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Dear Sirs: A friend of mine in the writing industry told me about you possibly writing a history of Poker. Basically, I am going to paste in material I have sent out before. If it appears interesting to you, let me know. I'm not used to getting paid for writing, but I could certainly use a

10K bankroll. So, if that sounds reasonable or not. let me know. Whether you are interested or not, that's okay.

While the story below mostly relates to the reality of living a gambler's life, I do believe I can write some helpful gambling tips from my experiences on the street. I read a short chapter in one of David Sklansky's book one time--the one about how he won and lost over 180K in one month at the beginning of his career. And I read Mike Caro's book on tell's which in a nutshell is that people are reacting by "acting or not acting." You have to decide the reason for their action and that will give you the read you need on the hand. Other than that, most of my understanding of poker is street based. I played in Anchorage Alaska in 1981 with Perry Green and Pugsy Pearson and in 1982 with Mike Sexton at the beginning of his career.

But I have never been to Las Vegas. So, for what it's worth, here is the paste-in. Take care. David E. McCall

Dear Sirs, I wrote in 1995 a reality based booked on Crimes Against Children."

Many found it a great work, but I never got a break from OPRAH to put it in the limelight where it would make money.

Now, with the exploding interest in poker, I would love to write about my 26 years in "Underground" play spanning from the after hours clubs of Anchorage, Alaska to the barnyards of rural North Carolina. I played the entire year of 1982 with Mike Sexton down in Fayetteville, NC. I feel there should be some way in which I can profit from this 26 year experience. Check out this story I wrote around 1996 and updated last year. If you think we could collaborate on some opportunities here, that would be great. While I am not a sports bettor ( believe it or not, never one bet), from my barnyard forays, I have contacts with most of the biggest bookies throughout the state of NC over the past thirty years. There are some tremendous stories waiting to be told. Let me know what you think. Thanks for your time. David.

PS. Just two years ago, after building up for the second time in my career a 100K bankroll, I ran into the young and the "book--learned gurus" of modern poker and went busted again.

One of those events involved my playing "Heads Up" in a mini marathon of $5000 freeze outs with Chris Bell and his Dealer friend, Michael Gracz--The Kid. I was tipping The Kid $100 bills as he dealt freeze out after freeze out. This year, I see where he won First Place on the WPT Cruise Ship. Now, he has millions and I can't even find a $100 bill. But such is the life of a gambler. Hope the Kid learns his lesson early. I have been on top more than once, and right now, the bottom is no fun. Take care.

You may reach me at 252-333-9969 or email me at [email]benefactor15@yahoo.com[/email] if you think there may be any interest. Thank you David E. McCall/The Preacher

THE TEACHER AND THE PREACHER

Two North Carolina Gamblers

This is a story of two men I know. This is the story of two men who spent the better part of the last three decades gambling within the borders of the state of North Carolina.

Ask them, and they will tell you where to find the action somewhere in North Carolina during any hour, any day of the week.

They both started adulthood with that boyish gleam in their eye--one obtaining his Master’s Degree to teach and the other being ordained to preach.

Their desire, however, centered on the quest for power and control. The ability to “beat the odds” as gamblers, to carve out lifestyles from the gambling arena proved to be the greatest challenge to their competitive spirits.

While poker games, black jack parlors and craps joints are numerous in North Carolina, the important scores and losses were made on trips to Atlantic City
by the Preacher and to the Bahamas, Las Vegas and Atlantic City by the Teacher.

Like the time in Atlantic City--the Teacher and two investors took $3000 to a craps table and cashed out over $100,000. The Preacher took $50 and cashed out over $5000 on several occasions.

These were important scores and were repeated on several trips. They were important; because they make up for the time the Teacher took a consistent

12-month loss totaling $100,000 or the Preacher’s lifetime loss nearing the same amount.

