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Little Poker League |
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“Vegas, Baby!” ~ Mark Johnson ~ The “Vegas, Baby!” trip started Friday when every one made their way down to Fargo for the flight to Las Vegas. A winter storm warning was predicted to hit the Red River Valley, Friday evening, and we were just hoping the flight would leave before the storm hit. Eric, Drew and Megan traveled from Bemidji. Vern from Fosston, Kevin and Val from Fertile, Justin was already in Fargo and I came down from Crookston. About 30 miles north of Fargo, the freezing rain hit. I’m on the Interstate, and all I can think of is an 18 wheeler sliding out of control and squashing me like a little bug. The highway was still good and the temperature was holding right at 32 degrees. I watched the outside temp gauge like a hawk, and by the time I got to Fargo the temp was down to 31 and was starting to get slick. Phone calls were going back and forth between all the travelers; I was the last to arrive with plenty of time. I got out of the car and walked into the airport terminal. I slipped more then a couple of times but never actually fell on the icy walkway before I was finally inside and walking to the booking counter. I saw Kevin and Val and we all checked in together. “Photo ID, please.” (and $70 to check a bag!) I reach into my back pocket and pulled out my ID. I never carry a wallet, so I keep my needed plastic in my back pocket. Driver license and plastic. I pull out my driver license and head to the check in counter. I receive my boarding pass and I’m set until I realize my main plastic is not in my pocket. This leaves me with a cold feeling down to my knees. I’m going to go down to Vegas without plastic. Visa is what makes the world go around. I know I didn’t leave it behind, I couldn’t have. I must have left it at the gas station when I pick up a few cans of Skoal. Now I’m in a panic, wondering how I could loose the one item that fixes everything with just a swipe. After running back to my car, and checking my pockets for the 7th time, I call my daughter at home and sure enough, right on the banister rail. Right where I left it, so I wouldn’t forget it. * * * AIRPORT * * * We make it though security (for some reason they frisk Eric & Drew) and get everyone for a group photo. “Vegas, Baby!” has officially kicked off. After an hour wait, the plane is boarded. Freezing rain is coming down and building up on the wings. We sit for another hour; the plane is de-iced and we’re in the air heading to Vegas. $2 Cokes and $7 Cocktails were served and after a few beers ($5), the nerves were settled. The flight was 2 ½ hours and as the plane was landing, we could see the Strip. Every head was turned to the right trying to see all the lights and the tall buildings. We had finally arrived in Vegas! At the airport, no one really knew where to go, so we just followed the crowd, figuring someone knew how to get to baggage claim. We ended up at Gate Number 5 and waited for our bags to pop out. Once we had our bags, we had one challenge left: Find our Limo. I had been looking at the limo drivers when we passed through the baggage area but some managed to walk by the guy holding the big “Mark Johnson” sign. After a few quick pictures of the Stretch Escalade Limo, the driver informed us that the company had ran out of the roses that they normally have for the ladies, so he had two extra bottles of champagne sitting on ice waiting for us. The bottles were opened, glasses poured and we took a quick little drive down the strip. Everyone was grinning, laughing, drinking champagne and looking around wide eyed in wonderment. Out of the whole crew there, myself and Justin were the only players who had ever been to Vegas before. The Limo arrived at the Rio, we checked in and no one could decide what to do first. I told everyone to go up to their rooms and meet down on the floor in 30 minutes. It didn’t take but a few minutes to open my suit case, hang up some of my shirts and pants and head down to casino. We walk around the gaming area, quickly located the poker room and then Eric and I went and ate the 20¢ wings at The All American, then we located everyone at the “I Bar”, sat down and we discussed what to do. Everyone seemed content watching the scantily clad dancers and waitresses and the drinks were going down pretty good. The trick to Vegas is to know what the trick is… Drinks cost a small fortune when you’re not gaming, but for some reason or another it seemed worth it that night. I even got a picture with our “sparkly” waitress, then it was time to get down to business. * * * CASINO * * * Eric, Drew and I hit the “$1-$2 No Limit” live tables. I played for an hour or so, and it was a struggle. There were some good players at the table, some local players, and