blonde poker forum

This is a long post about Patrick Tochel, who, until his recent passing, posted here as lazaroonie. He was known mostly as either Laz or Big Laz.

It’s not an obituary; I’m not attempting to summarize Laz’s life. Instead, it’s kind of an unofficial poker forum mini obituary. I’m trying to remember and share the small section of his life that I was aware of, the man I was fortunate to know a little from playing poker, and from his time here on the forum. Other people knew him better than me, this is just one guy’s read of the man, and why his loss is such a tragic one.

*****

I first met Laz in December of 2005. We were both quite new to the forum and he had posted this...


To which I replied


I didn’t see his reply, but that evening I went to the Cincinnati Club for the famous Thursday night £20 rebuy, £60 max spend game. The guy who was drawn next to me introduced himself and explained that he was lazaroonie on the blonde forum. It was immediately and obviously apparent that getting kok-knocked (whatever that means - 2005 was a long time ago) was not among this man’s concerns. Laz behaved impeccably at the table because that was what he wanted to do.

Laz was after all, Big Laz. He stood an intimidating 6ft 4” high and, by his own admission, was of blood type bisto.  As a big fella, there was no false modesty with regard to pretending that he couldn’t quickly put a man in an ambulance if he so desired.
While he frequently made reference to his size, it was never as a brag. It was just something that was. If he could make use of this fact to improve upon a story he was telling, he would do so.
 
Laz loved his stories see, telling them and hearing them. Like all good raconteurs, he was interested in making them as appealing as possible. He was a man of many anecdotes (and a good lot of them involved Jimmy Tarbuck in some form, speaking of false modesty, there was certainly none with regard to him pretending that he hadn’t drunk beers with Jimmy Tarbuck)

One of my favourite Laz stories from the felt...


I love this one because it’s so completely out of character for Laz and his usual gentlemanly behaviour at the table. The whole table, most of whom knew the big man well and were initially taken aback, were in stitches shortly after Laz started laughing. The wee boy saw the funny side (after the 10 seconds of abject terror obviously) and it helped get him out of his shell.

Laz wasn’t a bully by any stretch of the imagination, despite his physical presence there was never an air of impending violence about him. He always kept his cool, bad words alone would never have been enough to provoke this man.
 
*****

The pokersphere is full of big blokes, and full of big egos. Men, who under normal circumstances you would not expect to give ground to anyone, deferred to Laz without knowing too much about it.

Laz just had a certain air about him. Joe Speaker, a writer from LA and friend of Div, gives an excellent example. On a visit to Glasgow, and on sharing a meal with Laz and the boys at La Tasca on Renfield Street he writes...

"(Laz) had mysteriously gotten us a table right away at the packed tapas bar, the Big Man striding in as if he were a majority investor and directing the waitress to fill the table with a wide array of culinary enticement: anchovies in olive oil, charred kabobs of pork, meatballs dripping with tomatillo sauce."

http://mcgtruckin.blogspot.com/2006/06/truffles-by-joe-speaker-2006-youd.html

Basically Laz was kinda the king. No-one resented it, no-one contested it. He did not wield his regal power unjustly and we were all just glad to be in his company.  

*****

It has to be said though, just because someone is the King doesn’t mean that you don’t rip the piss out of them at every available opportunity.

There was the Jimmy Tarbuck thing, I think it was mostly booder flying the flag for that one. I think the big man dropped the name one too many times and was (rightly) not allowed to forget it.

Laz was often referred to as ‘the jockey’ (I’m pretty sure it was tikay who coined that one.) Then of course we have Laz as the Palestine, after a famous weekend in Scarborough...


Above quote comes from an all-time great trip report from the pen of Colchester Kev. It’s well worth a read, best served with a side dish of two other threads from that weekend.

Trip report
http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=15479.0

Rod and Laz’s worst nightmare
http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=15479.0

Buckfast reaches the mainland
http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=15448.15

*****

I’m seething with envy that I missed that weekend as it was clearly a cracker, but you can’t catch them all. I don’t feel too hard done by, as I’ve a lot of happy memories from the jaunts I’ve been on in the name of the pokers. I think of Laz when I recall my favourite poker related memory, the Sunday afternoon at the blonde bash in Walsall.

A dozen or so of my favourite poker pissheads, including the big man, were sitting around a great big round table in a quiet corner of the hotel pub. After all the pesky tournament nonsense was over with the previous day, and with no busy itenary to keep to, we all just sat there for hours on end.

