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Copyright 2005 WorldNow, WTNH, and Associated
Press
November 20, 2005
HEADLINE:
Poker as a spectator sport? - imagine that
Author: Otis Gardner
Body:
Money has ruined team sports in my view. Apparently dollars fertilize
egos, and, oh, how they've grown. On-field posturing and ridiculous
simple-minded arrogance fills courts and fields to the bursting
point, leaving very little room for games. I have no interest
what-so-ever in them nowadays.
But, after years of my indifference, here comes an unlikely competition's
popularity rising through the roof. Who could've imagined poker
as a spectator sport?
Well, obviously somebody did and I'm glad. Once again there are
broadcasts of sporting events I enjoy watching. They even have
a "World Series." Could it get any better?
I'm not a new arrival to the poker table. My interest in the
game has been around for as long as I can remember.
Our family played a lot of cards. It was fun, cheap and could
be done at home. It was perfect entertainment.
We played rummy and spades and a host of other games. I particularly
enjoyed pinochle.
I didn't care much for bridge. I suppose my dislike derived from
the fact my parents always ragged on each other after everybody
went home.
"Why in the world did you bid three no-trump? You knew I
opened with two clubs." That's the way it went, especially
if they lost. I liked it better when they weren't partners.
Dad taught me to play
poker at the kitchen table. We played for matchsticks or paper
clips. There was no wildcard stuff, just basic draw and stud poker.
To this day, I don't much like varying too far from basics. Even
in Vegas on video machines, I shy away from deuces wild and such
things, sticking with rock-solid comfortable "Jacks or better."
When I became an adult, those kitchen lessons evolved into a
regular Saturday night game. It ran for years at my house, starting
about 3 p.m. and breaking up after dawn Sunday mornings.
Even after all these years, I still smile when I remember some
of the colorful characters around the table. My favorite was Charles
Goodwin.
His card-playing moniker was "Charlie No-Toes." He'd
lost them to disease but took it in stride. When asked about them,
he'd say he lost them in a tough poker game.
Charlie was a true gentleman and a pleasure to have at the poker
table. He was always considerate and courteous - a real class
act.
Some of you may not know that poker has its own unique laws of
etiquette, as do many sports. They're not set in stone, more courtesies
than hard and fast rules.
For example, never bet, check, call or fold out of turn. And,
when you put money in the pot, do so neatly so all can see your
contribution. These are tiny nuances but are the diplomatic lubricant
that makes a game run smoothly.
One regular player always welcome at our games was Pete Tripp.
He had a glass eye he'd take out and place on his stack. He said
he wanted to keep an eye on his money â?¦ and he
did â?¦ literally.
Our game was strictly cash, no IOUs. If Pete got short-stacked,
he'd hock the eye. Everybody around the table wanted the chance
to take custody of the weird marble and maybe even win it so there
was no shortage of eager pawnbrokers.
But that never happened, he always redeemed the orb by game's
end. It seemed as soon as Pete pledged the eye, his luck turned.
It was a very effective mojo for him.
I wish J. Willis would've joined our game. He had a wooden hand
and wooden leg. Between him and Pete, they had enough parts to
start building a human.
None of us around that table four decades ago would've ever dreamed
we'd watch poker on
television with million-dollar pots. But, that's where we are
and I enjoy the contests if not what they play.
I'm not a big fan of "Texas
Hold-Em," which is the popular game du jour. I like to
watch but not play.
Luck is a huge component of all poker games, but randomness at
the back end of "Hold-Em"
can drown you in the river. Of course, that's some of its attraction.
It's not enough to be good; you have to also be lucky. Given that
truth, anybody can beat anybody on a given day. That opens the
field and possibilities.
I gave it a shot in a little Vegas session but was "rivered"
to death. I'd probably think better of the experience had I won.
However, I did manage to leave the table smarter. That's a win
or sorts.
Otis Gardner can be reached at ogardner@ncfreedom.net
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