The female companion of a famous NBA player learns that even playing poker online is a sport.

Poker Pro Player

The female companion of a famous NBA player learns that even playing poker online is a sport.

Anna Benson is becoming one of the new centered players in the ubiquitous poker broadcasts on ESPN. Being the wife of Orioles pitcher Kris Benson, her appearance on ESPN, has been mainly during baseball games.

When asked about her playing skills, Benson said she is still a young little poker player, and she has a long way ahead of her. Benson says that playing poker on ESPN make her my own type of an athlete.

Endorses and Deals:

Benson recently signed a deal to endorse and promote a fledgling poker Web site. She has been playing nearly every day, whether online, on her cell phone or even live and in person. Her endorsement appeals to two unique groups of consumers - those who read magazines like Maxim and FHM, and those who follow professional sports.

Golden Spirit Poker signed a multiyear deal with Benson. This company renamed itself from Golden Spirit Mining and refocused on online gaming. According to their agreement with Benson, She will link to the Golden Spirit site from her personal Web site, as well as have a site named for her which redirects to Golden Spirit's main site.

Poker Dream

She plans to play her first official hand on the site Thursday night. Her dream is to play on the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Benson says she began her interest in poker just before the last World Series of Poker in July. She entered the series, but was eliminated after a few days. She plans on going back to Vegas as a better player.

Her poker trainings include getting schooled on how to play, by some of the biggest poker players. According to Benson, becoming a poker player is very important to her.I want to play well Benson said I am not trying to do this as a joke, I'm dead serious about playing. I'm not like some bimbo sitting down at a table.

Anna also got famous lately for her critical comments about Carlos Delgado, who plays with her husband, and for upsetting some in the Mets organization by wearing a racy Santa costume to a holiday party of the team.