I looked at Allen and he just smiled, with a sparkle in his eye "Joe's a trip"
It was the early 90s, and a few pro players were in Las Vegas playing at the Mirage , a tournament called 'Challenge of Champions' - we had a day off and Bobby Baldwin (Pro Poker player and then President of the Mirage Casino) invited 4 of us to play Steve Wynn's private golf course called 'Shadow Creek'. *
This virtual "Shangri-La" is a 60 million dollar golf course with trees, grass and sand from different countries on every hole. Steve W. only allowed (at the time) 4-6 groups to play on any given day. It was free to play and you were not allowed to tip Steve's employees (he paid them handsomely, and it would have been an insult to tip them).
After the round we were sitting in the clubhouse and in walks Joe Pesci.
I didn't know what to say, however, Allen didn't hesitate "hey Joe, how's the golf game these days?"
Joe looked quickly at Allen and lit up, smiling ear to ear, "Allen Hopkins, it's been a long time, did you get lost, there's no pool tables around here!" both smiled in acknowledgment and Joe came right over and sat down with us.
Allen introduced us and we sat and talked for about 45 minutes, what a serene moment. Joe seemed like just a normal, humerus fella - who would have guessed he is a Hollywood star? I was a bit uncomfortable at first, however, they both made a point of including me in the conversation, which immediately "took the edge off" the scenario.
Allen and Joe traded stories about the pool room in New Jersey they both frequented a few years earlier. They knew many of the same pool players and Joe sounded like he'd spent his share of hours watching the "action" games.
We all traded "good by's" - Allen and I headed out to the waiting Limo, my mind still trying to process what had just happened. It was like I had been transported into a movie for an hour and was now attempting to get back to "reality".
On the way to the front, in the lounge, we saw one of the most visually stunning women I had ever seen.....was she waiting on someone? (I was pretty sure it wasn't me)
That's right, she was accompanying Joe Pesci (it was that moment I realized Joe was no "normal" guy) - Joe and the lovely lady left out of the side entrance to their waiting car and were gone in an instant. I looked at Allen and he just smiled, with a sparkle in his eye "Joe's a trip isn't he?" ......I just nodded my head, mesmerized by the moment.
Later that evening we found out they were both in Las Vegas working on a movie called 'CASINO'. The Vegas opinion at the Mirage was the movie should do "pretty well" at the Box Office.....and so it did. 'The Game is our Teacher'
