In Honor of Derby City...
Once upon a time, there was a master con artist named Jack. He was known for his smooth talking and sharp wit, but his true talent was in the game of 3 card monte.
Jack would set up his table in busy areas of the city, such as tourist hotspots and crowded streets. He would attract a crowd by calling out to passersby, promising them the chance to win big with just a small bet.
As people gathered around, Jack would begin the game. He would lay out three cards face down on the table, one of which was the "money card" with a large sum written on it. The object of the game was to guess which card was the money card.
But little did the players know, Jack had a secret trick up his sleeve. He would use misdirection and sleight of hand to switch the positions of the cards, making it nearly impossible for the players to keep track of which card was the money card.
As the game went on, people would become more and more confident, raising their bets higher and higher. But in the end, they would always lose to Jack's expert con.
One day, a pool hustler named Joe came across Jack's game. He was known for hustling people at pool and considered himself a bit of a "con artist" himself. He thought he could easily outsmart Jack and win big at the 3 card monte game.
However, Joe soon learned that he was no match for Jack's skill and experience. Despite his best efforts, he fell for Jack's tricks and lost all of his money. Joe was furious, but also impressed by Jack's talent. He asked Jack to teach him the ways of the 3 card monte hustle, and Jack saw potential in Joe and took him under his wing.
Together, they traveled the country, pulling off the con and making a fortune. But they always made sure to only target those who could afford to lose the money, and never took advantage of the innocent. And so, they lived a life of adventure and wealth, always staying one step ahead of the law.
Years went by, and Jack and Joe heard about the annual pool tournament known as the Derby City Classic, where the best players from around the country gather to compete for a large cash prize. They decided to attend the tournament and ply their trade among the pool enthusiasts.
The tournament was held in a large convention center, and there were many side games and attractions set up in the halls. Jack and Joe set up their 3 card monte table in a quiet corner, and soon they were attracting a steady stream of players, many of them tournament participants looking to make some extra cash.
At first, they were successful, and they made a good profit. But as the tournament progressed, and the players became more experienced, they started to catch on to Jack and Joe's tricks. They were still way ahead but decided maybe it was time to quit.
As they were about to leave, a man approached them. He was the greatest pool player of all time, a living legend in the sport, known as "The Magician" for his incredible shot-making abilities. He had a thick Filipino accent and a charming smile. He asked if he could play a round of three card monte, and Jack and Joe, agreed to play with him for fun.
The Magician played the game with ease, he was able to keep track of the money card with ease and won the round. He collected the cash, and with a smile on his face said "I get lucky" with his thick Filipino accent. Jack and Joe were left in awe, they couldn't believe that they had just been beaten at their own game by one of the greatest pool players of all time.
The Magician then revealed that he had been studying the game of three card monte for years and had become quite skilled at it. He had even used it as a way to sharpen his focus and improve his pool game. He admired the con artist's skills and even offered to teach them some of his pool techniques.
Jack and Joe were humbled by the experience and grateful for the opportunity to learn from the best. They decided to put their conning days behind them and focus on becoming legitimate pool players, using the skills and knowledge they gained from The Magician to become successful in the sport. And so, they lived a life of adventure and success, always remembered as the ones who got hustled by the greatest pool player of all time.
Maybe I was going to ask what happened to the IPT once it folded.