Poker News

Oklahoma Johnny Hale

Yes folks, I know that most of the time I put my poker tip of the week near the bottom of this column, but for today it will be on top.

“Oklahoma Johnny” Poker tip of the Week. Today’s tip comes to us from Mary Pickford-who said (and I am sure she had me and you folks in mind)-”If you have made mistakes-(in your poker game & life)-there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down (or losing a hand), but the staying down.” (and not picking yourself up and trying again).

There will be another poker hand-forget the one you lost and win the next hand. Folks, I would like for you to keep this tip in mind today while you read this column here in the Poker Player newspaper.

When I was a young lad I had six older brothers. Now that was good, but sometimes it was a little too good. I never had to worry about the local bully on the block or in the school yard-my big brothers were always there to save and protect me! No one would ever dare beat me up. Now my older brothers would teach me a lesson or two, but no one else every gave me any trouble.

I remember how they first taught me to ride-no, not how to ride a horse-but goats-out in the rockiest part of the pasture in back of the ranch house.

My big brothers did not allow me to cry-whatever we were doing, they would not allow failure. They just picked me up, cleaned my nose, andmade me try again until I got it right. But they would show me how to do it better and would make me get right up and try to do it again and again until I got it right. I remember one time they tied a rope really tight around the middle of a goat (in ranch speak, a sir-single) and put me up on the goat, and turned the goat loose in that rock pasture. Yes, I did learn to ride that goat.

Then again they took me to the pond and threw me out in the pond-Yes, I did learn how to swim.

Then they sat down with me and taught me how to play poker. At first, they won all my paper route money, but then they taught me too well and would not allow failure. I learned how to play and got all of my money back from them-after I learned how to play poker.

I was so lucky and I am thankful that I had big brothers-to teach me and protect me-and who would not allow me to fail. Years later when we were all in business together and I was the one with the Oklahoma University degree in civil engineering (BSCE class of 1952), they would let me head up the construction company and do all the office stuff and be the front man- and do all the talking and compute the estimates for our bids on hundreds of buildings that we built.

They just told me not to worry-if you made a mistake in the numbers, we will just work extra hours so that we will not lose money on the construction of the building.With brothers like that, I could not fail They are all playing in the big game in the sky now, but I remember each and every lesson they taught me-and I am reminded now of one of my favorite presidents, Teddy Roosevelt, who said “Credit belongs to the man who really was in the arena, who at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement. And who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and cruel souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” When you lose a hand of poker, think on this and play better next time.

Until next time, remember to STAY LUCKY!!!

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