Top pub hours they were, stories swapped, laughter free flowing, the empties piling up against the back wall (and quite an impressive sight they ended up making.)  A marathon session of Western Roll was played (a game I couldn’t remember the rules to now if you placed a gun to my head) and when the barman got upset and told us we couldn’t gamble with coins any more, we kept score with pen and paper instead.

*****

The post would be woefully incomplete if I didn't give some love to the Laz home game.

His hospitality is what first cemented the man in my mind as a living legend, specifically the mini burgers in mini buns (this was back in 2006 you understand, when mini burgers in mini buns was a really big deal.)
 
*****

The loss of Laz is a huge one. I try to think of anyone else that I’d be happy to share a hotel room with despite the fact that they snore like a man with chronic sleep apnea and use up all the towels;  I come up with a blank list.

Although deeply saddened by the loss, I feel lucky to have known Big Laz for a short while. Ian Braddley said it well, and neatly sums up my feelings too, when he said that “he was a top bloke who knew how to live life”

He will be remembered.

1/18601

Thanks Thomas

Probably the only blonde I've not met that I'm gutted I didn't chance from the way people talked about him.

Great post.

RIP.

Never knew the guy, but from the post on his thread and this really really good post obviously a special guy.

So moved by this post, you have such a great way with words tank, and I can't find any right now. You've done the big man proud.

RIP Laz

+1

RIP Laz

Beautiful post Tank.

While I'm dreading the funeral, I'm almost looking forward to the wake after it, Laz's mates from the football and some of his poker mates all reminiscing - it'll be a best Laz story contest & I'm the sure the Big Man will be listening.

Thanks for posting that Tank.

Every memory that I have of the big man brings a smile to my face.

I found his interview

   
Re: In The Crow's Nest with.......      « Reply #133 on: October 12, 2008, 11:50:12 PM »
   
A late entry from a man who lives up north ,   somewhere      Lazaroonie

How long have you been playing poker ?
a long time. way before it all got "scientific" and complicated. I used to win a bit then.

Which sites do you play on
Blonde, DTD, BlueSq, Party, Pokerstars, FullTilt, coral. hills, laddies, pokerzillion, - did I miss any ?

Do you play live at pubs, clubs or Casinos
I often make the 700 mile round trip to my local cardroom in Luton.

Had any big wins this year
I managed to get third prize in my home game a few months back.

Do you play every day
no, I like to give the other players a chance now and again.

Where did you go on holiday this year
I went on a big family holiday to America in April, which was good to get a break from work. I had to come home from America to go though....

How many miles a week do you drive
not many. I "work from home" so the only time I need to get out is to go to the spar for a copy of mayfair and a packet of kleenex.

Do you prefer on line or Live
on-line shopping has definitely made a difference to my life, but I still like the thrill of pushing a trolley around....

Who's your favorite Poker Pro
none. they are all dicks.

Ever played a Poker Pro, like Aces or Devilfish
i used to see Dave Colclough a bit. Almost sold him a flat, but someone beat me to it.

Whats your favorite restaurant,  
I have a great affection for Indian Food.

Does your wife/partner play poker
you would need to ask her that. our lives seems to be a constant heads up battle.

Can I print this on the Blonde web site
aye

Thanks you get a gold star for a speedy reply

CROW>> Top Man



cheers

Great post tank, fitting for a great man.

Nice post Tank

Never had the luck to attend Laz's home game but did have the pleasure of his company in my home one evening. He drove through from Glasgow and proceeded to keep everyone highly amused and then drove home again. Not too many people would do that trip just to play a wee home game with a bundle of guys who would likely be pretty drunk by the end of the night while he would be sat sober.

He was such a good guy I will miss him a lot.

Good post thomas. I met Laz at the walsall bash i think and rememeber liking him and his stories while we played. Wish i'd known him better.

Very nice post Tank.

A Very Special Post

Thank you Tank

Very nice post Thomas. That night out you mentioned was a cracking night. A very good memory to hang onto.

(http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3578/676/1600/truffles.jpg)

Beautifully written

RIP Laz

Thanks for sharing your memories of Laz with us. So beautifully written x

A truly brilliant Post by Thomas, summed up the big Man just so.

I should add that a wreath has been arranged "from the blondes" for the Funeral tomorrow.

