A fellow poker poker player passed away on Sunday March 7th, he had stage four cancer. The memorial was this afternoon, for Tim, I'm glad there were friends that showed up for the service, it was nice and was represented by some of his fellow poker friends from our Tuesday night game. There was also a group of people there from his regular Monday poker game. We spoke about Tim's card playing and the things people remembered about him.

As it seems when someone we know passes away, there are question we ask ourselves, they are the ones we need to ask, the answers are a reflection of what is going on with us at this moment in our own lives.

Take care of yourself, you've only got one body. Get checked up and live right.

So we are going to play a card game with both the Monday and the  Tuesday Poker crews together in Tim's memory.

After a while it starts to hit you where can you  go once your favorite bar closes down. So it's been about two weeks since the bar has close down, friends and good customers are asking me in person and on my social networking page, "When are you opening up?"

            I realize I need the bar to open asap, not only for my Job and income but for my own sense of well being. I've been going there as long as I could remember. Once when, Sports Rock closed - actually it was called Satellites - I started going to Plus five in Davie, just to socialize. I just realized at this moment people will keep going to the same place as long as nothing changes. In doesn't matter who owns the spot as long as it's still a bar.

My question is "What really made them come in the bar?"

 Their sense of family with other customers and bartenders.

The location of the bar.

Their socialization with the "Owner/s" of the bar.

The affections, friendships and relationships they have with the bartender/s.

The hours of operation, how early did it open and how late did it close.

The fact it is the neighborhood bar and so very close to home.

The food in the bar, brings them back for more.

The fact there is smoking or no smoking allowed in the bar.

There is enough room for every one in the bar at the same time.

Is there something to do? (pool, darts, shuffle board, video games, wifi)

The shape of the bar allows for someone to people watch with really looking like it.

The "u" shape of the bar allows for many poeple to talk to each other

How clean is the bar - kitchen - restrooms

The seats are comfortable, people can sit in one spot for for hours.

The amount of TV's and the locations of those TV's

The Drink Specials - The food Specials - In the Biz Specials.

When I know you'll know - that's the best way to describe it.

People are coming up to me and asking "What's the deal with Sports Rock?"  or "When will Sports Rock reopen?" or "Where is the new place going to be?"

This my answer to them:

Problem with the landlord

As soon as possible

Could be anywhere, even very close

What I do know is : The owners tell me something and that's when I know.

When the ink is on the paperwork, then it's a done deal and we all know where and when, about Sports Rock.

I don't like to talk BS, I usually know what I'm talking about, unless I'm learning something - If you enlighten me, I learn more.

Montel joined with PTN “Poker Training Network” and announced his affiliation with the company. Many people do know that Montel served in the Military (Marines & Navy) so while on tours, what they don’t know is that he played lots of cards. In 2007 he entered in the World Series of Poker and at one point, was the chip leader.

Montel Williams Played in PTN's"Poker Nights" an event hosted by the Poker Training Network. It was  a great time, I just wish it was more organized so the people that wanted their photos taken would have a chance with Montel.

http://www.playPTN.com/

http://.ptn-u.net? 37    or 

Photo by Bobbi

Tuesday

Went and played Poker. We honored one of our regular poker players that passed away from cancer; we pulled a card for him so he would have a seat at the table. Tim died in the hospital after being taken away from the Tuesday Poker game last week. He certainly did what he wanted to do. It’s just sad because there was no family, in Florida. I hope I don’t pass on alone. . . .

Wed

Went to CVS minute clinic asking about my eye – told to take liquid gels and eye drops -  nothing can be done for the eye.

Thursday

Went to the eye doctor – got checked out and should be okay need to take steroids drops, to help heal my eye. Next appointment is on Tuesday.

Update to the Eye Doctor Need to follow up with a visit June 21st

So tried to start this blog about a week ago, and wrote it up after a week to bring up to date the traumatic events that led to that point. Well after typing & editing for an hour, I hit EXIT without saving. Needless to say another week or so went by, here we are now.

The bar, Sports Rock Lounge, closed down, where I had worked for about 6-8 years on and off. This is a place where I called home, almost an extension of my living room. I’ve lived, loved, cried met people, fought, and broke up with, hated.

When a quarterback goes into a game, in the forth quarter, that is already won or lost and gets hurt for no reason. It fells like on the last day I’m working before the bar shuts down, I get injured. My eye is gouged, shirt was ripped, and an entire drink was thrown at me, all because of bull$h!t. Truly the reason is because people can not handle their own drinking.

Sun

Not really feeling to well I wasn’t going to go to a Birthday party for a friend at Sports Rock. But another friend called around 10 O’clock and said they were heading in, I felt obligated because a couple of times I didn’t make it in and was the last time we could hang out at Sports Rock. We just finished watching Couples Retreat and Lynda said she wasn’t going, I pressed it and she said she’d go.

    Wearing a hat & sunglasses to hide the eyes we went, and I got hammered. The owner poured a couple of double Cherry Vodkas for me which I drank within 15 minutes or so of each other, needless to say, I was feelin no pain. Shaun a good friend supplied Champagne for a farewell toast to the bar, that we’ve called home (for some of us at least fifteen years).I drank so much, that there were pictures on my camera I can’t remember taking, sort of like the movie “The Hang Over”.

Mon

On the last day the bar was standing, I showed up at around 2:30 to help tear down and move things. Two people showed up, one not realizing the bar closed so he sat for a while, had a last drink and said good bye. One other friend customer stopped in pick up something and didn't even want to look around, as to remeber what the bar looked before this moment.  I really didn’t feel good, it didn’t help that I drank a lot the Last Night of Sports Rock.

Welcome to this blog, my experence and views from behind the bar.

This is the last day I'll get to bartend at Sports Rock Lounge until we reopen in a new location.

Once the doors are closed we will be remodeling the new place.  I look forward to the challange and hope the process will not take long, so I won't be out of work.