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Cast your minds all the way back to 1999. Poker was not mainstream then, online Poker had barely been invented, and live Poker was a low profile humdrum affair, with something of a seedy image. Then something changed, and was the kindling that smouldered and eventually started the Poker fires burning here in the UK - a TV programme called Late Night Poker.It was all new to most of us, but so captivating was this show that soon we could not wait for Friday nights, and wed record it on our VHS recorders. VHS recorders, good grief, what happened to them? The players we watched every week were all new to us, we had never heard of them, but there was something magnetic about their personalities, and we all had our favourites, those we cheered for, those we wanted to win.The extraordinary thing was how many of the featured players went on to fame and fortune one way or another. Im not sure any TV Poker show, ever, was the catalyst for such a diverse array of talent to come together. I could write a book about the contestants if time and space permitted, and I might just do that one day, but for now, heres a taster of some of those who took part.Victoria CorenWe did not know of Vicky then, such that she was introduced as the daughter of the literary genius Alan Coren. Soon, however, she was a star in her own right, not just in Poker, but in other spheres, too. She was the first female to win an EPT (European Poker Tour) event, and the first player to win two EPTs. Her book For Richer, For Poorer, A Love Affair With Poker became a best seller. As a TV presenter, she fronts Only Connect, and she appeared both as a guest and presenter on Have I Got News for You. In 2012, she married comedian David Mitchell, and in 2015 they had a daughter.Sir Clive SinclairAn eccentric genius, if ever there was one. Pioneered pocket calculators in 1972, then home computers with the Spectrum ZX80, which were both roaring successes. He followed that with that funny little electric car, the Sinclair C5, which proved to be a complete dud. Not the greatest Poker player ever, but quite the character. Dave Ulliott, aka DevilfishArguably, Great Britains finest ever tournament player, and unarguably, its most lively personality. He had already won a WSOP (World Series of Poker) bracelet, later took a World Poker Tour title, and, unusually at the highest levels of poker, was equally at home both in Tournament Poker and cash games. Dave was at the Sky Poker United Kingdom Poker Championships in February 2015, and looked a right as rain. A few weeks later he was diagnosed with cancer, and died in April. A terrible loss to Poker.Pascal PerraultThis rotund and jovial Parisian was at the top of his game at the time. He was a pharmacist by profession, hence his somewhat chilling nickname Poison. He was later to marry a Poker player by the name of Lise Vigezzi, who became known on Late Night Poker as Pink Lady after her fetching pink hats and outfits. They now live in Brazil and have a daughter with the quite splendid name of Vegas.Peter The Bandit EvansPeter was scary. Described as a scrap metal dealer, usually a euphemism for dodgy dealings, in reality he was exactly that - a scrap metal dealer, but there was certainly something sinister and dark about his persona. In fact, in real life, hes a big cuddly teddy bear. He eventually settled down and married Lisa, a professional sports bettor, and they now have the most beautiful 5 year old twin girls you ever saw. Whod have thought? Dave El Blondie ColcloughDave was an IT Consultant by trade, ruled the roost in UK Tournament Poker around 2005, and was a particularly skilled exponent of Omaha cash games, especially the 6-card version. At the time he lived in a swanky apartment in Birmingham, above a Gentlemans Club of all things. He moved to the Philippines in around 2008, where he continues to play Poker, and with some success.Pete CostaPete was, without a doubt, the best Tournament player in the world, bar none, in the period 2001 - 2003. Formerly a resident of Leicester, UK, he moved to Vegas a while back, married a Poker dealer, and still plays the Vegas Poker circuit. His brother, Kim, was, if not the best cash game player I ever played against, was certainly the nicest man I ever shared a Poker table with. Tragically, Kim died suddenly a few years ago. Pete and Kims niece, Maria Demetriou, carried on the family tradition, and made the final table of a later reincarnation of Late Night Poker.Hemish ShahHemish had already appeared on Late Night Poker when he won a WSOP bracelet in 2001. During that event, he became unwell with stomach cramps. After securing victory, the bracelet, and $300,000, he flew home to England for treatment, only to die within days from a cardiac arrest. He was just 33, and had never smoked or drank alcohol in his life. His funeral coincided with the final of Late Night Poker series 5, and the players all decided to attend his funeral rather than play.Howard Plant Howard is the most gregarious and loudly dressed Poker player ever. Based in Blackpool, he is a millionaire, and owns a dozen or more car parks in Blackpool. He can often be seen pushing a wheelbarrow round the car parks, full of pound coins from his Pay and Display machines. His trademark saying is My name is Howard Plant and I dont lend people money. He does though, underneath that gruff exterior lies a heart of gold.Crikey, Ive barely started, and Im up to my Editors 1,000 word limit, so I guess Id better leave it at that for now. Maybe I ought to write that book, after all. Pablo Zabaleta Jersey . