Sir Charles vowed about a month ago to not step foot inside a casino for at least two years and apparently charity Poker events at the Rio don't count....

Charles Barkley is headed back to the tables in Las Vegas to play in a poker tournament about a month after pledging not to gamble. He says it's all for charity.

The former NBA star is scheduled to play in a celebrity poker tournament at the 2008 World Series of Poker on July 2.

The "Ante Up for Africa" event is designed to raise money and awareness for the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan. More than 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been displaced since ethnic warfare began in 2003, according to the U.S. presidential envoy to Sudan.

Players in the poker tournament put up $5,000 to play, and are asked to donate at least half their winnings. The event raised more than $500,000 last year and finished with the top two players agreeing to pool their winnings and donate the full $350,000 to the cause. Of the field of 167, 18 players won money.

Contributing to charity is always a good thing, but not if it comes at someone's own harm. It only takes addicts one hand or one drink and they're back in the swing of things. I know Chuck is kind to a fault, but if he really wanted to donate to charity you can't tell me that couldn't just cut a check.

Charles Barkley enters celeb poker event in Vegas (FOX Sports)

(Thanks to JMK for the tip)

As I sat down to enjoy a night of television last night (the worst night of the week btw) I was flipping around and I decided to check what was on ESPN during a night with no Baseball or Basketball for the network. What was on? F'ing Poker.

I'm so sick of Poker that I actually get mad when it's on television (especially tourneys from 2006). So I went looking through YouTube today for Sports that they could use to fill the time and came across Cup Staking. I know it's been on the "Leader" before, but given that ESPN missed out on this eventual National Champion, it's time to bring it back. Via Barstool Sports....

Sure the kid's highlights were on Sports Center, but come on.....this needs to alternate with Karate contests and Timbersports as the only Sports on ESPN2 outside of Basketball and Baseball. I would never change the channel.

Boston (kid) Wins World Sports Stacking Championships! (Barstool Sports)

One of the only real drawbacks to ESPN's programming is the fact that they air Poker at all hours of the day and randomly throw it in when they don't have anything else to show. It's slow, boring, and usually two years old. I know a lot of you feel like me and want the random 80s Sports to make a return (darts and archery were the best).

Well luckily this wasn't ESPN's idea or you wouldn't be hearing the end of it, but apparently Harrah's in Las Vegas is going to air Poker Radio. I kid you not...

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. today announced the launch of World Series of Poker(R) Radio, the official weekly radio show of the World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee's Best Light.

WSOP Radio is produced by Bluff Media and is available to more than 200 stations of the Sports Byline Radio Network. The broadcasts can be heard every Monday from 8 p.m. Eastern Time to 10 p.m. Eastern.

Listeners can participate in the show by calling 1-866-925-TALK. Guests will include celebrities, past and present WSOP champions, tournament officials and up and coming players from around the world.

So there you go you Poker fiends. You can now hear people taking about a game involving cards that you can't see. Here are the lucky cities below....I pray you're not located in one.

KFCD 990 AM, Dallas
KGOW 1560 AM, Houston
KELA 1470 AM, Seattle
KSLG 1380 AM, St. Louis
WMOH 1450 AM, Cincinnati
KCXL 1140 AM, Kansas City
KSHP 1400 AM, Las Vegas
WSFN 790 AM, Jacksonville
KASR 92.7 FM, Little Rock
KPUA 670 AM, Honolulu
WNKT 107.5 FM, Columbia, S.C.
WXRB 1350 AM, Savannah
KSOO 1140 AM, Sioux Falls
KGNC 710 AM, Amarillo

Weekly Nationwide Broadcasts Will Introduce WSOP to New Audiences (CNN Money)

Answer: When he crashes it in a random parking lot.

While it's no Eddie Griffin....it'll do.