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So there I was Wednesday night (May 9). At a craps table as part of the Dempster Family Foundation’s third annual Casino Night at the Palmer House Hilton. Let the record show I know less about craps than I do about most things — which is saying quite a bit, considering such a deep and longlasting lack of knowledge on so many subjects.
Figure pro Alicia Harris has appeared on the cover of Oxygen magazine. Not sure if this will be her outfit on "Sports & Torts." Hey, a person can dream, OK?
About the only part I understand about that gambling activity is rolling the dice. After that, I’m lost. Even more than usual. Thankfully, there was a beautiful blond — named Jane, I believe — who had breast cancer but said she was OK. She was to my right. Her lack of craps knowledge was about as vast as mine. She seemed to be with a fellow who looked a bit older than she (OK, and a bit younger than me).
To my left was Kerry Wood, the Chicago Cubs reliever who the night before had tossed his cap and glove into the stands after giving up what proved to be the losing runs against Atlanta. He was dressed smartly in a black tuxedo. He was in a much better mood than he had been the night before. How he was able to bet and even know what was going on at the craps table was fairly impressive, considering how many people came up to him to request an autograph or to pose for a photo.
Cubs manager Dale Sveum served as the table’s stickman (had to look up what the term was and found out it wasn’t croupier, as I had thought). Actually Sveum was doing double duty, betting along with handling the stick that scoops up the dice.
Judging by the way Wood and Sveum laid out their chips to bet, this wasn’t their first time around a craps table. As fate — or Lady Luck — would have it, the gaming action took a timeout for a video presentation. Did I win or lose? Not sure. Think I may have wound up a few chips ahead — thanks mostly to the generosity of Tom, the croupier, rather than any betting skills.
I never did return to the craps table after the break in action. I did have the chance to wander around, sample the food and drink and see some familiar faces and meet some new people as well. All in all, it was a wonderful evening. Music from singers John Vincent and Crystal Bowersox was outstanding. As always, auctioneer Keith Jones was captivating and very good at enticing bidders to continue their quests for various objects of affection.
Judging by the smiles all around, the evening was a substantial success.
On the way out of casino night, a fellow stopped yours truly to show a cell-phone photo taken with him at last year’s event. The most striking similarity was the beige sportcoat that I was wearing.
“I hope that’s not the only one you have,” the fellow said of the coat.
“It’s not,” I reassured him. “I’ll remember to wear a different one next year.”
Right after I remember all those rules about craps.
Speaking of crapping out (or something like that), the Chicago Bulls will try to avoid doing that in Game 6 Thursday when the face the 76ers in Philadelphia. A Bulls loss means Philly wins the first-round NBA playoff series 4-2. A victory sets up a Game 7 Saturday in Chicago.
Bulls center Joakim Noah is hoping to be recovered from an ankle injury to play in Game 6. If the Bulls need incentive, they should know The Matadors — the franchise’s all-male, slightly heavier than average dance team — is scheduled to perform if there is a Game 7.
As a public service for those awaiting Game 6 (or even for those reading this after Game 6), here is some video from the Bulls’ Game 5, which they won:
Alicia Harris will brighten up the Talkzone studio.
If it’s Thursday (which, at last look, it is), then it must be time for another edition of “Sports & Torts” with David Spada and Elliott Harris. The interview show is live at noon Chicago time on talkzone.com. The scheduled featured guests for this week’s effort are figure pro Alicia Harris and former big-league baseball standout and former National League president Bill White. Anyone who wants to hear about White’s compelling life story out to tune in. If you can’t do so when the show is on, you will be able to access it later on podcast. Definitely worth spending some time with.
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