The Legend of the White Whale – Part IV

In Part III, I described the poker game run by my travel softball team’s coach, sponsor, general manager, .990 batting average pinch-hitter, bookie and big bettor – Frank.

In the game were only three real players; Frank, Fat Russ and Frank’s protégé - and game starting shill – Nik Faldo. And I was not a real ‘playa’. But the competition was so weak, that I was able to squeak out about $200 a poker night on average. Which $200 a week back in the 1970’s was some decent cash for a starving college student.

Our softball team played against the best in Michigan and sometimes, the country. We did it on a budget completely paid for by Frank – at around $50,000 a year. We played against many corporate sponsored teams like Stroh’s, Miller High Life, and big manufacturing company sponsors that would spend about $250,000 to $500,000 a year – for a softball team, if you can believe it. So it was serious stuff.

I found the team thru Frank’s brother ‘Ted’, who had played baseball with me in high school. We met by chance, and he told me to try out, and the rest is a 15 year softball career – waste of time! But it was great fun and adventures.

As a ‘small market’ team, Frank was forced to take a lot of the great softball players that had been thrown off the other teams for bad behavior or that were attitude problems. We truly were the Oakland Raiders of Michigan softball and Frank had us in black and silver uniforms to boot. Teams were uncomfortable playing us and had absolutely no desire to get – let us say – on our bad side. And with just about any team we played, one of our players had an axe to grind with them – so even though we were not the best all the time talent wise – we were always motivated.

The police on more than one occasion escorted some player of ours off the diamond (in cuffs) for some parole ‘paperwork problem’ - and some of our tournament games always seemed to have extra ‘security’ around. Frank once told me as I stood in the on deck circle, “You know Little Faldo (I was the smallest player by far at 5’ 9”, and a weight-lifting, solid 200 lbs.), I think you are the only guy in the starting line-up who has not been in jail.” A few of the guys on the team also worked as Frank’s ‘Fund Allocation Collection Agents’.

I was working at a plating company – hanging parts on the line - on midnight shift, showering, going to college, then going home and passing out. I would get up, study and do a little homework, then go to work.

Frank called me and said, “I rented a gym so you idiots can play catch and maybe do a little basketball and volleyball to stay in shape – as long as you don’t kill each other. Be there at 7pm.”

I told him I couldn’t because of my schedule. He said, “How much are you making in that stupid job?” I told him my take home was $125 a week. He said, “I’ll give you $100 a day to answer my phones on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.” My introduction to sports betting, booking and real poker playing was about to start!

I did this for a couple of years, which really helped me get thru my college classes. Sleep, study time and nearly triple pay sure helped. Plus I was making money betting and booking bets at college. But when I started dating the current Mrs. Faldo, she was not impressed at all with my ‘day job’, so I had to quit working for Frank.

My replacement? Enter the league bench player, - The White Whale.

The first night the White Whale was there for the start of the poker game (he was not playing – just there because the phones had just quit ringing), he sits down to watch. The Whale knows me and Frank, and is in awe of the ex-Detroit Lions. He doesn’t know the McDonald’s franchise owners or the building contractors, but does know Fat Russ thru doing business with him for Frank.

This is who the White Whale decides to start on. As I told you before, the White Whale had a quick and sarcastic wit that makes the stuff on this blog look lame. Heck, Don Rickles looked lame compared to the White Whale. And ‘Fat’ Russ is an easy target. Russ is always in a good mood and is laughing the barbs off, but all of a sudden he can’t win. He gets a little on tilt and the cards turn ugly. He really takes a pounding and loses a bundle (I got some of it).

The next week – the same. The next week – the same! Russ can’t seem to win with the White Whale watching the game! Although the jokes and the put downs don’t appear to be upsetting Russ, they must be. It is helping Frank and I immensely however! In addition, Russ goes on a month long sports betting losing streak, with The Whale answering the phones at Frank’s!

Frank tells me later what happens. Russ meets Frank for lunch and tells him to fire The Whale and ban him from watching the game . Russ is convinced that the White Whale is a jinx! If Frank doesn’t ban The Whale, he’ll quit the game.

Frank knows that Russ is his only competition in that poker game and that Russ is winning thousands in the game and really doesn’t want to quit. So he basically tells Russ – fine – quit. But Russ threatens to hurt Frank’s betting layoff ability if he doesn’t do something about The Whale. They compromise and decide that Fat Russ will pay The Whale $100 to stay away from the table.

But in addition, Frank must call Fat Russ from now on. If Russ wants Frank, he will page him and Frank can call Fat Russ back. Russ is afraid that The Whale would pick up the phone if he calls Frank. And Russ cannot be able to hear The Whale’s voice while talking to Frank and the Whale cannot be mentioned while conducting business.

So the first poker night of the arrangement, the Whale leaves as planned and Russ cleans up! Hurt me pretty good too! He hurt everyone! He won everything! Sports included!

The next week, the Whale leaves, but Russ starts off losing again – big time. He says loud enough for just the table to hear, “That fucking Whale is still here!”

He gets out of his chair and as fast as his 345 pound frame could move, he goes up the stairs. There in the living room is The Whale – watching TV with the sound down, eating the last of a submarine sandwich and drinking beer he had brought in a cooler! Russ literally throws The Whale out of the front door (no small feat because The Whale was not tiny either) and locks the door!

Fat Russ spent the rest of that game checking to see if the Whale had snuck back into the house. Russ, by the way, lost most of his sports bets that night too!

And for every game after, if Russ lost a tough hand, the search for the Whale was renewed.

Another legend of the White Whale is made - and this one will literally change the course of poker history -within a year. More in Part V.