Here I Go For The Second Time
Sept 30, 2020 19:08:35 GMT -6
Deana Barrows and Shawn Warstein like this
Post by Jackson Hart on Sept 30, 2020 19:08:35 GMT -6
"Man oh man has it been a while since I've sat at one of these tables and felt the rush that is waiting for that fifth card to drop. That card has made me a lot of money and at times cost me even more. That card can be your demise or your salvation. For me, the last time I sat at one of these tables that 5th card was my salvation. It took me away from this game that I loved but was slowly killing me and instead put me in a ring training to become a professional wrestler. And here I am, several months later one half of the GCWA tag team champions and a member of the hottest faction in wrestling today.
So why with everything going so well for me in my new profession would I come back here to Las Vegas, the aptly named Sin City to play this game again knowing what it could lead to and believe it or not the answer is a rather simple one. The challenge. Not the challenge of winning. It doesn't matter how long you are away from the table, once you sit down your muscle memory kicks in. To borrow a quote from James Raven's favorite tv show, "The game is the game, same as it ever was." I can sit down at the table and clean out everyone who sits across from me. Maybe not right away but eventually. But no the challenge here is being able to play the game of poker, win big and then not take part in all of the debauchery that always follows. Can I walk out of here with a wad of cash in my pocket and not waste it away on booze and broads? Can I use the training James has given me, not just of body but of mind and keep myself from wandering down the dark path that I have so many times before? Essentially, have I grown as a person or am I still the same brash, hot headed, young man who operates out of instinct and not rationality?"
"The table has now begun seating." The dealer says to the occupants of the room.
Within a few seconds 8 of the 9 seats at the table are filled. The lone unoccupied seat is mine. Reserved. Not with a silly little placard that literally says "Reserved" but simply out of respect. The other players in this room, they know who I am. Either because they've played against me or because they've know the LEGACY that is Jackson Hart and so no I don't need to rush to the table like some common card player because they know that if I'm in the room to observe. I'm there to play and I'm there to win.
Instead of walking over to the table I slowly and casually walk over to the bar, order a whiskey, neat and then stare over at the rest of the players while I wait for the bartender to make the drink. I can see most of the people at the table, including the dealer are quickly losing their patience but none of them will say it.
"Here you go Mr. Hart." The bartender says with a smile.
"Jax is fine sweety." I respond while putting a $20 bill on the bar as a tip.
"Thank you." The bartender says as she reaches forward to grab the money before casually slipping it into her pocket.
I take a sip of the drink before I make my way over to the table, taking up my seat at the "button". For those unfamiliar with poker vernacular "The Button" position is designated on the table by a small plastic disc. The button position rotates clockwise after each hand. Why did I take that position specifically as opposed to the other seats which are known as "the blinds", "the cutoff", "the middle positions" and "the early positions" and the answer is simple. Because it's the most lucrative spot on the table and one that is typically understood to go to the best player at the table for the first hand. Now if your next question is, what makes that position the most lucrative at the table well again, the answer is a simple one. As "The Button" you are in the unique position of being able to act last post flop on every hand and in so doing have the ability to cold call or 3bet, both of which are strategies that come with high risk but much higher reward. Any poker player worth their chips knows exactly when to employ these strategies and when not to.
Truthfully I could go on forever but just like how a good magician never reveals his secrets, a good poker player never reveals their strategy. Each position at the table comes with different strengths and weaknesses. If you think you can sit down at a poker table and play the same way on every hand you've already lost and if I'm sitting at the same table, you've already lost big.
"Ladies and Gentlemen this game is No Limit Texas Hold'Em. Minimum bet is $200." The dealer says to the players at the table which is made up of 7 men and 2 women.
BEEP BEEP BEEPPPPPPP!!!
"No phones at the table." The dealer remarks, staring directly at me.
BEEP BEEP BEEPPPPPP!!!
"Yeah sorry about that. One sec." I say as I reach into my pocket to retrieve my phone.
"Sir I must insist." She says again this time with a little more oomph behind her words.
"Just one sec. There aren't any cards on the table." I respond.
I pull out my phone and before I can even tap anything the screen comes to life.
"Hey Cunt what are you doing? You winning big? I bet you the next card is the Cunt of Jacks." Noah Jackson shouts.
"That's not even a card!" I can hear Shawn yell from the background.
"I know Dad I'm just messing with the Cunt. Anyway wrap that shit up and get to California. Shit is lit here right now. Miss you Cunt! James says he misses you too!"
"No I don't." I hear James shout.
"Wow. Rude. My dad would never say that to me."
"I'm not his father." James responds.
The facebook story from Noah ends just as the dealer motions for security to come over and remove the phone from my hand or more likely my body from the table.
"So sorry about that everyone. Urgent family business."
"Sir I'm going to have to ask you to leave the game."
"You're kicking me out? No fuck that. You don't kick me out. I kick you out." I say as I stand up and shout to the dealer. "You know what? Fuck this place. Fuck this game. Fuck this city. And fuck you."
"You're gonna have to come with us sir." A burly man who smells of bologna and hot peppers says as he tries to put hands on me.
"Man get the fuck off me. You don't need to escort me out. I am happy to go. I don't need this bullshit in my life. I got new friends, new family, new purpose. Gambling's for suckers anyway."
I grab the drink off the table, down the remaining whiskey in one gulp and then place the drink in one of the bouncers hands.
"Peace bitches."
It takes me less than 5 minutes to go from the VIP lounge to the street out in front of the casino. Once there I pull out my phone and record a "Facebook Story" of my own.
"Hey fellas I decided to bail on this. I'm done with poker. Hold down the fort for me. I'm coming to you."
I hit the submit button and pocket my phone. I walk over to the first taxi I see, open the back passenger side door and climb inside.
"McCarran International. There's a hundred in it for you if you make it snappy."
******************************
So apparently I have my second chance at making a first impression in the singles division at GCWA. Because this time instead of facing another member of Legacy, a friend, I get to face PerZag. Which I have to be honest with you is kind of amazing all things considered. I have literally no idea what a PerZag is. It sounds like the name some Jewish guy who still lives with his parents would name himself as he tries to break into the rap game but see even the worst rappers on Earth have some talent and from what I've observed of PerZag in the ring and on the mic, talent is something this shit stain is completely devoid of. This guy is more likely to take a dump that a person might marvel at before they see PerZag do anything in a ring that someone might be impressed with.
I guess I should be happy though right? At least I'm not James who was scheduled to not only face Atara who, while not an official member of our little crew is basically Legacy adjacent and when James beats her and that other guy whose name is not important enough to remember he gets to face who else but Shawn Warstein. Or so was the plan until we blew that up faster than you can say onomatopoeia. I swear it's almost like John Barrows is incapable of learning his lesson. Like does he not remember what happened the last time he tried to pit two of us against each other? Sure that segment was the most watched block on that particular Inferno but that's because the fans love them some Legacy. Even if they are afraid to admit it openly. There are some guys you love to hate and others you hate to love. We are definitely the latter. So sure John keep fucking around. Keep thinking that because you sign our checks you have any real power over us. Your arrogance is ultimately going to be your undoing. Maybe not today, or tomorrow or Friday. But eventually and I promise you when that time comes we are going to be there to soak it all in.
******************************
Somewhere in Southern Califonia
"Oh shit Cunts. Jax hit me back." Noah Jackson says as he taps the screen of his phone while Shawn and James look on.
"Hey fellas I decided to bail on this. I'm done with poker. Hold down the fort for me. I'm coming to you."
"Mr. Raven, your match is up next." One of the XWF staff says as he pops his head into James Raven's locker room.
Fin.
