In a message dated 1/9/2006 7:26:31 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
mickeycrimm@yahoo.com writes:
It really is quite
a story how the non-smokers won the war. When I get the time I'll
post the story here.
Would love to hear it.
Karen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
In a message dated 1/9/2006 7:26:31 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
mickeycrimm@y... writes:It really is quite
a story how the non-smokers won the war. When I get the time
I'll
post the story here.
Would love to hear it.
Karen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
The war to get cigarettes out of the poker rooms of Nevada was won
in California. Nevada was simply the last battle ground for smokers
and a mop up operation for the non-smokers. I've witnessed and have
been in many fights over smoking. My stock response to a non-smoker
who jumped me was "You're talking to the wrong person. You need to
talk to your congressman or casino management." When I would get
involved in a hand I would sit my cigarette in the ashtray on the
drink table somewhat back from the poker table and then lean up to
the table. One time, after finishing a hand I reached back to get
the cigarette but liquid had been poured on it. The guy on my left
had a Budweiser sitting there. A little while later it happened
again. Then he got involved in a hand and leaned up to the table.
My hand slipped and my freshly smoked Marlboro Light wound up in his
beer. When he finished the hand he reached back, grabbed the Bud and
took a swig. If looks could kill....
When the movement to get cigarettes out of bars and restaurants in
California was making major headway they were going to let the card
barns off the hook. Exempt them. Of course, smokers rejoiced.
Enter one Max Shapiro. Humor writer and tournament writer for
Cardplayer Magazine. Also a poker player and virulent anti-smoker.
As a militant anti-smoker Maxie would make John Brown the anti-
slaver look like a wimp. He also has the distinction of being the
sweetie pie of Barbara Enright, the lady who has finished higher in
the Final Event of the World Series of Poker than any woman ever
has. I was standing there watching when, down to five players, she
pushed in with pocket eights and was called by Brent Carter holding
63 in diamonds. Carter flopped two pair and Barbara left to a
standing ovation. She's a lovely and sweet lady - away from the
table. At the table she's a machine gunner. She's the hammer and
you're the nail. Talk about chewing men up and spitting them out.
She's one of the best middle-limit hold'em ring game players I've
ever seen. Maxie is just the opposite. He's more like a poker
junkie. Her pet name for him is "Dead Money."
Smoke just kills Maxie. You could see it when he walked out of the
fresh air outside and into the smoke den. He started turning white
almost immediately. But what could he do? He hated smoke but loved
poker. He complained for years and talked everyone he could into
complaining. To no avail. But he must have been one happy person
when the smoking ban initiative started picking up steam. Finally,
Maxie was gonna get some relief. But then he got wind that the card
clubs were gonna get exempted. I can only guess that that really
frosted his freckles.
That's when the petitions started going around. Maxie wasn't going
to stand for the card clubs getting exempted. He would walk into a
huge card barn, jump up on a table and invite one and all to sign
his petitions. Smokers and non smokers alike. Surprisingly, many
smokers signed. He enlisted anyone and everyone in his cause. Many
prominent poker players got involved. He caught the eye of the
media, then the legislature. It turned the tide and smoking was
banned from the card clubs of California.
Of course, all of us card playing smokers in Nevada said no way in
hell it will happen here. I was holed up at the Colorado Belle in
Laughlin playing Omaha Hi-Lo when River Palms held some medium buy-
in tournaments that brought in major California tournament players.
I knew Maxie would be down to the Belle. He's an Omaholic. When he
walked in he was greeted by smirks from all of us Nevada smokers. A
seat opened at our table of mostly smokers. It was one hell of a
coincidence that we all lit up about the time Maxie's butt hit the
chair. He never said a word. He knew and we knew. He just sat
there turning whiter and whiter. No way in hell it's gonna happen
in Nevada, Maxie.
But Maxie is pretty shifty. At every tournament he covered in
Nevada, Maxie, along with his army, was lobbying casino management,
getting petitions signed and delivering them to tournament managers
and as time went on delivering statistics on the effect (no loss of
business) of the smoking ban in the California clubs.
Maxie's army finally broke through. The first non smoking
tournament was held at Sam's Town. It started out with just the
tournament area being non smoking with smoking being allowed in the
cash games. They even got smoking banned from the tournament room
at Binion's during the World Series. Then some clubs started
banning all areas for the duration of the tournament. I think the
straw that broke the camel's back was when Bellagio and Mirage
totally banned smoking in their poker rooms. The domino effect
kicked in. Now the only two smoking rooms I know of in the state
are the El Cortez and the Cal-Neva in Reno.
Yes, Maxie beat us. Now I have to step outside the rail. But the
war is over. No more fighting. It's a great time to be a poker
player.
