As a teenager growing up in the green hills of Western Pennsylvania, I became a fan of popular music. With my black and pink Elvis-like outfits, I would head out to the fire hall and high school dances in the region to listen to the latest recordings and slow dance to the beat.
One of my favorite songs, 'Time Waits For No One,' was sung by Jimmy Sacca and the Hilltoppers. Jimmy was a college student in Kentucky when he formed the group and they quickly sold enough records to make it to the top of the heap.
The lyrics of the song are profound for a hit recording by somebody as young as Sacca: 'Time waits for no one...it passes you by...it goes like a river...reaching out to the sky...'
Being young and feeling indestructible, I didn't really understand the meaning of those words. They flowed through me like the river Sacca sang about and the beat was perfect for a slow dance with the prettiest girl in the building.
Now that I am older, I appreciate the words and the music much more. I also appreciate the fact that one of my favorite poker players, Oklahoma Johnny Hale, is doing something for older players like myself by forming the Senior World Series of Poker.
Johnny just passed his 92nd birthday. His health has suffered because of the years, but he is still hanging in there, playing poker tournaments in Las Vegas where he lives. He is still a consistent winner. When we exchange emails, which is often, he always signs off the same way with the words, 'Stay Lucky.'
He organized the Senior World Series of Poker because poker is the one game a person never gets too old to play.
During an interview with me, he said, 'A person may love tennis, but at a certain age the legs and the stamina give out, and a person has to give up the game. Not so with poker. The older a poker player gets, the more his game improves. And that's a fact.'
While I am sure some of the younger players would not agree with him, I support Oklahoma Johnny's philosophy. My game has certainly improved over the years. Yes, younger players have developed techniques in their play that are complex and hard to deal with. But by using common sense and having patience, a person can overcome their challenges.
Andy Rich, poker room manager of the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, assisted Johnny in staging the 2016 Senior World Series of Poker. The Golden Nugget is a luxurious casino located on Fremont just across the street from Binion's Horseshoe.
He told me, 'The Seniors week was a great success for us, so we are doing it again this year. Our goal is to release the Grand Poker Series 2017 schedule of events in early March. We like to wait for the WSOP schedule to make sure we are taking advantage of the people we know they will draw for certain events.'
In 2016, the senior event's $250 buy-in drew 750 players. Scott Sherrell of Las Vegas won the lion's share of the top prize. Rich points out the number of players exceeded the 580 entrants in 2015. There was also a $250 Super Seniors event in 2016 that attracted 543 players and a $360 buy-in Seniors Championship that drew 206 entrants. Believe it or not, Oklahoma Johnny finished third in that tournament.
Rich said they tried to sponsor a Seniors $10,000 buy-in super high roller, but it didn't fly. This year they will lower the buy-in to around $2,500 to see if that goes with the seniors. The tournaments did succeed in raising over $14,000 for Oklahoma Johnny's senior charities.
It's nice to know that poker is enjoying a resurgence in the downtown area after the Horseshoe lost a lot of its action. Poker games at the Horseshoe declined after Jack Binion sold out his share of the casino to his sister Becky and her husband and took his money to Tunica, MS. where he built another Horseshoe casino. The Binion family no longer own the casino, having sold out to a corporation.
I am planning another trip to Las Vegas in the Spring and am looking forward to meeting Andy Rich and Oklahoma Johnny. Like the song goes, 'Time waits for no one,' and we don't want to waste a moment of the most precious gift the Lord has given us.
Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.
(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).
