And it was a blessing I got to spend a week with him, talk about a lot of stuff that - he’s been my biggest supporter over the years and just kind of pushed me.” He is an actor, known for Eddie (1996), 17th Annual American Century Championship (2006) and 16th Annual American Century Championship (2005). “What was important to me is making sure my mom, my wife, my sisters, everyone is doing OK with everything. Vinny Del Negro was born on Augin Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. I figure I can sleep this week or whatever. Rick Rhoden won when he was 56.ĭel Negro said he only slept about two hours a night since arriving in South Lake Tahoe. Vinny led NC State to an ACC Championship his Junior Year, and he was named Tournament MVP. Career Highlights: Vinny Del Negro is back to defend his title after winning last years 2021 American Century Celebrity Championship. An 11-year veteran of the NBA, Del Negro spent the most prominent years of his life dropping dimes. First and foremost, he is a basketball player. He is the first basketball player to win the event and the second oldest. Del Negro went on to play for Jimmy Valvano at North Carolina State. Vinny Del Negro is a man of many athletic talents. It is Del Negro’s first win in the celebrity tournament in his 20th appearance. My wife Lynn, everybody, I love you, and I can’t wait to celebrate with them.” Every putt was for him because I wouldn’t be playing in this thing with him pushing me all those years to play and tough it out and whatever I was doing, playing, coaching, didn’t matter. There’s just so much stuff going through my head. And I won this for you,” Del Negro said he would tell his father. Tony Romo finished third with 66 points.ĭel Negro said he was thinking about what his father would have told him throughout the tournament. 18 to score 69 points, while Smoltz made a par for 1 point in the Modified Stableford scoring system. He was the head coach of the National Basketball Associations Chicago Bulls from 2008 to 2010. On the final hole of regulation, Del Negro, 54 made a birdie on No. Vinny Del Negro is an American retired basketball player. We’re all going to pass some time, but you’ve got the memories, you know what I’m saying?”ĭel Negro and Smoltz each scored 69 points after regulation, then Del Negro won the first playoff hole. But at the end of the day, it’s about the memories. “To be the first basketball guy to me is special. I care about celebrating with my wife, my buddies and representing American Century, NBC and the tournament the right way. It was the fourth playoff in ACC history.ĭel Negro, a former player, broadcaster and executive with the Suns, won $125,000 for his win. He then gave an emotionally charged post-match victory interview, dedicating his win to his father, Vincent, who died Wednesday at age 85.ĭel Negro said he didn’t want to let his father down.ĭel Negro beat John Smoltz in a sudden-death playoff in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe on Sunday. – With his father’s memory and motivational talks racing through his head, Vinny Del Negro came on strong down the stretch and walked away a winner.