The American Dream

I was watching the 2004 World Series of Poker last night, and they had a bio on Joe Awada, a player born in Lebanon who emigrated here.

When he got to the states, he didn’t have any money, and was touring with a circus doing shlep work. All while he was working there, he practiced juggling. Eventually, he signed a contract with another circus that got him to Vegas.

So you think, “Oh, wow, then he learns how to gamble and makes it big!” Not quite. He ends up being a dealer and then developing a new style of poker. Apparently, that gives him the bankroll to then compete and win.

Unreal!