Death and poker

[jkamowitz]

Hello all,
I have been playing poker with the same 100 or so guys for about a year now at a local club. One of the men, Paddy was an 85 year old terrible player who over the course of the past month dropped roughly 15,000 dollars playing 1-2nl. I found out last night however that a week ago Paddy died, a night after he lost 1200 at the club. He was divorced and did not have any children.

I have been playing poker for four years, two years seriously. I am only 19. This news really hit me hard for some reason. Mostly because I do not want to end up being alone like Paddy. Some people tried to tell me that maybe Paddy wanted to play poker on his last days but I do not buy it. I have often thought about the players that I have played with in the past at other clubs or casinos and thought about the possibility of them having died or whatnot. But to experience it this close was incredibly depressing for me.

This is not meant to be anything but an open thought.

[Sniper]

First, sorry for the loss.

Second, you might find The Ace of Spades by Bruce McDougal an interesting read.

[tek]

[ QUOTE ]
I have been playing poker with the same 100 or so guys for about a year now at a local club. One of the men, Paddy was an 85 year old terrible player who over the course of the past month dropped roughly 15,000 dollars playing 1-2nl. I found out last night however that a week ago Paddy died, a night after he lost 1200 at the club.

This news really hit me hard for some reason. Mostly because Paddy was the biggest contributor in the game.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP

[Kaeser]

Well first of all your only 19 so dying alone shouldn't really be a concern yet. What are your interests outside of poker? When you say you've been playing serious for 2 years do you mean pro, semi-pro, or just taking the game more seriously?

On a side note it's highly likely that this guy did want to spend his last few days playing poker. If he was unlucky enough to outlive his friends then it might have been all he had left.

[xorbie]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have been playing poker with the same 100 or so guys for about a year now at a local club. One of the men, Paddy was an 85 year old terrible player who over the course of the past month dropped roughly 15,000 dollars playing 1-2nl. I found out last night however that a week ago Paddy died, a night after he lost 1200 at the club.

This news really hit me hard for some reason. Mostly because Paddy was the biggest contributor in the game.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP

[/ QUOTE ]

What a [censored] jackass.

[mosquito]

[ QUOTE ]
Hello all,
I have been playing poker with the same 100 or so guys for about a year now at a local club. One of the men, Paddy was an 85 year old terrible player who over the course of the past month dropped roughly 15,000 dollars playing 1-2nl. I found out last night however that a week ago Paddy died, a night after he lost 1200 at the club. He was divorced and did not have any children.

I have been playing poker for four years, two years seriously. I am only 19. This news really hit me hard for some reason. Mostly because I do not want to end up being alone like Paddy. Some people tried to tell me that maybe Paddy wanted to play poker on his last days but I do not buy it. I have often thought about the players that I have played with in the past at other clubs or casinos and thought about the possibility of them having died or whatnot. But to experience it this close was incredibly depressing for me.

This is not meant to be anything but an open thought.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you keep playing, eventually someone will die while
sitting at your table, or the next one.

I recall playing in Tucson about 7 years ago, and the
place was packed. about 20 tables going for some
promotion or another. A guy two tables over fell out
of his chair from a heart attack, and died on the
way to the hospital.

He was a regular that many people knew, but the games
went on during the enire 40 minutes while first, a local
doctor looked at him while waiting for EMS, and then
the EMS themselves.

Had forgotten all about it, your story reminded me.

Death has a way of happening to everyone, eventually.

Many of the dealers and patrons from the club were
worried, did care, and were affected.

But life goes on for the living.

-mosquito