Miami Dolphins All-Pro, Jason Taylor, and his wife Katina, hosted the 3Cinteractive JT’s Ping-Pong Smash 8, Presented by Publix at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Monday, December 12. Welcoming back to the playing floor nearly 100 of South Florida’s youth for the afternoon’s Kids Clinic, Presented by the Miami Dolphins, as well as many celebrity friends, sponsors and spectators for the main event, the Jason Taylor Foundation was excited to continue the success of the original celebrity-doubles table tennis tournament.
Taylor was proud to award this year’s championship belts to legendary Miami Dolphins linebacker and brother-in-law, Zach Thomas, as well as Gray Hardy of Publix SuperMarkets, for their very first ping-pong championship crown! Joining them in this year’s tournament were a great group of Taylor’s celebrity friends, including current Miami Dolphins Brandon Marshall, Daniel Thomas, Karlos Dansby, Brandon Fields and JP Losman as well as Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders. Former Miami Dolphin greats Mark Duper, Nat Moore, OJ McDuffie, Twan Russell, Derrick Rodgers and Shawn Wooden also joined in the fun! The list continues with former Florida Marlins great, Jeff Conine, former NFL stand-out running backs Clinton Portis and Fred Taylor as well as Jason’s former teammate and defensive end with the Dolphins, Adewale Ogunleye. DJ Irie, the official DJ of the Miami Heat, took the floor again to participate in the Smash.
Amidst the intense competition, DJ Laz of Power 96 pumped up the arena with today's hottest music, in addition to the LuckyFan Fun Zone, where those in attendance enjoyed a Best Buy gaming station, hair cuts, interactive games and more!
Hooters Restaurant in the Seminole Paradise of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood hosted the Champions’ Celebration for the event’s partners and celebrities, with a silent auction and great food!
Prior to the Smash, nearly 100 children from the Jason Taylor Reading Room in Miramar, Hispanic Unity in Hollywood, the Urban League of Greater Miami as well as the Overtown Youth Center were all invited to participate in the fourth annual Kids Clinic, Presented by the Miami Dolphins. They joined the Jason Taylor Foundation for two-hours of fun and instruction about fundamentals of the world's fastest sport from former Puerto Rican Junior National Table Tennis Champion and two-time JT's Ping-Pong Smash Champion, Juan Ly. At the conclusion of the clinic, 13-year-old Miami singing sensation, Gibbor Green, treated the group to a surprise performance!
In addition to 3Cinteractive, Publix, Hooters, the Miami Dolphins and LuckyFan, other supporters include 560 WQAM, Best Buy, Envy Motoring, Fastboats.com, Flanigan's Seafood Bar & Grill, Galvan Messick, LLP, Gerlinde & Michael Photography, Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust, Global Wealth Management, Adam D. Harmelin, Inko Dada, Invicta Watch Company, Joe Rose, Killerspin, The Law Offices of Lawrence Zieper, Big Dick's Muscle Cars, PopGraphicsUSA.com, ProCamps, Redline Media Group, Saveology, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Steven Douglas Associates, UB Chillin', URep Authentic and Veteran Roofing.
