House of Cards

by snoopy
Submitted by: snoopy on Fri, 12/01/2007 - 6:09pm

A charismatic Scot, a ‘celebrity shoulder rubbing’ Brummie, a European poker legend and four loud and brash Americans, one of whom is a bracelet winner (Brian Wilson - pictured left) – if anyone thought last year’s ‘House of Cards’ fly on the wall documentary would be a quiet and rather dull affair, they’d be in for a nasty surprise.

Filmed over the duration of the 2006 World Series of Poker, the ‘House of Cards’ is a reality show that follows seven poker professionals as they battle their way through the trial and torment of the poker calendar’s most anticipated series of events.

All vying to get their sweaty paws on one of those illustrious gold bracelets, the ultimate goal was to take down the $10,000 Main Event, and anything less would be considered a disappointment.

What ‘House of Cards’ achieved was that it successfully managed to capture that hunger, that sheer determination to be the best, and the ‘nothing’s going to stop me reaching my goal’ attitude that so many players adopt. And as with many films and TV shows, the narrative is cemented with a multitude of other questions. Did the House profit? Who came out on top? Who argued with whom? How did they feel about their performance? Who did their bollocks? … and so on.

For you the viewer, these answers are forthcoming as the ‘House of Cards’ looks set to hit our TV screens in the very near future, and as I wait for this broadcast with baited breath, I can’t help but reminisce over my one and only visit to the Mansion.

Located about 15 minutes away from centre of Las Vegas, the Mansion was seemingly in the middle of nowhere, but as the taxi pulled up to the giant foreboding gates, I was soon met by three familiar faces in Stuart Fox, Peter Haslam and Michael Greco, all of whom were eager to join the party.

Waltzing up a classical and perhaps overly garish driveway with statuesque figures lurking either side, I was delighted to be greeted at the huge wooden front door by a topless female figure who beckoned us into the house.

Not unlike a home you may witness, and subsequently dream of, on Cribs, the hallway was the focal point of the house with a giant white piano at the foot of a tall spiralling staircase.

With Marc Goodwin in tow, I was happily given the guided tour, one which predictably started with the bedrooms, an area which Mr Cool was particularly proud of: four poster bed, Jacuzzi, gold plated taps, big red drapes – this is everything you’d expect the bedroom of a mansion to be.

Next stop was the TV room. Marc just pointed and grinned like a Cheshire cat as I looked up at the multitude of TV screens that covered the entire wall. Des Jonas was seated at a leather seat watching in comfort and luxury. His smile revealed his pearly white teeth as he raised his beverage with a sense of ‘Look around, not bad, huh?’

With the kitchen (which possessed it’s own chef), bar (where a topless barmaid served free drinks) and the games room (in which a snooker table happily sat) behind us, the Tour culminated in a quick glance at the swimming pool area. Beautifully lit in tandem with the sparkling stars in the serene night sky, my wonder and amazement was hampered slightly when I caught sight of Jeff Burke, casually lying at poolside. It’s always been a bikinied Angelina Jolie in my dreams, but I guess you can’t have them all.

What was vividly clear though as I returned to the bar area, was that with everyone fully focused on achieving their WSOP dreams, relaxing and ‘letting go’ was of the utmost importance, if only to avoid the potential infliction of insanity due to the constant bombardment of television crew and cameras.

I’m sure they won’t mind me saying, but pretty much all the contestants, and yes, especially that mischievous Colclough fellow, were highly intoxicated, clearly taking full advantage of the free alcoholic beverages.

With Dave looking unsteady and slurring his words on many an occasion, I wondered around aimlessly, somewhat like a young boy in a chocolate factory. While passing the likes of Vicky Coren, Jonathan Rabb, Dave Shallow, David Pomroy, Rob Sherwood, Steve Walmsley, Nick Gibson & Iwan Jones (both pictured right) and many many more familiar faces from the UK circuit, I couldn’t help but notice the odd helping of female eye candy, some of whom may have been ladies of the night (although that is just a mere and possibly inaccurate assumption). One started flirting with me incessantly (yes, I think it must have been my muscular physique), but I resisted and stayed faithful to my other and exceedingly superior half to return to my hotel content that I had conquered temptation.

But women, booze and grand pianos aside, the important observation was that everyone was having fun. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it was clear to me that Dave and the other five contestants were intent on making the most of their time in the House of Cards. And it was this fact that made me recall that sometimes overly used phrase ‘That’s Poker’. The cards, the banter, the money, the gambling, the high life – to me, it’s everything I associate with poker, not just at the tables but the lifestyle too, and it is a credit to both the contestants and organisers that the House of Cards successfully encapsulated this romantic image of poker that everyone has.

Of course, whilst these luxurious antics were all well and good, the matter in hand was still poker and winning one of those lovely shiny bracelets. Entering into that poker elite is getting harder and harder by the year, but the drive these player have remains. My concern was that all these distractions that may have been caused by the ‘House of Cards’ would deter and hamper that initial goal somehow, and for that reason alone, I am very much looking forward to seeing the show and seeing how it all panned out.

Broadcasting rights are currently being discussed, but make sure you tune in when the ‘House of Cards’ hits the air in the upcoming months.