Thread: "The Player" by E. Clifton Davis

thought i'd start a new thread rather than hijack the others

"But take the win, you never replied to my choice of actor. I'm very interested in your opinion."

that's a hard decision to make, i defintly like cage, one of my favorites and he would play that role superbly! my first few choices were michael douglas, sean connery, kurt russell, and tommy lee jones, before i finally settled on pierce brosnan, course , i've never met you or even know what you look like, so it's kinda hard to come up with the perfect one, for your wife and partner, i chose sandra bullock, she seems like one who could play a strong supporting role to man on a quest....might be kinda fun if you could get some of your members to come over here and comment, especially the ones that's been around you awhile, how about your wife? ask her who she thinks could play both those roles. in the mean time, i wouldn't mind hearing some of those stories, kinda of preview if you will.

Hmmm, all excellent choices but I think a little old. But I'm not sure that matters. I was in my late 40s at the time. Some of those guys are close to my age. Try subtracting about 15 years. Then who would you pick?

I've come a bit late to this "concept"... are we making an Ellis-movie already?

Perhaps this consideration should be reserved for they who have actually done these things. As eg, Ellis "won't" play for the billionaires, and isn't one (by $500 a paid-membership). When that's done... we can look at a "Rev. Jim Jones" re-make, if youze like.

There's a thread for ALL of the real such players at http://baccaratforums.com/t4147/ in this forum, in case anyone else has some more UNIVERSALLY-VERIFIABLE ones to add. (Even Elvis' reply has more "substance".)

Ha ha ha, eat your heart out Garnabby. You weren't there and have no idea of what you're talking about. But a lot of people were there including hords of casino people, plenty still alive and several current members. What the hell is wrong with you anyway?

I've written several books and have been told by seversl published authors and a couple publishers that I have a good writing style. But, I've never writen a novel.

I had planned to start the book with a technical conversation between me and Keith, "the driver", in my first Lexus SC 400, tooling down the Garden State Parkway toward A.C.

But on second thought that would be pretty boring for non players and the non playing audience is far bigger than the playing audience. So my second thought was the book shoud start right in a game. In other words I'm thinking the book shouldn't start at the beginning. It should start right in the heat of battle and later on fade back to the beginning of how it all started.

I think most books the reader subconsciously decides to either continue on or put it down based solely on the first several pages. So shouldn't the first several pages be designed to grab the reader's attention? To peak his interest right off the bat.

There was a particular game one empty afternoon at the Show Boat. I quickly realized that I, in fact the other four players too, were in the game of our lives. The dealer burst out crying and the pit boss through up his hands when his ploy to let us exceed the table max backfired and said, "I might as well enjoy watching this game because its already got me fired".

I'm thinking THAT is where the book should begin! What do you think? Then later, I can go through the events leading up to that game. Now, I think the lead up events become far more interesting.

Just as a player needs to have a strategy in his play, I think a writer needs to have a strategy in his writing. I think that is what made James Joyce so infamous for ALL to enjoy.

But why not consult the experts first? After all, what better experts are there than US?

Garnabby, get off that exorbitant tuition kick you're on. It's ridiculous. Less than half the money goes to me. On a per hour basis I make less than half minimum wage. Use you head. Money is obviously not my reason for doing this day after day. It would make far more sense to complain about your own salary. Nor would money be my reason for writing a book. But it would be a welcome change.

Right now money is everything to you just as it should be. But when you get to be my age, and you will soon enough, you'll find that money just isn't important anymore. There are far more important issues to be concerned with.

Hmmm, I guess Brosnan is not too old, esp. when he shaves.

Originally Posted by Ellis

Ha ha ha, eat your heart out Garnabby. You weren't there and have no idea of what you're talking about. But a lot of people were there including hords of casino people, plenty still alive and several current members. What the hell is wrong with you anyway?

Ellis, hi again,

I'm guessing we're just natural-born "antitheses"... just invert what you're "writing" to arrive at my own truth?

Thanks for making my work so much easier here.



P.S. Mike, when you start to sense some (BTC?) "bickering"... please delete my posts.

Yes of course you don't do it for the money Ellis..cough cough splutter !!

Originally Posted by thebaccaratkid

Yes of course you don't do it for the money Ellis..cough cough splutter !!

If it was the money, I would make a whole lot more mowing lawns! and NOBODY argues with you when you've got a weed eater in your hands.

Geez Garnabby, that's the second thing you've said we agree on. But where's the fun in that?

Originally Posted by Ellis

Geez Garnabby, that's the second thing you've said we agree on. But where's the fun in that?

Right, Ellis, but let's keep it at least vaguely about baccarat. We wouldn't want a repeat of some those problems over at "that other" board.