Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[theprawnidentity]

Fine example of a split gearbox. I wonder if it has those flappy paddles?

I wonder if there's much tread left on the tyres?

[tikay]

Boys. Please!

This is a refined diary.

 

[Tal]

Yes, back to the St Pauli dinner express!

[Rod Paradise]

Trip to St Pauli FC in Germany?

VIP section?

Ordering sauerkraut and chips?

Right away, sir.

A source of quite a bit of anger amongst the support that - St Pauli are very left wing as a group, and the addition of such 'perks' for the posh seats doesn't sit well with some of the more radical supporters, even worse was a lapdancing club buying an executive box & turning it into a mini lapdance club. There was a campaign,  the 'Sozialromantiker' protests, where the fans fought against the overcommercialisation of St Pauli, flying the Jolly Rouge (a black skull & crossbones on a red background) instead of the once rebellious, now corporate, white on black one. They were quite successful, but the train survived.

During the ground development, the lefty side managed to get included some good additions mind you, like the kindergarten built in a corner of the main stand, with all kids getting free entry to games, and space for the fan groups (of which there are multitudes) etc.

I've been going to see them for over 15 years now, with my mates from Hamburg coming over to Scotland &  Celtic games in exchange. I was lucky enough through those contacts to be the guest announcer on the pitch when they played Celtic for St Pauli's centenary year celebrations, reading out the Celtic team & giving the official thanks (partly becasue Daggi the announcer was nervous of pronouncing our foreign names).

A bit more on the St Pauli:



Thanks Tal, never thought I'd get anti-facist football hooligans into the concrete jungle.......

[tikay]

Incredible!

[Tal]

!

[Rod Paradise]

All my mates were busy drinking, but someone made a few videos of the prematch, you can't see me (bonus) but that's me reading out the team & getting a wee round of applause from the St Pauli fans. It was probably the most terrifying thing I've ever done.



Another friend, Antje is an official photographer there & she got this shot of me shitting myself before I went on the pitch....

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

This is wonderful, more please.

Never noticed before, but you look like a much younger version of Vinni.

Seriously, how proud were you that day?

[Rod Paradise]

I was really proud - once I'd stopped shaking. It wasn't helping that while I was waiting nervously there were 2 kids right behind me with a vuvuzela having a competition to see how high they could make the baldy Scotsman jump!!! I'd an access all areas (apart from the teams dressing room) pass too, so had a good wander about before joining my friends in the Gegengerade (East stand). Before going on I'd a meeting with Sven Bruks (from the Guardian report) who warned me about getting pissed, and that the game was going live to the UK so I couldn't make any insulting comments about other teams.... like I would   it's a shame cause Hansa Rostock & Rangers were for it.....

I love going over to Hamburg, it's a great city, and going to see St Pauli is going back to what supporting a team should be - standing, singing, drinking beer (although that's out now for me ), supporting the team & having a great time. THe fans startgathering an hour or so before, drinking bottles of Asttra outside the ground, then into the ground where they pack in like sardines, but all move politely aside to let people through with beer, or going for beer. They make a hell of a noise all game, with various areas trying to outdo others for tifos (fan displays). After the game the players salute the fans, and people eventually start to head into the Reeperbahn about 1/2 an hour after the final whistle, unless they're really having a good time, it can take a while to clear the ground. Afterwards the pubs usually have bottle bars to serve the fans who can't get in & the streets are full of supporters, moving aside for traffic if they need to.

I said about moving for traffic, because I was over with friends for Celtic vs Hamburg in the Europa cup (a a present from the supporters club for my 40th) and the next night we went to St Pauli vs Fortuna Dusseldorf. After the game we were stood outside a pub, with the Germans trying to keep up with the Scots for drinking, "You scottish drink like it's a fucking competition" was heard from one of them. A police van came down the road & we went to move to let it past. A big skinhead growled something at us & we were told to stand still. The skinhead went to the cop van & spoke to them, then turned and signalled, at that the fans moved back, just enough to let the van through - and they all stood eyeballing the police as the van slowly drove through. It was quite intimidating to be in, must have been worse for the cops, with a couple of hundred football fans giving them the bad eye.