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, krallison416@a... wrote:
mickeycrimm wrote:
Now the only two smoking rooms I know of in the state
are the El Cortez and the Cal-Neva in Reno.Yes, Maxie beat us. Now I have to step outside the rail. But the
war is over. No more fighting. It's a great time to be a poker
player.
The Cal-Neva is smoking from 9pm until sometime early in the morning. During
the day, you have to step outside the rail. I don't particularly like cigarette
smoke when I play, but I tolerate it. Not a big deal to me. I understand there
are plenty of folks out there that *do* have a problem with irritants. My
particular irritants happen to be perfume and cologne. I don't complain, I move.
Oh, the two are like comparing apples and oranges? Keep reading.
What *really* chaps my b*tt, is the fact that I, and quite a few of my friends,
are lumped in with most of the cigarette smokers when it comes to law. We're
cigar smokers, and that's one of the things we enjoy as a social past time. I
don't like to smoke a cigar at a card table, I'd rather pay attention to the
game. But I *would* like to be able to go to a cigar lounge with my friends,
have a good cigar, some drinks, and a nice dinner, followed by another cigar.
Non-smokers *know* what a cigar lounge is, and for the most part stay away from
them if at all possible. Non-smoking laws have put an end to most of the cigar
lounges in my state. I now have to drive approximately 30 miles in order to
enjoy a cigar with my friends in an establishment that welcomes us, treats us
well, provides us with wonderful food and drink, and usually some great sports
programs to go along with. We're not nicotine addicts, we're afficinados. But
we're treated the same, and that's just sad. Especially with all the new
evidence coming out on a regular basis that is quite contrary to the
(mis)information handed out by the Groups With Money.
--Brett
New Jersey still allow's cigar bar's in its new no-smoking law. Thats OK with me, but I wish they would include the casino's. Maybe we should try Maxie's tactics in Atlantic city.
Ned C.
The Wild Joker
mickeycrimm wrote:
Now the only two smoking rooms I know of in the state
are the El Cortez and the Cal-Neva in Reno.Yes, Maxie beat us. Now I have to step outside the rail. But the
war is over. No more fighting. It's a great time to be a poker
player.
The Cal-Neva is smoking from 9pm until sometime early in the morning. During
the day, you have to step outside the rail. I don't particularly like cigarette
smoke when I play, but I tolerate it. Not a big deal to me. I understand there
are plenty of folks out there that *do* have a problem with irritants. My
particular irritants happen to be perfume and cologne. I don't complain, I move.
Oh, the two are like comparing apples and oranges? Keep reading.
What *really* chaps my b*tt, is the fact that I, and quite a few of my friends,
are lumped in with most of the cigarette smokers when it comes to law. We're
cigar smokers, and that's one of the things we enjoy as a social past time. I
don't like to smoke a cigar at a card table, I'd rather pay attention to the
game. But I *would* like to be able to go to a cigar lounge with my friends,
have a good cigar, some drinks, and a nice dinner, followed by another cigar.
Non-smokers *know* what a cigar lounge is, and for the most part stay away from
them if at all possible. Non-smoking laws have put an end to most of the cigar
lounges in my state. I now have to drive approximately 30 miles in order to
enjoy a cigar with my friends in an establishment that welcomes us, treats us
well, provides us with wonderful food and drink, and usually some great sports
programs to go along with. We're not nicotine addicts, we're afficinados. But
we're treated the same, and that's just sad. Especially with all the new
evidence coming out on a regular basis that is quite contrary to the
(mis)information handed out by the Groups With Money.
--Brett
vpFREE Links: http://members.cox.net/vpfree/Links.htm
SPONSORED LINKS
Online gambling Outdoor recreation Recreation software Gambling
vex <vexicon@spamarrest.com> wrote:
---------------------------------
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
Visit your group "vpFREE" on the web.
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
vpFREE-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Yahoo! Photos
Got holiday prints? See all the ways to get quality prints in your hands ASAP.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
The Wild Joker wrote:
New Jersey still allow's cigar bar's in its new no-smoking law.
Thats OK with me, but I wish they would include the casino's. Maybe
we should try Maxie's tactics in Atlantic city.
I'd be totally fine with laws that allowed cigar and pipe smokers to have a
location to go. Cigarette smokers are welcome in cigar lounges as well, but
*most* of the laws that are now being passed are so draconian, that the entire
social aspect of having a beverage and a good cigar with a group of friends has
just about been completely eliminated. (see Wa. State I-901)
Some places I go, I go with the expectation that I'll be around a lot of
cigarette smoke. I'm okay with that. If I want to go to a non-smoking place, I'd
be okay with that as well. I'd be happiest if I had the choice to go to one or
the other instead of having *all* places non-smoking.
I'll shut up now,
--Brett
What a great story - thanks for sharing!