Both Gamblers can tell you how to win consistently; play less than three hours a day, place bets between 2% and 5% of a bankroll, use a winning method and NEVER EVER GO INTO DEBT.

They should know because they have broken all of these rules at some time. Both admit the “addictive” element of a gambler’s life makes “successful gambling” more marketable as a concept. Success is only realized by a gifted few able to overcome the addiction.

The Teacher told his employers to take the job and shove it in the early 1970’s. Between the large scores and his ability to run games with the “house
advantage,” he played the role of the Professional Gambler.

His handlebar mustache and quick wit irritated would-be gamblers who had to find other means to support their wagering activities. Like the time he

kept pit bosses and dealers in a Baccarat game wondering. He was claiming to be a “Wacky Tobacky” farmer from North Carolina. “ Just keep those cigars
coming, honey, and I’ll be sure to put you on my wacky tobacky mailing list” he called out.

Ironically, the Teacher had no time to use or produce wacky tobacky or fire water. “It gets in the way of gambling,” he would say. However, the cigarettes,

cigars, and smoke filled gambling parlors would soon show the tobacky indeed to be wacky. The Preacher credited the Teacher with being his mentor in the gambling industry, but it was the success of the Teacher that inclined the Preacher to avoid the pitfalls of the gambler’s life.

“I believe a patient man can be a consistent winner, but it’s awful tough, awful tough to overcome the odds and the addiction” the Teacher often commented.

Actually, the Preacher had already fallen into and crawled out of the pit several times. But late in 1993, the Preacher chose to reunite with his family

and place all of his financial resources in the hands of a financial shark, his wife.

By June 1994, he called to wish his friend well. He discovered the Teacher had also reached a cross-road in his gambling career. “Preacher, I’ll be cashing in the chips real soon. I have bone cancer. It’s those cigarettes. It just jumped over from my lungs to my bones. Age 53 seems awful young to die, but I have made my peace with the Lord, with my family at my side, and am ready to go.”

Unlike Clutch, who crashed into a tree, Baby Ray, who chewed of the end of a shotgun; Harold, whose heart gave out, or Squirrel who was backed over behind

a poker house; or Dexter who just did not wake up, the Teacher has lived longer and lived the life of a true gambler.

In the world of gambling, where nothing is certain, it is a sure bet that death will soon mark the cross-roads where these two gamblers part. But then
again, there’s always a chance, right?

ADDENDUM: The Teacher did live two years longer than the doctor’s had given him and the Preacher continued to fight his own battles to keep life from being

anything but routine. Preacher’s own $100,000 wins sometime after the Teacher’s death proved to be no more material than they had been for the Teacher,

himself. Although the Teacher had been known to carry around $250,000 at any one time in the trunk of his car, he died broke; and the Preacher knew that this too would likely be his own legacy if he continued the life of a true gambler.

In 2003, the Preacher emailed Mike Sexton, host of the World Poker Tour and PartyPoker.com to say “Hello, Mike, where have you been since you and the

Teacher and I played poker in 1982 in Fayetteville, NC.” Mike emailed back and said he remembered those good’ole days where you could play anywhere in NC

at any time, go broke in a game and still get a little help to tie you over to the next big game--like the time Preacher loaned Mike $200 and Mike promptly paid him back in a few days.

But Mike, too, had wised up and hung up his spurs, winning on the professional tour and now working in network television. As a true professional, he knows

the gambler must invest in other things, or the outcome is always the same--it becomes perilous--it destroys life-- and worst of all--you go broke!

Good luck to the Teacher at Heaven’s gates. Good luck to the Preacher for whatever waits--most likely his wife with a fist that shakes. And good luck to

Mike who made the most of his breaks. Good luck gamblers!!!

Author: David E. McCall/The Preacher:
Email:benefactor15@yahoo.com

Read other material by David E. McCall at Amazon.com.
Book: “Crimes Against Children--A Guide to Child
Protection for Parents andProfessionals” by David E. McCall.