Several Members PM'd asking if this would be the case, & could they donate?

The wreath has been paid for, but if you'd like to donate, rather than send me the cash, please send a donation to

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Or....

http://www.gosh.org/raisingthestakes/

Or any other worthy Charity.

Thank you.

Great post tank u have a way with words
 I never met laz only chatted online and I could tell
straight away he was a top bloke
rip
big laz

Laz's funeral will take place at 11am this morning.

Much respect to The Big Man, & thoughts are with his friends, family, & most especially, his brother.

I will be thinking of Laz at 11am.

I hope all those who could not be there to pay their respects in person will join me and observe a minute's silence.

I will be doing the same.

Goodbye big man.

Likewise.

RIP LAZ.

Indeed I will.

Found a great pic last night of Laz, Thomas, Boo, Red, Mr Kendall and myself from a Dtd trip a couple of years ago - I will try and get it posted later today when I get home.

Thomas's post is just to good to follow for someone as word shy as myself - but I was lucky enough to do a few trips with Laz over the last few years and am lucky to have many memories and story's that will live on, being told off for gambling in the bookies with Tank, having lessions in Scotch (the drink) or learning you don't snore with an Ipod on and of course a few Tarby story's all bring a smile to my face today.

RIP my friend.

The funeral was a good one as funerals go, the local priest (there were 3 doing the service, Big Laz was well known in more than the football & poker circles) made sure there were some laughter as well as the unavoidable tears. the church was completely packed out, and there was a good turnout of blondeites and ex-blondeites, Eck getting a particular mention for driving down from Alloa. Laz is buried about 50 yards away from Jinky Jimmy Johnstone, considered Celtic's greatest player, so that's the wee man not getting any peace now.

The flowers from blonde were beautiful and particular mention was made of the messages of support from the internet, which the familly took great comfort from.

(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm7/rod_paradise/Laz/forRod4.jpg)

There was a fair contingent from AC Celtic - a supporters' team Laz was involved in, they'd a fair few stories about him too, one wrote a tribute to him, you can read it here http://www.etims.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3031&Itemid=2 (http://www.etims.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3031&Itemid=2).

The wake was a lot of fun, Terry & Laz's Dad were there & it was laughter all the way as Laz was remembered. As Steph (Teacake) said "The Big Man would have loved this, getting everyone together and telling stories about him".

I need to add one story about Laz's home game (again reminded to me by Steph), a few of us, Teacake, Scottish Dave, Div, etc went to Laz's first home game - now the Big Man likes to have the best of everything, big house, lovely conservatory, big new poker table, nice chips, the overflowing drinks cabinet & the big cigars, so we're there about to start the game, and Laz brings out the cards - Chad Valley kiddies playing cards, actually cards is a bit of an exageration, kiddies playing papers would be a better term. As you can imaging Big Laz took a bit of a slagging, his excuse was that his Kems hadn't arrived in the post.

Just read the link, thanks for that Rod, it made me smile and cry at the same time.

Never seen so many people at a funeral.
Also never seen so many priests at a funeral, met Steph outside who says "typical  Laz - 3 priests!! has to outdo everyone!"  ;D

For that matter never seen such worried faces on pall bearers either fwiw  :)

Goodbye big man you left a lasting impression on me and by the looks of it most of the west of Scotland.  :-*

Nice words Tank & Rod, just two of many tributes paid to the Big Man over the last week. I was lucky enough to have witnessed most of Tanks tales first hand and many others into the bargain, he really was a one off and larger than life itself.

The family have been truly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tributes and messages they have received, Laz made an impression on so many and they are taking great comfort from this. The numbers at the chapel weren't a surprise but I've never seen so many wreaths and floral tributes at a funeral.

God bless Big Man you'll be sadly missed.

Rod,

I really appreciate you Posting the pic of the blonde wreath, thank you.

Never met Laz but from reading Tank's post you can get an insight into what a great guy he obviously was and how much he'll be missed.


RIP

^^THIS^^

Not a problem Tikay, it was a cracker & much appreciated.

Kev reminded me it's the Big Man's Birthday today. Lots of smiles & the odd lump in the throat reading through the stories again.

Happy birthday Big Yin.  Missed, but not forgotten.

Thinking of you Big Man.

Happy birthday laz x

Birthday thoughts to a top man and his family.

Thinking of you Laz  x

A very big +1

Geo