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. Nike Air Max 270 Free Shipping . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Wholesale Nike Air Max 270 China .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. http://www.cheapnikeairmax270.com/ . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. Cheap Nike Air Max 270 . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Nike Air Max 270 For Sale Cheap . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks executed their game plan to perfection.Mirza Teletovic scored 22 points and matched his career high with seven 3-pointers, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 17 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, and the Bucks beat the short-handed Sacramento Kings 117-91 on Saturday night.First, we are focused on the defensive end, Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. We are getting stops and then there are multiple guys touching the ball on one possession.The Bucks have scored 117 points or more in each of the last three games for the first time since February 2009.We are passing up maybe a good shot to get a great shot, Kidd said. I think our guys really believe that.Jabari Parker had 19 points and four steals for the Bucks, who pulled their starters after three quarters.Being able to get some rest in the fourth quarter was great for me, Antetokounmpo said. Its great for the guys with fresh legs, too.Garrett Temple scored 19 and tied his career-high with five 3-pointers and DeMarcus Cousins had 15 in the first half for the Kings, who slipped to 0-4 on their five-game road trip and gave up 100 points or more for the sixth consecutive game.The Bucks forced 15 turnovers and converted them into 29 points.They covered up the paint very well and got some deflections, Kings first-year coach Dave Joerger said. They had 12 steals on our 15 turnovers and most of them were pick-sixes. They dribbled down and got a highlight dunk, an easy 3. Its hard to play uphill against that.Milwaukee outscored Sacramento 26-1 on fast-break points.On defense and half court, were playing pretty well, Temple said. We just cant give up transition baskets.Leading 61-48 at the half, the Bucks opened the third quarter with a 21-3 run. Parker highlighted it with nine points, including a basket in traffic and the foul shoot, leaving a disgusted look on Cousins face as the three-point play pushed the lead to 80-51.ddddddddddddThe Kings went scoreless for 5:14 before Temples 3-pointer with 3:03 left in the quarter momentarily stopped the Bucks surge.Teletovic made his first five 3-point attempts, Antetokounmpo had 11 points, eight assists and Parker added 10 points as the Bucks used a swarming defense and capitalized on the absence of Rudy Gay to force the Kings into 40.5 percent shooting from the floor in the first half.Gay played with sore ribs in Thursdays loss to the Orlando Magic, but did not play against the Bucks. The Kings missed their second-leading scorers 22.5 points and 5.3 rebounds, and his defense on Antetokounmpo.TIP-INSKings: The Kings had 20 points in the paint to the Bucks 26 in the first half. . F Omri Casspi made his first start of the season filling in for Gay.Bucks: Coming into Saturdays game, Antetokounmpo was the only NBA player averaging over 24 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks per game. ... C Miles Plumlee had three of the Bucks eight blocks in the first half. . G Jason Terry missed the game to attend a funeral, but will join the team in Dallas.SWEET 15Teletovic, who set an NBA record (179) for the most 3-point makes in a reserve role last season, came off the bench and swished his first five 3-pointers in the first half. He made seven 3s on January 24, 2014, against Dallas while with the Brooklyn Nets.UP NEXTKings: On Sunday, the five-game road trip concludes against the Toronto Raptors.Bucks: On Sunday, they travel to Dallas to face the Mavericks and their new center, Andrew Bogut, who was Milwaukees No. 1 pick and first overall in the 2005 NBA draft. 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