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Javier Pastore Jersey .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. http://www.argentinasoccerauthentic.com/Ezequiel-Lavezzi-Copa-America-Jersey/ .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Facundo Roncaglia Argentina Jersey . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. Blank Argentina Jersey . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson lost the game and his manager lost the argument in the fourth inning.Sean Rodriguez hit a home run and a two-run single, Andrew McCutchen went deep and rookie Chad Kuhl pitched six strong innings and the Milwaukee Brewers lost 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.Nelson couldnt stop the Pirates from winning their sixth straight at Miller Park, and sixth of seven overall to improve to 76-75. Pittsburgh began the day 4 1/2 games behind San Francisco for the second NL wild card spot. The Pirates also have to hurdle the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins, too.McCutchen helped the Pirates jump out to an early lead for the second consecutive game. He crushed a 2-2 pitch that just slipped by the left-field foul pole for his 24th home run. Tuesday, he hit a two-run double in the first.I thought it was going foul, but it didnt, Nelson said. It was a good fast ball down and away. It ran up and in. I was impressed that he got to it. He did a good job of squaring up on a mistake right there.Rodriguezs two-run single finished the scoring in the first off Nelson (8-15) and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Rodriguez victimized Nelson again when he hit his 18th home run of the season in the fourth.He just didnt make pitches, Counsell said. He lost his command a little bit. The big thing was the walk to Cervelli and falling behind to Rodriguez, thats what ended up hurting him. Thats what ends up costing you the game.Its been a puzzling season for Nelson.He was 5-3 in his first 11 starts, but the loss to Pittsburgh dropped his record to 3-12 in his last 20 starts. He put his team in a 3-0 hole in the first and then labored through the next four innings before being pulled for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth.Counsell was ejected by home plate umpire Jerry Lane with two out in the top of the fourth inning.Adam Frazier had just fouled off a pitch from Nelson that bounced over his foot, out of the box and carried to first baseman Christ Carter who stepped on the bag for the apparent third out. Frazier looked puzzled and stayed put at the plate, but when the Brewers started off the field, Lane signaled foul ball.Counsell came out to argue with Lane.Overall, what upset me was he just missed the caall, Counsell said.ddddddddddddI felt like he changed his call. More than anything, I felt like he changed his call.Second baseman Scooter Gennett noticed the hesitation in Lanes call.Usually when a guy fouls a ball off his foot, the guy says it right away, Gennett said. He (Lane) kind of waited for the whole play to develop and then called it foul.Counsell finished and walked back toward the dugout, but then turned back for some final thoughts. Lane and Counsell became animated in their discussion before Lane ejected Counsell. First base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ushered Counsell to the dugout.Kuhl (5-3) pitched two-hit ball through the fourth before the Brewers manufactured a run on Jonathan Villars two-out single in the fifth. Kuhl struck out six and walked one in his second career start against the Brewers.The win was much better result than the last time he faced the Brewers.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: LF Starling Marte missed his 16th consecutive game with low back discomfort, but pinch hit in the eighth and took a called third strike. He went through another full workout and the club anticipates his return to the field in the near future.Brewers: LF Ryan Braun missed his second consecutive game to be with his wife, Larisa, and their new son, Greyson Joseph. Manager Craig Counsell said that it was possible Braun may be back Thursday for the last of the three-game series with the Pirates. . RHP Taylor Jungmann (0-4, 8.34 ERA) makes his first start since April 28 against the Chicago Cubs when he faces Cincinnati on Saturday. He made the Opening Day roster, but then struggled mightily in his first five starts that he was demoted. Jungmann hasnt allowed a run in 10 appearances since being recalled from Double-A Biloxi on Sept. 6.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong (3-5, 4.87 ERA) makes his 10th start since being reinstated from the disabled list (facial fractures) on Aug. 4. He is unbeaten in his last four starts against the Brewers, including a 5-3 decision this Aug. 26 at Miller Park.Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson (8-11, 4.47) makes his fifth start against the Pirates this season. He is 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA in the four previous outings. ' ' '