It happened that around SoCal in the 60's and 70's there existed a man named Steve Mizerak (not the renowned pool player), who was perhaps the best pool sucker who ever lived. Jack Coony and I ended up playing him 12 to 3 and the break, among other games but it didn't matter how much weight he got. He was going to lose. Steve was the epitome of the
"through ticket". He'd go places and make guys who were two dollar bettors win well up in the five figures. He was a good poker player, though and his exploits at Gardena, are the stuff of local legend.
My friend Richard Schwary, Richie Florence and Steve headed to Vegas one fine evening, after Richard had won $1,800 from Mizerak playing cards. They went broke and only had three desultory bucks left and were driving home, when Richie stopped the car and sent Steve in to get him some cigarettes with the three dollars. That was a big mistake because naturally Steve lost the three dollars in a slot machine and couldn't purchase the cigs. Richie had been dying for a smoke.
Not to be outdone, Richie took off at high speed and grabbed Steve's bag of clothes, which had other valuables in it, opened the window, and out it went, strewing the contents everywhere.
This was only one episode in Mizerak's life. Everywhere he showed up there was going to be something interesting happening. The only sane one in the aforementioned group is Richard. He has made much of his life and enjoys recalling these incidents when life was easier and much wilder.
"through ticket". He'd go places and make guys who were two dollar bettors win well up in the five figures. He was a good poker player, though and his exploits at Gardena, are the stuff of local legend.
My friend Richard Schwary, Richie Florence and Steve headed to Vegas one fine evening, after Richard had won $1,800 from Mizerak playing cards. They went broke and only had three desultory bucks left and were driving home, when Richie stopped the car and sent Steve in to get him some cigarettes with the three dollars. That was a big mistake because naturally Steve lost the three dollars in a slot machine and couldn't purchase the cigs. Richie had been dying for a smoke.
Not to be outdone, Richie took off at high speed and grabbed Steve's bag of clothes, which had other valuables in it, opened the window, and out it went, strewing the contents everywhere.
This was only one episode in Mizerak's life. Everywhere he showed up there was going to be something interesting happening. The only sane one in the aforementioned group is Richard. He has made much of his life and enjoys recalling these incidents when life was easier and much wilder.
