Alonzo Mourning and Earvin 'Magic' Johnson Host 4th Annual 'Boost Mobile Zo & Magic's 8-Ball Challenge', Presented By G2 From The Makers Of Gatorade With Returning Host Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges

Alonzo Mourning and Earvin 'Magic' Johnson Host 4th Annual 'Boost Mobile Zo & Magic's 8-Ball Challenge', Presented By G2 From The Makers Of Gatorade With Returning Host Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges

Star-Studded Competitive Pool Tournament Benefits Youth and the New Orleans Community Through Alonzo Mourning Charities & The Magic Johnson Foundation

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, February 14, 2008, the hottest showdown of stars on and off the court will take place at The Sugar Mill during the NBA All-Star Weekend. NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat and NBA Legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson team up along with Title Sponsor Boost Mobile, Presenting Sponsor G2 from the makers of Gatorade, and Official Vehicle Sponsor Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., to usher in the 2008 "Boost Mobile Zo & Magic's 8-Ball Challenge," along with Grammy winner Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, who returns for hosting duties for the second straight year.

The annual 8-Ball Challenge, now in its 4th year and one of All-Star Weekend's most popular events, is a competitive celebrity pool tournament that's grown bigger and better every year, raising over $750,000 to support youth and community causes. Says Mourning, "This is the fourth year of the 8-Ball Challenge and the third time I am partnering with Earvin on the event, which has found success beyond my expectations in such a short time. Magic and I are excited to be with the great people of New Orleans for this year's tournament, a community that has continued to show great perseverance and pride in restoring its city's rich heritage. We feel blessed to come into this community and appreciate the substantial support that the 8-Ball Challenge has amassed from the local cities, celebrities and corporations over the years."

The 8-Ball Challenge, and its partners, are proud to have adopted New Orleans own West Jefferson High School, a school in many ways still crippled by its needs and the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Proceeds from the event will assist the school in opening a new computer lab for its students.

With additional generosity from Diamond Billiards providing pool tables in partnership with Simonis Cloth and GenerationPool.com, and support from stars including Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat), Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets), Baron Davis (Golden State Warriors), actress Vivica Fox, Greg Oden (Portland Trailblazers), Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz), Caron Butler (Washington Wizards), Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Reggie Bush (New Orleans Saints), and Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics), it's anyone's guess who will go down first, in this round- robin style battle of thirty-two (32) double's teams.

The 8-Ball Challenge has fast become the most anticipated event and classiest new tradition of the NBA All-Star Weekend. Alonzo Mourning hosted the first 8-Ball Challenge in 2005 to runaway success with Denver Nuggets phenom Carmelo Anthony.

In the subsequent 8-Ball Challenges in 2006 and 2007, he partnered with fellow long-time philanthropist and entrepreneur Earvin "Magic" Johnson, which have shown a spirit for giving that is sure to be outmatched in New Orleans, as the 8-Ball Challenges have crowned new winners and raised bigger funds each year to help underprivileged youth and families through their Alonzo Mourning Charities and the Magic Johnson Foundation. Each year different winners have taken home the grand prize - from NBA star Paul Pierce in 2005 and Atlanta radio personalities Doug and Ryan Stewart of the "2 Live Stews" winning the tournament in 2006, to Mourning with his partner, artist Alonzo Adams, taking the win in 2007. Mourning is looking to repeat his win and reap even greater success than last year.

"Every year, we make it the hottest event at All-Star. There's always exciting and unpredictable things happening," says Earvin "Magic" Johnson. "It'll be even more special this year, in New Orleans. It's important to be in this city and support the rebuilding of this community."

The 8-Ball Challenges have attracted a who's who of sports and entertainment, such as Big Boi, Bow Wow, Cedric The Entertainer, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Gabrielle Union, Nick Cannon, Queen Latifah, Regina King, Vivica Fox, sports stars and legends like Carmelo Anthony, Charles Barkley, Dwyane Wade, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Paul Pierce, Reggie Bush, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O'Neal, and Terrell Owens.

There will also be a host of other exciting activities and displays during the night including the showcase of the all-new 2008 Toyota Sequoia Platinum edition. All of the net proceeds raised will benefit programs supported by Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc. and the Magic Johnson Foundation. Alonzo Mourning Charities and the Magic Johnson Foundation will also do a variety of projects in the community during the week and NBA All-Star Weekend. Among them includes a visit by Alonzo Mourning Charities on February 15th to West Jefferson High School (Harvey, LA) to participate in an ongoing project and donate computers and other support, and HIV testing conducted by the Magic Johnson Foundation on February 15th in New Orleans.

Teams and Tables are still available for the event. All team and tables sales are 100% tax deductible and the funds will go to support youth in New Orleans, Miami or Los Angeles. For more information, log onto www.8Ballchallenge.com .

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Source: Zo & Magic's 8-Ball Challenge

CONTACT: Patti Webster, Patti@w-wpr.com; Jacinda Chen, Jacinda@w-wpr.com;
Kitara Garner, Kitara@w-wpr.com, all of W&W Public Relations, Inc.,
+1-732-469-5955

Web site: http://www.8ballchallenge.com/

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