a couple of fish would come into the game, loose their money, and a new fish would appear, Hell, I might have been one of them, I made a few plays here and there and my stack would grow and shrink. The one hand that stood out on the table: I was under the gun and looked down at pocket queens. The table was very aggressive; most hands were raised and re-raised. I had about $160 in chips, so I limped in. 3 limpers, then the button raised to $15. I smooth called along with a player 2 from my left. The flop came Q, 10, 9. I fired out $20 making it look like a feeler bet, or an attempt to control the action. Both players just smooth called. The turn was a 10 giving me Queens Full. The pot was just over $100, and I fired out $35. Both just called. The river was a blank, and no possible flushes out, I fired out a $50 trying to keep at least 1 player alive. As soon as I was reaching for my chips, the player on my right leaned forward and was looking hard at my stack. I said $50, and started counting out my chips. “Player A” moved all in before I could get my chips counted, and “Player B” on the button snapped called. We now have a monster pot and I have marked the button as a good player. Only pocket 10’s have me beat, and the button has raised several limped pots, stealing dead money. I made the call. Both players had hit the straight on the flop and I raked in close to a $500 pot. I played for another hour, making slow gains, stack moving up and down, but not making much progress. Lost $100 later on with my KK coming up against an Ace-rag. Figured it was about time to start the party off. Looking around the tables, Drew had busted out, and Eric was still playing. The rest of us wanted to go clubbing, but Eric decided to grind it out, so I gathered up the party and off we went. We grabbed a taxi and got dropped off at Harrah’s Casino. The poker room didn’t have much action going on so we started exploring the casino and ran into a bar with dueling pianos. Spent an hour or so there before the bar closed. Good music, everyone had fun. About 2:00 (4:00 Minnesota Time) while in Harrah’s, Eric sent over a text that he had busted out on the live tables. I told him to grab a cab but he decided to crash for the night and catch up with us in the morning. Back on the strip we stumbled across a “rave” the League paid the $10 cover charge for everyone and inside we went. You could actually feel the music. The energy inside was something I had never experienced before. After a few rounds of drinks, watching the cage dancing and everyone in the middle of the floor bumping and grinding it was time to head out again. We came across O’Shea’s Casino, and went inside. Within minutes, it felt like the movie “National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation”, where Cousin Eddie took Clark. Games I’ve never heard of were there to be played. Only difference was, I had the golden touch that night, every different game I tried I’d win. I didn’t spend as much time at the different tables or games as I still had to play the happy host to the group. Money came in, and went out just as fast, but everyone had a smile from ear to ear and we were having a blast. We spent a few hours at O’Shea’s then off we went and found ourselves at Caesars Palace. It’s 5:00 (7:00am Minnesota Time), and after all the walking, exploring, and of course, drinking we’re all getting tired, but for some reason, can’t seem to bring our selves to stop the madness. Table games were pretty slow, so I figured it was time to try the slots. No one won anything worthwhile and after an hour or so we are all partied out. The sun’s starting to come up, time to go back to the Rio. We get back to the hotel and stumbled into the elevators as I text Eric, Val and Kevin. I get a text back from Val saying they’re going to have some breakfast. Eric sent me back a text saying he just got out of the shower, so we all went to his room. When we walk into his room, he’s standing there in a towel and starts laughing at us when he realizes we stayed out all night partying. He grabs his phone to take a picture of us, so I take one of him! After a super fast discussion of the nights events, it was time to crash out. I got to my room, and crawled into bed. * * * SATURDAY * * * A few hours later, everyone was ready to go again. We looked over the tournament list and Kevin, Eric and Drew went to play in Harrah’s $40 bounty tournament. I can’t remember what everyone else went to do, or what JD, Megan, Val, and Vern were discussing, my head was still spinning, stomach churning and all I could think of was just getting everyone out of my room before I got sick. I think they got the picture, as I was quiet again and I snuggled into my pillow for comfort. I went back to sleep. That evening, everyone was back in my room; Eric had taken 1st in the