Carol, today I want to give a tip of the hat to a poker player and well-known daredevil Evel Knievel, who has played his last poker hand, made his last jump in this life, and put his name on the waiting list to play a few hands of poker in the big game in the sky.

In my youth-a few years ago-I worshiped a lot of super heroes, Superman, Batman and Robin, The Fantastic Four, Rubber Man, The Lone Ranger, Wild Bill Hickock, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Babe Ruth, Joe Louis, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, and many others.

I loved the way they dressed up in their super uniforms! I admired the fact that they were all dedicated to truth, fairness, helping the helpless, and all were super patriots of America and representatives of the American Way of Life.

Each and every one of these super heroes could and did become role models for younger generations. I even went so far as to put on my cape and ride my bicycle very fast to pretend that I was a knight and on a quest for the Holy Grail-to slay the dragon and save the fair ladies.

Yes, I even did dangerous things like jumping my bike over ditches and standing up at high speeds on my bike. I was a little bit of a dare devil, but of course mother never knew that I was practicing to become a super hero. But she did learn some of it when I volunteered for the navy at the age of 17 just out of high school during World War II.

Fast forward 30 years and I hear the song, Mrs. Robinson, Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, Our nation turns it's lonely eyes to you.

What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson.
Jotting Joe has left and gone away, Hey hey hey. But then I was at Caesars Palace in the early 1960's and saw a real life dare devil attempt to jump the fountains. his bike was bigger than mine, but his red, white, and blue all-American uniform was just like I wanted mine to be!

I identified with this young man, Evel Knievel. I realized that this real life hero was doing things I had only dreamed of doing!

Fast Forward again, another 20 years to The Maxim Hotel and Casino, here in Las Vegas, where my good friend "The Worlds Best Unknown Poker Player," Don Williams, was the poker room manager.

I was invited by Don to drop by and help him with his efforts to create a world class poker room. At that time Don Williams was on the top ten list of money winners in the WSOP. When I sat down to play in Don's room, he introduced me to a real live dare devil, Evel Knievel. I enjoyed playing poker with Evel Knievel and put him on the list of the most unforgettable poker players that I have had the good fortune to play poker with in this life time. I visited with Evel several times and never grew tired of his telling me how he carefully planned each of his world famous daredevil jumps of his lifetime.

Yes, he played poker just like he jumped his bikes. It was a wild ride anytime he was in a hand.

So it is with joy to have known Evel and give him the tip of the hat as I say good bye for me and all the poker players who had the once in a lifetime opportunity to play a little poker with Evel at the Maxim here in Fabulous Las Vegas, my home town.

Until next time remember to Stay Lucky! You may contact OK-J at Oklajohnny@aol.com. You are invited to cruise with OK-J & Carol & OK-Sarah on THE FREEDOM OF THE SEAS on March 30, 2008. For detailed information go to www.ok-j.com.