August 27, 2008 1:44 AM
Poker at Coors Field
My computer has a virus, and my right ear is not working real well. Other than that, Tuesday night wasn't all bad.
At around 8:30 I showed up at Coors Field, for an interview with actor Ben Affleck. Affleck was scheduled to play in the poker tournament benefiting Paralyzed Veterans of America. A number of photojournalists showed up, but Sam-ulcast was one of a select group of media allowed to film an interview with Affleck.
Affleck was, in a word, cool. Bearded, relaxed and ready for a game. We joked about practicing poker faces, and he gloated (slightly) about his Red Sox beating the Rockies in last year's World Series. But Affleck made sure to acknowledge the main reason for his appearance, to help the PVA. (Go to the Web site www.pva.org for more information).
Comedienne Sarah Silverman was in the tournament. Silverman is a 'cam-ham' who knows how to make a face for the cameras. I didn't get an interview, but from what I saw and heard, Silverman's charm is exceeded only by her sarcastic wit -- and I mean that in a good way.
Talk-show host Montel Williams also was seen in the house. If you check out the Sam-ulcast video from the event click here, you'll see me end standing next to a dealer -- former Rockies pitcher Mike Myers.
So we get our interview with Affleck, and I'm about to leave Coors Field -- presumably to head home -- when friends ask me to take a walk up Blake Street to a club called Beta. I accept the offer to see John Legend. Not the former Broncos quarterback. The singer John Legend.
We get off the elevator and one of my friends runs into actor Richard Dreyfuss. They handle some business, exchange a cell number and then off we go to Beta. The line is long, but my friends (who will remain nameless) had the hook-up. We enter, and Legend begins almost on cue.
Great music. Interesting mix of people. I felt like I was in another city, surrounded by so many strangers. I tried to use our technology to provide video and photos from the event, but there were too many people standing in the way and the music was LOUD. It got even louder after Legend left the stage and legendary rap MC Doug E. Fresh took the mic.
We left before I lost all hearing. My friends went one way and I headed toward my car. My walk was interrupted when I crossed paths with, of all people, Sarah Silverman. She was accompanied by two men as she left Coors Field. She laughed as I mocked her making funny faces during interviews earlier in the evening. She seemed pretty cool -- but chose to leave with the two guys instead of me, so . . .
It turned out to be a fun night. I learned at least one thing -- there's one sure way of getting the ladies to look my way.
Just sit next to Ben Affleck.
September 7, 2008
10:02 AM
Gary R Reed writes:
Sam,
Since you were the only Rocky columnist to show up, and since yours were the only stories (my apologies to Penny Parker) to cover this event I’ll appeal to you for help. The Poker Players Alliance hosted this gig. Yes it was to support the Paralyzed Veterans of America but we had an ulterior motive. We wanted to show that poker is not just something seen on television and played in Las Vegas. Poker is the one, true America’s Game and is played all across the land by everyone from Ben Affleck to yours truly. (Yeah I’m the guy that went heads up with Ben for the championship).
The Rocky prints story after story of small games (usually played at the local bar) being busted and people arrested for “illegal gambling”. I have written letter after letter to the Editor trying to get some points made for the other side, POKER IS NOT A CRIME! Or at least it shouldn’t be. The editorial staff ignores my attempts.
I’ve tried Mike Rosen and had hopes of even getting on his radio show. Not working. The people busted in the games I’ve mentioned usually had no idea that the games they were playing in were illegal. The City and State law are ambiguous and confusing to the average player. The CBI, in conjunction with the casinos at Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek would have the people believe that the only place you can play poker legally is at those locations.
As state director for the Poker Players Alliance, I’ve undertaken the job of making people aware of what they can and cannot do when it comes to playing poker. In addition, our goal is to change Colorado law to allow games like we conducted at Coors that night to happen in an open and productive manner. We raised about $65,000.00 for the PVA. Had we been able to run the tournament as a poker tournament should be run, we might have raised as much as $300,000.00. The PPA footed the bill for the whole show. Not a dime came out of the “take” for anything and the entire amount raised went to the PVA. The people running the event were all volunteers.
As Paul Harvey might say that’s the “Rest of the Story”. Any chance you might like to do a little piece on this issue?
Thanks for your time
Gary R Reed
October 7, 2008
2:29 PM
me writes:
this is very interesting because i did not read it! but im sure its good!!