My mate Steve explained to us that the cops were regular Hamburg cops, and the St Pauli area don't like them about (there's a special St Pauli cop station), and 'they know not to come here, especially after a game' - but they were attending a domestic where a man had hit his wife, so the fans let them pass 'just this once' with instructions to 'beat the shit out of him'. If they hadn't had a good reason they were not getting through & the van might have been attacked. They really live the life & the police are considered right wing, so there's no love lost between them.

Typically with lefty groups there's a million different factions, I'm proud to be the only non-German with the 'Silbersaclause' patches, and I wear them on my denim occaisionally when we've good enough weather to wear a denim to the game...



They take it seriously too, I was at my mate Steve's wedding in Hamburg (where I wore a Skull & Crossbones sporran with my kilt), and a few of his friends wore their patches to the wedding.....

I'm taller than Vinni thankfully. And I've now lost the beard.

[tikay]

That is a tremendous story Rod, tremendous.

I think we have sort of lost the way in the UK, as to really enjoying stuff like football.

The police van story, excellent!

[tikay]

Investors Update

Need to do some Vegas work now.

I need to finalise the details for my band of intrepid investors who take a little of my (non Main Event) Vegas action each year, just for the sweat & some fun.

The list includes the following, (all referenced a month or two ago on this diary) & I'm just checking that I have not forgotten anyone. I MAY have omitted 2 names, apologies if I have. I'll try & check later today.

Ralph 5%

Aaron (Machka) 5%

Mere 5%

Doobs, has "only" taken action in 3 specific Tournaments, details seperately. 

Fat Welsh Bloke 5%.

Reserved by PM (Liverpool fan...) 2.5%.

sharplea, 2%

Knottikay, 1%

Trip5 - 1%

Supernova 1%


There is also a % swap with Flushy, in the WSOP $1,500 PLO8, % still to be agreed. My investors would own there proportionate amount of any benefit I derive from that.

More follows.....

[tikay]

Investors Update, continued.....

My current schedule looks something like this. Inevitably, it may change a bit, depending on results, Day Two's etc.


June 14th. 4pm, VENETIAN, PLO8, $600

June 15th, 2pm, BINIONS, PLO8, $200.
  
June 16th, Noon, GOLDEN NUGGET, PLO8, $230

June 17th, Noon, RIO, WSOP PLO8, $1,500

June 18th, Noon (?), Caesars Palace, PLO8, $240

June 19th, Noon, GOLDEN NUGGET, PLO, $230 OR RIA, PLO, $340

June 20th, 2pm, BINIONS, PLO, $300

June 21st, Noon (?), CAESARS PALACE, 6 Max PLO, $240

June 23rd, 2pm, BINIONS, PLO8, $200

June 24th, 4pm, VENETIAN, Big O, 5 card PLO8, $1,100

June 26th, Noon, CAESARS PALACE, PLO8, $240

June 28th, 4pm, Venetian, PLO8, $1,100

June 29th, 2pm, BINIONS, PLO8, $200

July 3rd,  Noon, CAESARS PALACE, PLO8, $240

More follows......

[tikay]

Investors Update, continued

That schedule looks like coming to around $6,500 - $7,000.

I think I had indicated a max spend of around $5,000, & so I suggest each investor (Doobs excepted, his deal is agreed) can decide between any of three packages, as follows.

Option 1

They just take their % in the 4 Events which were enboldened, the 4 biggest Events. They come to $4,300.

Option 2

Take a LESSER % at the same cost in the total basket. (So, 5%, which would have cost $250, becomes 3.6% of $7,000).

Option 3

Take the requested % in the whole package, expected to cost $7,000 or so.

I will send PM's to everyone shortly.

[tikay]

Investors Update continued.

We don't need too many T & C's, but just to be safe, I'm going to ask MereGrumpy if he would mind running an Investors Spreadsheet, detailing who owns, & is (hopefully) owed, how much, & the value of each % as we progress.

I'll also ask him to arbitrate in the case of any misunderstandings or disagreements. His decision would be binding on all parties.

There'll be daily Updates of course, as well as the usual Vegas Blogs I do for next door. 

[tikay]

No questions it seems.

We are agreed then.