I’m not a poker player.
Sure, I’ve played poker. I think everyone that went to college in the early 2000s played poker. Poker was everywhere in our society. ESPN made it a “sport” (which it’s not). Celebrities would play it on television and people actually watched. The residual effects are still being seen with Annie Duke’s appearance in this year’s Allen & Ginter for crying out loud.
Texas Hold ‘Em completely replaced the Five Card Draw I knew as a kid to be the only possibly way to play poker ever. Maverick didn’t play Texas Hold ‘Em.
But, that was the game the nation now accepted as true poker, so that’s what I learned to play for $5 buy-in nights with the guys.
Through all of that, I learned a little bit about what makes a good hand of 2 cards. Non-sequential numbers with non-matching suits: the farther apart, the worse they are. Matching suits: okay, but still not something you’re likely to call until the end. Pairs: Quick, hot start. The higher the pair, the better your chances.
Well, I like my chances with this pair. I’m off to a quick, hot start on my Bulls Past & Present autograph quest with a pair of 10’s
BJ and the Bull(s)
I like how the “g” at the end of his signature looks like a “3.” That’s what I know him for most. Armstrong was well-known and admired around my parts. My favorite basketball players are the ones with range. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do much in the paint due to his size, but his court presence was still a key piece to our first three rings.
BJ Armstrong was the last Bulls player to wear #10, because after the team offered him up to be drafted by the Raptors in the Expansion draft, the jersey number was retired to honor the man below.
The Love Bull starring Gavin MacLeod
Growing up, I didn’t know much about most of the older basketball guys. I didn’t even really know the game existed until I was about 10 years old. Doing a little bit of research, I can see that Bob Love was a solid, consistent player. He averaged 17.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for his career, but most of his time with the Bulls saw him hit around 22/ppg & 7/rpg. He was also a three-time all-star that led the Bulls to the playoffs in 5 straight seasons, making the conference finals in the last two. He may not have the numbers to get him into the Hall, but he was a crucial part in early Bulls history. #10 was the second jersey to be retired by Chicago, after Jerry Sloan.
Any time you can bring home an autograph of a rafter dweller, you’re doing alright.
It may be some time before I find out the result of this poker hand, but I’m not folding with this pair of 10s staring back at me. Hopefully, I’ll luck myself into a flush before you know it.
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