In a message dated 1/9/2006 7:26:31 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
mickeycrimm@y... writes:It really is quite
a story how the non-smokers won the war. When I get the time
I'll
post the story here.
Would love to hear it.
Karen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
The war to get cigarettes out of the poker rooms of Nevada was won
in California. Nevada was simply the last battle ground for smokers
and a mop up operation for the non-smokers. I've witnessed and have
been in many fights over smoking. My stock response to a non-smoker
who jumped me was "You're talking to the wrong person. You need to
talk to your congressman or casino management." When I would get
involved in a hand I would sit my cigarette in the ashtray on the
drink table somewhat back from the poker table and then lean up to
the table. One time, after finishing a hand I reached back to get
the cigarette but liquid had been poured on it. The guy on my left
had a Budweiser sitting there. A little while later it happened
again. Then he got involved in a hand and leaned up to the table.
My hand slipped and my freshly smoked Marlboro Light wound up in his
beer. When he finished the hand he reached back, grabbed the Bud and
took a swig. If looks could kill....
When the movement to get cigarettes out of bars and restaurants in
California was making major headway they were going to let the card
barns off the hook. Exempt them. Of course, smokers rejoiced.
Enter one Max Shapiro. Humor writer and tournament writer for
Cardplayer Magazine. Also a poker player and virulent anti-smoker.
As a militant anti-smoker Maxie would make John Brown the anti-
slaver look like a wimp. He also has the distinction of being the
sweetie pie of Barbara Enright, the lady who has finished higher in
the Final Event of the World Series of Poker than any woman ever
has. I was standing there watching when, down to five players, she
pushed in with pocket eights and was called by Brent Carter holding
63 in diamonds. Carter flopped two pair and Barbara left to a
standing ovation. She's a lovely and sweet lady - away from the
table. At the table she's a machine gunner. She's the hammer and
you're the nail. Talk about chewing men up and spitting them out.
She's one of the best middle-limit hold'em ring game players I've
ever seen. Maxie is just the opposite. He's more like a poker
junkie. Her pet name for him is "Dead Money."
Smoke just kills Maxie. You could see it when he walked out of the
fresh air outside and into the smoke den. He started turning white
almost immediately. But what could he do? He hated smoke but loved
poker. He complained for years and talked everyone he could into
complaining. To no avail. But he must have been one happy person
when the smoking ban initiative started picking up steam. Finally,
Maxie was gonna get some relief. But then he got wind that the card
clubs were gonna get exempted. I can only guess that that really
frosted his freckles.
That's when the petitions started going around. Maxie wasn't going
to stand for the card clubs getting exempted. He would walk into a
huge card barn, jump up on a table and invite one and all to sign
his petitions. Smokers and non smokers alike. Surprisingly, many
smokers signed. He enlisted anyone and everyone in his cause. Many
prominent poker players got involved. He caught the eye of the
media, then the legislature. It turned the tide and smoking was
banned from the card clubs of California.
Of course, all of us card playing smokers in Nevada said no way in
hell it will happen here. I was holed up at the Colorado Belle in
Laughlin playing Omaha Hi-Lo when River Palms held some medium buy-
in tournaments that brought in major California tournament players.
I knew Maxie would be down to the Belle. He's an Omaholic. When he
walked in he was greeted by smirks from all of us Nevada smokers. A
seat opened at our table of mostly smokers. It was one hell of a
coincidence that we all lit up about the time Maxie's butt hit the
chair. He never said a word. He knew and we knew. He just sat
there turning whiter and whiter. No way in hell it's gonna happen
in Nevada, Maxie.
But Maxie is pretty shifty. At every tournament he covered in
Nevada, Maxie, along with his army, was lobbying casino management,
getting petitions signed and delivering them to tournament managers
and as time went on delivering statistics on the effect (no loss of
business) of the smoking ban in the California clubs.
Maxie's army finally broke through. The first non smoking
tournament was held at Sam's Town. It started out with just the
tournament area being non smoking with smoking being allowed in the
cash games. They even got smoking banned from the tournament room
at Binion's during the World Series. Then some clubs started
banning all areas for the duration of the tournament. I think the
straw that broke the camel's back was when Bellagio and Mirage
totally banned smoking in their poker rooms. The domino effect
kicked in. Now the only two smoking rooms I know of in the state
are the El Cortez and the Cal-Neva in Reno.
Yes, Maxie beat us. Now I have to step outside the rail. But the
war is over. No more fighting. It's a great time to be a poker
player.
vpFREE Links: http://members.cox.net/vpfree/Links.htm
mickeycrimm <mickeycrimm@yahoo.com> wrote:
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, krallison416@a... wrote:
---------------------------------
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
Visit your group "vpFREE" on the web.
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
vpFREE-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Yahoo! Photos
Got holiday prints? See all the ways to get quality prints in your hands ASAP.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]