Harrah’s Tournament and cashed for close to $800 + $60 in bounties. I had woke up, cleaned up and felt much better. Time to hit the Seafood Buffet, which everyone had been talking about all day. We went back down to the casino floor and worked our way to the buffet. There was a long line, which gave me time to think whether or not I really wanted to eat, and if so, did I want to eat the seafood buffet? I told everyone to meet up with me in my room after they ate and be ready to party. I went back to my room, my pillow was calling and I listened. Two hours later, the group was back and I felt better. Off we went, I remember Bellagio and how stunning it was inside. We checked the poker room. This was one place I instantly decided I wasn’t going to play. The shortest stack on the live tables had more money then all of us put together. I went into the high stakes room, four tables were going and no one was at the sign up desk. I walked around and checked out the tables. A few players looked up, I felt the quick glance of being sized up, talk about feeling like a little minnow. I made a point of looking at the tables, stacks like I was sizing them up, then turned around and walked out (I don’t think any one bought it). Off to another casino we went. Planet Hollywood was across the street, so that was our next stop. The difference in atmosphere was the first thing I noticed. This casino felt more “blue collar” and just had a fun feel to it. We hit the poker room, and again, started playing the “$1-$2 No Limit” live table. Eric, Justin, Megan, and I each bought in for $100 and were seated at different tables. The players at my table were fun, talkative and the polar opposite of the live action I experienced at the Rio the night before. I chatted it up with several players mentally marking each one as a fish, player or shark. I only spotted two sharks and I planned to stay away from them. I had built my $100 stack up to just over $300 when it happened. I was sitting with Q-6 in the big blind and several players limped in. I noted the little old lady “shark” had limped in, which she did on several big hands. If she didn’t hit hard, she would fold. The flop came down Q-6-Q (I flopped a full house). I checked, and the villain bet out a $12 pot size bet. I raised $25 making the total bet $37. She just called. The turn came, it appeared to be a blank, I bet out $50 and was raised to $150. Just calling the $100 would but my stack under $150, so I pushed “all in”. She had me covered, and called. I flipped over my full house, and by her dejected look, I could tell I had her. The river was an Ace. With that she flipped over AQ. Busted. I bought back in for another $150. I never did recover or catch anything decent after that. Three hours later, I finally cash out around $125. Drew was playing slots, Justin was getting whittled away (waiting for the blinds to go up?) and Megan was folding when she flopped top 2 pair (she had Ace-King on an A-K-7 flop - afraid of the set). Eric lost his $100 when a big stack called his “all in” with a flush draw (6-8 diamonds against Eric’s Ace Queen and he paired his 6 ). We started to wonder “Where’s Vern?” Taking a break from poker, I walked around the casino, and ended up at the Pleasure Pit. They had Roulette, Black Jack, 3 Card Poker, and a few other games, along with girls dancing on elevated platforms giving the players some distraction. I went to the Roulette table, bought $100 in chips and played Red/Black. Having the “do or die” attitude I bet $50 black, hit. $100 red, hit. $250 black, hit. I wanted to walk out with a grand! I said what the hell, $500 odd. Round and round the little ball went, 32 red. I’ve always said, “go big or go home.” Went home for the night, or least back to the Rio to catch a few hours sleep. At least my stomach had a different feeling on that last bet. I had to admit, it really sucked losing that much, but it was one hell of a rush watching that little ball bounce around, knowing I’d win one thousand dollars if I hit. Vegas don’t keep its lights on for nothing. We’re also wondering “Where’s Vern?” * * * SUNDAY * * * I got up bright and early Sunday Morning. I think it was around 11:00am or so. The afternoon was set for football so we camped out at the betting area. The Rio has two big screens, a bunch of medium screens and even more smaller screens. It was the perfect place to lay down some bets and watch some football. Most of the group was already there but Vern was still missing. We started discussing the movie “the Hang Over”, and laughed over having to make the phone call, “Sorry, we lost Vern…” I got the sheets for the prop bets, and spent an hour going over a few “for sure” bets with Drew. Easy money, no brainers… I bet on how many touchdown passes Favre would throw (the over/under was 1.5, I picked over – of course he’ll