"Oklahoma" Johnny Hale Addresses the Room as Event Begins
Level 1
: 25/25, 0 ante
Poker legend "Oklahoma" Johnny Hale kicked off the opening ceremony with a moving tribute to the soldiers who fought and died in World War II on this, the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. He also gave a roll call of some of famous players from history and praised the Seniors event as a tournament that stuck to the true spirit in which the game should be played.
With that done and after a warm round of applause, the room recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Hale signed off with “God bless America.”
Ty Stewart then announced what all the players were desperate to hear, “Shuffle up and deal.”