Celebrity sightings?

[clarkstar]

I've been hearing thunder kellar plays at CAZ but i've yet to see him or anyone else famous.

have you guys played with any celebrities, poker or otherwise, at CAZ?

[CrazyLond]

The only famous poker players I've seen there are Jerry Yang during super bowl weekend and Scotty Nguyen maybe a year and a half ago.  I know Greg Raymer was also there during super bowl weekend.

Shawn Marion used to be a 20/40 semi-regular but obviously he got traded.  Not sure if he still has a home here.

I have heard Charles Barkley used to play at the blackjack tables occasionally but I've never seen him and am not sure if he still does.

Oh, and Connie Hawkins (not sure if he counts as celeb) used to be or maybe still is a regular at 3/6 omaha.

[clarkstar]

The only famous poker players I've seen there are Jerry Yang during super bowl weekend and Scotty Nguyen maybe a year and a half ago.  I know Greg Raymer was also there during super bowl weekend.

Shawn Marion used to be a 20/40 semi-regular but obviously he got traded.  Not sure if he still has a home here.

I have heard Charles Barkley used to play at the blackjack tables occasionally but I've never seen him and am not sure if he still does.

Oh, and Connie Hawkins (not sure if he counts as celeb) used to be or maybe still is a regular at 3/6 omaha.

cool. i think my brother knows connie hawkins through his health club. if I recall he's big on helping the kids and my bro is programs director at the village

[Aack Thbbbt]

Hawk has not been around in a long time.  He was very sick, not sure exactly, but some sort of cancer i believe.  I HEARD he had been doing better, but not sure.

[that_pope]

I agree with almost everything in this thread.  I have also seen Scotty and Jerry there, and know Raymer was there, but wasn't there when he was.  I have seen Shawn Marion play, and Connie Hawkins used to be there more than me, but he has had some health issues and I haven't seen him in a long time as well. 

We also have some of our own poker celebs who started at Casino AZ like Thunder Keller, his brother Shawn Keller (who I have played with), 2 time WSOP bracelet winner Pat Poels who is the executive host there, 2 time bracelet winner Tom Schneider, and bracelet winner Mike Wattel


http://www.cardplayer.com/players/results/Thomas-Keller/1347
http://www.cardplayer.com/players/results/Shawn-Keller/7442
http://www.cardplayer.com/players/results/Patrick-Poels/927
http://www.cardplayer.com/players/results/Tom-Schneider/2668
http://www.cardplayer.com/players/results/Michael-Wattel/1287

[kevis]

pope,

Great post (as always).

[clarkstar]

I agree with almost everything in this thread.  I have also seen Scotty and Jerry there, and know Raymer was there, but wasn't there when he was.  I have seen Shawn Marion play, and Connie Hawkins used to be there more than me, but he has had some health issues and I haven't seen him in a long time as well. 

We also have some of our own poker celebs who started at Casino AZ like Thunder Keller, his brother Shawn Keller (who I have played with), 2 time WSOP bracelet winner Pat Poels who is the executive host there, 2 time bracelet winner Tom Schneider, and bracelet winner Mike Wattel


http://www.cardplayer.com/players/results/Thomas-Keller/1347
http://www.cardplayer.com/players/results/Shawn-Keller/7442
http://www.cardplayer.com/players/results/Patrick-Poels/927
http://www.cardplayer.com/players/results/Tom-Schneider/2668
http://www.cardplayer.com/players/results/Michael-Wattel/1287

never seen those guys. i did play with a guy a couple years ago that looked astoundingly like thunder keller though, might have been shawn

[Aack Thbbbt]

Bill Laimbeer was playing 10-150 but left shortly after i got there last night.

[Desertcat]

I played 10-150 last week with this local celebrity pro...

http://www.pokerpages.com/players/profiles/55198/kevin-odonnell.htm

He called $241 cold with Q9s to out flop my AQo... sniff...

[KS1971]

Cindy Violette played in the ladies state championship. 

[CAAZs #1 Card Slinger]

Connie Hawkins in alive and well and plays regularly in the daytime omaha games.  Mike Wattel plays regularly now on the late night shift.  Pat Poels as well.  Tom Schneider enjoyed quite a bit of TV time (as well as his beautiful wife Julie) in the last WSOP and now is playing regularly in the late night games as well.  Maybe the most famous player we ever had was Charles Barkley who used to play regularly in an early version on blackjack and some poker, although this was long ago.

[Aack Thbbbt]

Connie Hawkins in alive and well and plays regularly in the daytime omaha games.  Mike Wattel plays regularly now on the late night shift.  Pat Poels as well.  Tom Schneider enjoyed quite a bit of TV time (as well as his beautiful wife Julie) in the last WSOP and now is playing regularly in the late night games as well.  Maybe the most famous player we ever had was Charles Barkley who used to play regularly in an early version on blackjack and some poker, although this was long ago.

Connie Hawkins plays in the Omaha/Stud 8 split game at Harrahs these days, He health was poor for sometime and lives closer to that room...He hasn't step foot in CAZ for 18 months plus.

[that_pope]

Connie Hawkins plays in the Omaha/Stud 8 split game at Harrahs these days, He health was poor for sometime and lives closer to that room...He hasn't step foot in CAZ for 18 months plus.

I saw him the other day (Sunday I believe) and it brought a smile to my face.  I hadn't seen him as well for at least 18 months, felt more like 2 years actually.  Used to play with him in the 3/6 Omaha game when I was first starting out.  Good to see he is doing well.

Also in terms of 'celebrity' and I am using the term very loosely, Nichoel (thats how Cardplayer has it spelled) Peppe also has gotten a ton of exposure on this years WSOP Main Event coverage, being the 2nd to last women standing...

http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/142350-nichoel-peppe

[Aack Thbbbt]

nichoel-peppe

[Aack Thbbbt]

Also, someone said "ButterBean" was playing 6/12 Omaha last night at CAZ..wasnt there so didnt see him.