throw at least 2 touchdowns). Another bet on the longest field goal (of course someone will kick a field goal over 43 yards during the game!) Some of the other “no brainer” bets were: 1st score of the game (touchdown), no interceptions thrown by Favre, Rice catching 6 for the game, and of course, the Vikings winning the whole thing. I laid down $250 in bets and we were all ready for some football! By the end of the game, the only bet I won was because the first score was a touchdown instead of a field goal. When you’re gambling, the drinks are free, of course and they keep coming. After the Jets/Colts game, we started out with a round of shots. No idea what they were, more or less a mystery shot, but it was purple and it burned. Out of no where Vern shows up, I must admit I was relieved to see the guy. Didn’t want to make the, “Sorry… We lost Vern” call! Though we were outnumbered about 4-to-1 by Saints fan, our group was yelling loud enough to make up for it! At half time our spirits were high; Eric was leading the crowd with his chant, “R-O-W-D-I-E that’s the way we spell rowdy! Rowdy! Let’s get rowdy!” and yelling “MOVE THE CHAINS!” every time we got a first down. At halftime, the floor manager came over and advised us to settle down or we were going to get cut off for being too drunk. We all started talking at once and you could tell that some of us were really starting to feel the alcohol. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, so I told her we’re all gambling, it’s a close game, we’re badly outnumbered and asked her what’s the problem with showing our enthusiasm. She made us pull out the bet tickets, advising us there better be 8 bets on the game, as there were 8 of us at the table. We all pulled out our tickets, put them on the table and by the end of Eric’s, loud and deliberate count, we had 14 bets on the game. Her last statement to us was, “are those all on this game?” and it was, not very nicely, pointed out to her, the big bold print on top of the tickets: “NFC Vikings vs. Saints”. With that (and a stupid $20 tip from Eric) she huffed away and service resumed. The game didn’t go as planned and the Vikings ended up losing by a field goal in overtime. Our party drank way more then the $235 I lost….(I made $15 on the one prop bet) and that was a great game. Never thought I’d be watching a Viking game in Vegas. After the game, we all went up to my room to make plans for the final night. Eric was “tired”, ended up snoring on my bed, and I had to stop a certain someone from taking a marker to his face. I did let them bury him in pillows, and get a few photos. I had spent the weekend hosting the players and wanted a bit of “me time”. It was decided that we would leave Eric in my room, I would go play more poker and Justin would take Drew, Vern, Megan, Kevin and Val to a show. The group got a limo and went to the club, I wasn’t going to wait for the shuttle bus so I grabbed a taxi back to Planet Hollywood and quickly walked past the Roulette table. I took my shot and had no desire to take another one. I bought back into the $1-$2 cash table and played for hours. The table was soft, with a good make up of players. Though I only played in 4 different casinos this weekend, I found Planet Hollywood to be far above the other three, in the live style I prefer. I got a text from Eric around 1:00am, awake from his nap he was ready to go play. I was pretty much done for the night and cashed out well ahead. I went back to the Rio walked around a bit, then went back to my room and crashed. * * * MONDAY * * * Monday morning, time to head back to Minnesota. Limo picked us up at 11:00 and off to the airport we went. Weather reports put Fargo in the middle of a blizzard and a few call confirmed it. If we flew out, we would be stuck in Fargo for the night. Our plane was delayed and we ended up being stuck in the Vegas airport for 4 hours. Eric went and bought a deck of cards and 6 rolls of pennies to use as chips, so we could play a little tournament. When we were finally allowed to board the airport, we had all been split up and couldn’t even talk to each other during the trip back. We finally landed in Fargo, safe and sound. Kevin’s father was picking him and Val up, but due to road closures couldn’t make it to the Airport. Same as poor Vern, no one could make it there to pick him up. After digging our vehicles out of the snow bank, I took Kevin and Val with me, and Eric took Vern with him. Taking I-29 North to Grand Forks we lost count of the vehicle that went into the ditch. Cars, pickups and semis were all scattered in the ditch some had flipped, but most just appeared to have driven in. When a blizzard is rolling across the plains, stay off the roads. We all made it back home safe and sound. Plans for “Vegas, Baby!” II are in the works, and will become a future event! |
