Download file

Imagine Tim Finchem winning a golf tournament. Don King promoting a fight, then stepping into the ring. Bud Seling in the Brewers' locker room with the World Series trophy.

OK, it's not at all like that. But Dan Le Batard did win his owner poker tournament Tuesday night at Dania Jai-Alai, prevailing in a field of more than 300. (I know the photo doesn't work, at least I got one on to download.)

Le Batard, who hosts a radio show weekday afternoons, said he had a hot run of cards. He was the chip leader when the field got down to 13 players.

As has been the custom at his monthly tournaments, players all agreed to “chop” the pot, each player collecting $857. Le Batard got the trophy, which had some reference to Dan Rather that I forget at this time.

“I have always been against “chopping” pots, I play to win," he said in a Dania press release. "But, it is amazing that I got that far in my own tournament, it was the right thing to do.”

790 The Ticket's Stugotz bowed out at 25th place, the best finish of all his tournaments.

Meanwhile, Pablo Ugando from Hollywood, playing in a no-limit Hold’em game about 20 minutes before the tournament hit a Royal Flush in hearts. The jackpot paid $11,080 and drew a roar from the players getting ready for the tournament.

And, as an aside, the jai-alai fronton had something I had seen there in quite awhile: people. Seems like this week is a big week, with local people off and visitors in town looking for something to do. I'd guess 2,000 or so, but it's only a guess. Usually there's fewer than 100 and bettors' calls of "DROP IT, FOUR!" have a pathetic echo to them.

Dania also celebrated its 55th year of operation, giving away bottles of champagne during the poker tournament, selling concession items for 55 cents and giving away free cake. First prize in the poker tournament was $5,500.

The fronton is located at 301 E. Dania Beach Blvd in Dania Beach. The cardroom is open seven days a week, Sunday through Thursday from noon to midnight, Friday and Saturday from noon to 3 a.m.