The Seniors and the Juniors

This is an open letter to Max Shapiro.

Dear Max and Your Friends Big Denny and Ralph the Rattler:

My wife, Carol, and I were at our Thousand Pines ranch in Northern Arizona recently. We had been vacationing in England and Ireland for a few weeks and had gotten a bit behind in reading Card Player. I happened to read your column in the Aug. 17, 2001 issue, which you titled "The Juniors."

I remarked to Carol a couple of things about your column, and asked her opinion of it, but I first told her that the politicians and almost everyone in Oklahoma have a saying that comes to mind regarding all types of publications in which their names appear. The Oklahoma saying that fits your column is, "I do not care what you say about me as long as you spell my name right," and, Max, you did indeed spell my name correctly. I told her that I thought you were a genius – with great aptness of thought and originality. She said, "Honey I would not go that far, but the column was cute."

Now, Max, I am not going to sue you or your friends, because I have a rule that I always hesitate to litigate or use a lawyer for any purpose except to play poker with – just to balance the payments, you understand. But I must tell you that Big Denny needs to be informed that having "Da Juniors" tournament at the Barstow Card Casino is an illegal infringement on the rights of "The Seniors" World Championship of Poker Inc.

"The Seniors" and the juniors tag-team tournaments have been in place now for many years. Please remember, Max, that you and your beautiful Barbara Enright (the first woman inducted into "The Seniors" Poker Players Hall of Fame) have played in this event in California. The event is now being scheduled to be included in the 33rd annual World Series of Poker at Binion's Horseshoe next May, just before "The Seniors" IX World Championship, which will be held May 18-19.

Max, if you, Big Denny, Ralph the Rattler, and beautiful Barbara would like to enter as a team in "The Seniors" and the juniors tag-team charity tournament at next year's WSOP, I will make sure that you get the proper recognition and very good seats.

Thanks for all of your help and encouragement with "The Seniors" World Championship of Poker Inc. tournaments.

Your friend,

Oklahoma Johnny Hale (a.k.a. "The Elder Statesman of Poker," "The Gentleman Gambler," the founder of "The Seniors" and "The Seniors" Charities, the father of Sarah, and the husband of Carol)

P.S. The crown that you said in your column that I was having designed is almost completed. It looks real good, and I am planning to wear it at my next "The Seniors" event.

Until next time, stay lucky.

Editor's note: "Oklahoma Johnny" Hale is the author of Gentleman Gambler, available through Card Player, and the creator of the Seniors Charities and the Seniors World Championship of Poker. You can visit his website at www.SeniorPoker.com.