The Craps Torch has been passed
"Scan" – 10:45pm Mar 28, 2010 PT
Post of the Month – August 07 and June 09, Post of Distinction Feb 10, March 10, November 11
On February 10, 2010, the man known as "The Captain" passed away.
The Captain was the leader of a Runyonesque group of fun loving gamblers that frequented Atlantic City in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
The former president of "the Claridge" Robert Renneisen wrote about a band of AC Craps players in his book "How to be Treated Like a High Roller". Some believe he was referring to the Captain and his crew.
The Captain’s "First Mate" was a WWII veteran known as "Jimmy P" a big money player that turned his game around by playing the "super system."
"John the Analyzer" a fashion designer in the real world, was a conservative bettor making only low house edge bets. However, once he started with a few cocktails he turned into to a wild gambler risking his cash on high house edge bets hoping for a big score.
The gravely voiced,"Russ the Breather" suffered from emphysema He was a brilliant man with a dry sense of humor.
"The Doctor"was a surgeon that once save the life of a man that suffered a heart attack at the table.
"Vic" was an wiz with numbers and an expert blackjack player.
"Frank T" met "The Captain" in 1933 when they were students in Brooklyn’s PS 103.
"Phil the Forgetful" often left chips on the table and the rail.
"Fearful Frank" was also in the crew.
The female members were "Rose", "Connie" and of course "Ceel" known as "The Arm" she was a natural dice influencer with a unique knuckle ball type toss.
Back in those days Frank was a junior member of the crew (known as Barnacles) as was Dave (Satch), and Alan Tinker.
I believe just about all of the main crew members have either passed or retired from craps.
Having been on this board for quite a while now, I have seen many members come and go. I have watched the core group of players evolve and become the " NEW CREW."
This new crew has two "Co-Captains" – Frank and Dominic.
The first mate is probably ___________ ( Decided at the last minute that I am not sure who the First mate actually is. So I rewrote part of this post)
I speculated about the members of the new crew and the barnacles….. Of course this is not an official rooster and it is certainly not all inclusive…. just a fun exercise. ( I probably left out a bunch of people…. I apologize in advance)
Today’s Crew includes:
Jerry (Stickman), Armin (Pitboss), Charlie (Sand Trap), Jack (Raging Baritone), Skinny, Mr. Finesse, Glue Factory, Section8, Not2soon, No field five, Timmer and a few others
Marilyn (Goddess) is the new Ceel a/k/a "The Arm)
The Barnacles ( Not a pejorative term) include
Dice Pilot, Big Ron, Lois and Clark, Marksman, emaloney, Charlie F, DBR, Missouri Rick, Boxcar, Timmer, Dr. Crapology, Aligator Rose, Yoow, ACPA and a bunch of others
The Captain’s crew was larger than life, each with his/her own eccentricity… I do not know most of the today’s crew’s background but I am sure each person has an interesting story. Perhaps the "NEW CREW" will someday find themselves immortalized in a book
In "Beat the Craps out of the Casino", The Captain of Craps stated,
"I enjoy playing with members of my crew because there is an immediate camaraderie at the table."
I would bet that this feeling is shared by each member of today’s crew.
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Dominator – Apr 7, 2010 2:52 pm (10.)
Certified Instructor, 40-Roll Club, 50-Roll Club, 60-Roll Club, 70-Roll Club"An Advantage Player achieves success when opportunity, preparation, and skill meet."
Great read Scan! Well written!
When the great one passed, frank called me and said "I made a promise to you about his name…and I don’t know what to do." I said, "Who cares what his name is…I don’t…All I know is a great man passed, but his legacy lives on with us!"
Dominator
F. Scoblete – Apr 8, 2010 5:23 pm (11.)
GTC-GTB Instructor; 40-50-60-80-roll clubs. World Champion: Number of 50+ hands in one year – 6 times.
I think there are some differences between the Captain’s Crew and our GTC world.
In GTC we have many groups of players who have formed their own crews — or teams, or groups of friends (call them what you will) — as opposed to a 22-person crew that the Captain’s Crew had.
I also think that in terms of skill the GTC crews have many good dice controllers and smart bettors.
The Captain was surrounded by wild men; crazy crappers who loved the orange and gold action and played like maniacs. Only the Captain, Jimmy P. and the Arm played correctly (actually the Arm sustained herself on tips and a single pass line bet). Yes, Satch and I were smart bettors but in those days we were $5 players.
Yes, GTC is a large community of acquaintances and friends who go beyond our individual crews. Dom, Stickman, Nick-at-Night, Skinny and I are the Five Horsemen, but we play with the Boardwalk Rollers headed by the Goddess and we play with the California groups such as the Dream Team and others. So there is a strong bond that exists among us all.
So I would say we have GTC "crews" who will happily fight against the casinos when they get a chance to join forces as they also fight as lone groups to get the gold tooth of Lady Luck’s dragon.
The Captain’s was a singular enterprise. GTC is legion.
Does this make sense?
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