’s such an incredible experience to go and see the rodeos, and I’ve been learning to bull ride recently from Gary Leffew. It’s such an incredible experience to be out here for everybody and to be raising money for these great organizations.”

The results of the tournament were secondary to the overall cause, but the Boyd Gaming team topped the Coca-Cola team 1,967-1,735 for the coveted Montana Silversmiths buckles. It was a great event and one Tallman would like to see grow in the future.

“My dream goal is to have 70 lanes full and to be able to give every charity 50 grand,” he said.

“Our lane sponsors have gone from two a few years ago to 12 this year. If you’re doing well in the world, we’d love to give some of your profits to our children.”

Neal Reid is a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based freelance writer who spent five years as editor of the ProRodeo Sports News. He has written for Western Horseman, American Cowboy, The Ketchpen, Persimmon Hill, USA Today, Newsday, MLB.com, ESPN.com, ESPNW.com, the Colorado Springs Gazette and Denver Post, among others. Reid, a member of the Rodeo Historical Society, covered the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, for the Olympic and Paralympic News Service and is a veteran of 10 Wrangler NFRs. Follow him on Twitter @NealReid21.