LOS ANGELES – Chris Paul finds a way to combine his love for bowling and a way to benefit the Chris Paul Family Foundation all in one fun-filled night every year.
The CP3 Professional Bowlers Association Celebrity Invitational brings together celebrities and professional bowlers for a competition, and while it’s all for a good cause helping benefit Paul’s foundation, it also brings the competitor out of everyone.
“My foundation is very important,” Paul said. “As a lot of people know, we really focus on putting technology and computer labs in underprivileged schools. Events like this, while they’re fun and give people the opportunity to entertain and have a good time, it’s all going to a great cause.
“It’s always a lot of fun. It’s good to have some new faces here, and we’ll see what happens here.”
Among the celebrities this year were Broncos running back C.J. Anderson, former NFL players Terrell Owners and Marcellus Wiley, World Cup soccer gold medalist Hope Solo, Olympic track star Allyson Felix and rapper Too Short. Every year, each celebrity pairs with a professional bowler.
This year, Paul matched up alongside Jason Belmonte, a three-time defending PBA Player of the Year. The event took place Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Lucky Strike LA Live in downtown Los Angeles, but it’s tape-delayed and doesn’t air until Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. PT on ESPN.
“I know how bad T.O. wants to win, and C.J. over here wants to win really bad, too,” Paul said. “I hear Hope’s not too bad, but it’s about time we win this thing.”
Owens is among the repeat competitors, with this being his third straight year. While Paul said Owens has skills, it was hip hop artist French Montana and Ronnie Russell who won the tournament last year. Russell, a three-time PBA Tour champion, said he was just expecting a fun atmosphere when he attended last year, but it ended up turning into a real competition late.
“Chris Paul, he’s great,” Russell said. “He missed a few spares against us last year, but other than that, he throws it really well.”
Paul’s one of the top competitors, but he has some legitimate challengers, with Anderson among them. Anderson’s actually signed a contract with bowling company “Storm.”
“That didn’t happen by accident,” said Anderson, who heard about the event Paul throws and wanted to join. “I’ve always said I want to get on the event. I see T.O. and other guys bowling. He linked up with my people, and it feels good to be here. I watched CP3 for a very, very long time. I’ve watched him since I was young, and it’s just good to be a part of it.”
Owens said he’s getting annoyed that he hasn’t won the competition yet. He’s known Paul a while, being part of the Brand Jordan family, and he wants to get the bragging rights of a title.
“Just as the sponsor is Lucky Strike, some of these guys who can’t bowl end up winning, like last year with French Montana,” Owens said. “Obviously, over the years past, Lil’ Wayne didn’t know how to bowl, gave him a couple lessons prior to and he goes out there and bowls strikes. But it’s a lot of fun. Some guys have got a little skill. We’ll see who does and who doesn’t by the end of the night.”
Owners teamed with PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber this year.
“I love it,” Weber said. “What better person to have a PBA event and have a charity event at the same time. Chris Paul and his foundation are one of the greatest things ever. It’s great for us to be here and get to bowl with the celebrities we get to bowl with.”
Paul said it’s an event everyone enjoys, though it’s hard for him to get the Clippers’ season out of his head at any point during the year. The tournament was sandwiched between Monday’s game against the Suns and Wednesday’s game against the Nuggets.
“I’m thinking about the game still,” Paul said. “I’m trying to make sure they’ve got the Denver game over there while we’re playing. I’ve got to see what’s going on.”
