Fuhr a reluctant favorite

BY JEREMY EVANS

Appeal News Service

STATELINE " Grant Fuhr had his best American Century Celebrity Golf Championship finish ever in 2007, placing third behind winner Chris Chandler and six-time champion Rick Rhoden. But the former NHL goalie who won five Stanley Cup titles doesn't believe he should be a 5-1 favorite " the same as four-time winner and fellow NHL player Dan Quinn " and he certainly isn't going to wager money on himself.

"I haven't ever done it, but I have good friends who have done that, and I hear about it doesn't work out, which has been every year," Fuhr said at Edgewood-Tahoe Golf Course.

Not long after Fuhr heard that the Harrah's sports book thinks highly of him, actor Alfonso Ribeiro was surprised to find out that he's a 12-1 favorite. Ribeiro, who became popular for his role as Carlton Banks on the comedy "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", is flattered by Harrah's expectations of him during his first-ever ACC appearance.

"Really?" Ribeiro said. "That's pretty good. Who knows what will happen, since this is my first time out here. I play a lot of different circuits, but this is my first time at Edgewood. I shot a 73 [Tuesday] in a practice round, so I feel pretty good about my game."

History, though, doesn't suggest Ribeiro will be in contention by Sunday.

Billy Joe Tolliver, a two-time ACC winner, placed 22nd his first year. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who entered last year's tournament as a newbie with high expectations, ended up placing 11th in 2007.

The only celebrity to win in his first appearance was Rick Rhoden, who won 1991 and has gone on to win five more times and collect nearly $900,000 in career ACC earnings. Quinn placed third in his first ACC, while 1994 winner Dick Anderson was second in his first appearance.

So don't get your hopes up Ribeiro.

Beuerlein hopes Favre

Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who was scheduled to participate in this year's ACC, has remained a topic of conversation despite pulling out of the tournament. Several media outlets have reported Favre is considering returning to the Packers after he announced his retirement following the 2007 season.

Projected Packers starter Aaron Rodgers has been asked about Farve's possible comeback, and former Packers wide receiver and current ESPN NFL analyst Sterling Sharpe shared his thoughts on the subject.

Go ahead and include former NFL quarterback Steve Beuerlein to that list.

"He's got every record in the book," said Beuerlein, who played for six teams during a 17-year career. "He runs a lot of risks if he comes back. He might be disappointed with how he plays, and the game is so physical he might get injured, and maybe he wouldn't be able to end it on a positive. His legend now is untarnished. I played the same number of years that he did, but I knew when it was my time to go. My body was falling apart."

Did Harrah's hear?

Romo reportedly shot a 64 during Wednesday's practice round at Edgewood. Harrah's obviously heard a similar report. Romo began the day as a 10-1 favorite, but woke up Thursday morning as a 4-1 favorite.

Tahoe Daily Tribune reporter Sara Thompson and Action Magazine Editor Tim Parsons contributed to this report.