I can remember my first trip to a casino like it was yesterday. As a freshman at Boston U I had never really gambled before. Back in high school in Cleveland, we spent our time going to rock shows or just hanging out in parking lots, but we never thought to have a poker night. In college, all that changed. One friend in particular was well versed in the various forms of gambling, and he also happened to have a car. So, on a Friday, five of us hopped in an Isuzu Rodeo and headed for the middle of nowhere. Where? Upstate New York. Verona. Home of the Oneida Indian nation, just east of Syracuse.
It sucked getting there. I think it was just under a five-hour drive. While spacious, the Isuzu liked to broadcast each bump in the road directly to your backside while sitting in the back seat. Regardless of the discomforts, our excitement couldn't be calmed. For most of us this was our first jaunt into the world of legalized gambling. We pegged our driver with question after question about the finer points of playing blackjack.
"What if you have two 9's and the dealer has a 6 showing?"
"What if you have two aces and the dealer is showing a face card?”
No number of questions and answers could have prepared us for that realization that we got when sitting at the table for the first time. Our fingers were shaking and the sweat started to form in places that only expel sweat from nervousness.
You are thinking, "I have five dollars on the table and it could be gone in a matter of seconds."
Little did we know then that a five dollar table was rare because most places consider that an extremely low level of play.
But once we all sat down at our first table and got those first few nervous hands out of the way, we learned to ride it out. We would lose and then we would win. All we had to do is recognize streaks and capitalize more on the winning ones than to explode on the losing ones.
Article comments
1 - Dawn
What I like most about this series (besides the Cavs being up by one) is that Rasheed Wallace couldn't keep his big mouth shut and was essentially served a major facial the last two games, and secondly, LeBron has handled the aftermath of these games with complete class and the right amount of humility.
Even if they lose (which I sure hope they don't) they still win.
2 - Craig Lyndall
I was trying so hard to figure out what to write about this game. I am so happy and surprised and everything, but as a Cleveland fan, I just don't want to get my hopes up.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
They're winning now, but it always seems at the most inopportune time the Cleveland team is dealt Jack-Deuce.
4 - Craig Lyndall
Yeah, wouldn't it be funny if somehow, even after Michael Jordan is long gone, if the Cavs were somehow dealt Jack-Three, hit with a ten and busted out with 23?
Can't you just picture Craig Ehlo falling to his knees in misery all over again?
Blackjack, Basketball, Numbers, Oh MY!
5 - RJ Elliott
Game Six is the whole thing, IMO.
If the Cavs win, well, they move on to play the Heat, and the Pistons join the Red Wings in an early and unexpected vacation.
But if the Pistons win, and tie the series on the road, and regain the momentum, and Game Seven is at home...well, I'd double-down on the Pistons advancing to the next round...
6 - RJ Elliott
Pistons in seven! Just like everyone expected... ;-P
7 - RJ Elliott
Pistons vs. Heat - Any thoughts?
I say Pistons in 5... :-/
8 - Matthew T. Sussman
For the record, 77-61 will probably be the third quarter score in the Suns/Clippers game.
9 - Q Bit
you cannot use "for the record" and "probably" in the same sentence :-) it's illegal.
10 - Matthew T. Sussman
For the record, there's lots of things I probably shouldn't use together.
But I was almost right -- the score after three was 94-79, and the final score of the Pistons/Cavs game was 79-61.
So now I'm getting a sinking feeling that the Finals games will be rather atrocious to watch.
11 - Matthew T. Sussman
Congratulations, I chose this story as an editor's pick of the week.
Now you are entitled a pick of your own from all stories published May 24-30. E-mail Lisa McKay (address is on the editor's pick page) with your pick by next Tuesday.
Again, congratulations.
--Suss