I posted this a couple of years ago, but it is worth repeating:
It was my first night in Louisville, and there was very mixed crowd in the action room (bar) and there was a much wolfing etc., and the three card monte dealer was giving it everything he had -- very deftly. From frat boy types to inner of inner city boyz, everyone was checking the others out. Eventually, someone says,
"I'll bet anything on a coin flip"
and all hell broke loose from all sides. A pair of young hustlers was pushing the bet hard. Finally, an older, lanky dude, seemingly from out west, says,
"Okay, I'm in for a $1,000.00."
One of the young guns says,
"Okay, but I get to call it in the air, and the flip lands on the floor."
The crowd parted, money posted, coin goes up, the call comes,
"Heads on the floor"
and the coin is down: tails up. The lanky guy attempts to collect, but the young guy stops him, saying,
"I won, I won -- heads is on the floor".
Eventually, the two young cats get paid, the crowd quiets some, more propositions exchanged, but a pall has been cast on the evening. Then, the lanky guy says slowly, very evenly,
"That was a stone cold hustle, and I want my money back"
and all hell breaks loose again
"I said heads on the floor, heads was on the floor . . ."
Then I hear something to the effect of, again slowly, very evenly,
"I don't know if you fellows mean to stay all week, but if you don't give me my money back, you best clear out now, because I am going to be here all week".
The young dude, somewhat chagrined, owns up and gives the money back. Now, all hell really breaks loose -- the quiet one of the pair is in his partner's face,
"You #$%&@(&, what are doing? We have waited years to make that . . ."
I never saw the two again after that night, but the tall cat was there for the rest of the week.
....
