Cast your minds all the way back to 1999. Poker was not mainstream then, online Poker had barely been invented, and live Poker was a low profile humdrum affair, with something of a seedy image. Then something changed, and was the kindling that smouldered and eventually started the Poker fires burning here in the UK - a TV programme called Late Night Poker.It was all new to most of us, but so captivating was this show that soon we could not wait for Friday nights, and wed record it on our VHS recorders. VHS recorders, good grief, what happened to them? The players we watched every week were all new to us, we had never heard of them, but there was something magnetic about their personalities, and we all had our favourites, those we cheered for, those we wanted to win.The extraordinary thing was how many of the featured players went on to fame and fortune one way or another. Im not sure any TV Poker show, ever, was the catalyst for such a diverse array of talent to come together. I could write a book about the contestants if time and space permitted, and I might just do that one day, but for now, heres a taster of some of those who took part.Victoria CorenWe did not know of Vicky then, such that she was introduced as the daughter of the literary genius Alan Coren. Soon, however, she was a star in her own right, not just in Poker, but in other spheres, too. She was the first female to win an EPT (European Poker Tour) event, and the first player to win two EPTs. Her book For Richer, For Poorer, A Love Affair With Poker became a best seller. As a TV presenter, she fronts Only Connect, and she appeared both as a guest and presenter on Have I Got News for You. In 2012, she married comedian David Mitchell, and in 2015 they had a daughter.Sir Clive SinclairAn eccentric genius, if ever there was one. Pioneered pocket calculators in 1972, then home computers with the Spectrum ZX80, which were both roaring successes. He followed that with that funny little electric car, the Sinclair C5, which proved to be a complete dud. Not the greatest Poker player ever, but quite the character. Dave Ulliott, aka DevilfishArguably, Great Britains finest ever tournament player, and unarguably, its most lively personality. He had already won a WSOP (World Series of Poker) bracelet, later took a World Poker Tour title, and, unusually at the highest levels of poker, was equally at home both in Tournament Poker and cash games. Dave was at the Sky Poker United Kingdom Poker Championships in February 2015, and looked a right as rain. A few weeks later he was diagnosed with cancer, and died in April. A terrible loss to Poker.Pascal PerraultThis rotund and jovial Parisian was at the top of his game at the time. He was a pharmacist by profession, hence his somewhat chilling nickname Poison. He was later to marry a Poker player by the name of Lise Vigezzi, who became known on Late Night Poker as Pink Lady after her fetching pink hats and outfits. They now live in Brazil and have a daughter with the quite splendid name of Vegas.Peter The Bandit EvansPeter was scary. Described as a scrap metal dealer, usually a euphemism for dodgy dealings, in reality he was exactly that - a scrap metal dealer, but there was certainly something sinister and dark about his persona. In fact, in real life, hes a big cuddly teddy bear. He eventually settled down and married Lisa, a professional sports bettor, and they now have the most beautiful 5 year old twin girls you ever saw. Whod have thought? Dave El Blondie ColcloughDave was an IT Consultant by trade, ruled the roost in UK Tournament Poker around 2005, and was a particularly skilled exponent of Omaha cash games, especially the 6-card version. At the time he lived in a swanky apartment in Birmingham, above a Gentlemans Club of all things. He moved to the Philippines in around 2008, where he continues to play Poker, and with some success.Pete CostaPete was, without a doubt, the best Tournament player in the world, bar none, in the period 2001 - 2003. Formerly a resident of Leicester, UK, he moved to Vegas a while back, married a Poker dealer, and still plays the Vegas Poker circuit. His brother, Kim, was, if not the best cash game player I ever played against, was certainly the nicest man I ever shared a Poker table with. Tragically, Kim died suddenly a few years ago. Pete and Kims niece, Maria Demetriou, carried on the family tradition, and made the final table of a later reincarnation of Late Night Poker.Hemish ShahHemish had already appeared on Late Night Poker when he won a WSOP bracelet in 2001. During that event, he became unwell with stomach cramps. After securing victory, the bracelet, and $300,000, he flew home to England for treatment, only to die within days from a cardiac arrest. He was just 33, and had never smoked or drank alcohol in his life. His funeral coincided with the final of Late Night Poker series 5, and the players all decided to attend his funeral rather than play.Howard Plant Howard is the most gregarious and loudly dressed Poker player ever. Based in Blackpool, he is a millionaire, and owns a dozen or more car parks in Blackpool. He can often be seen pushing a wheelbarrow round the car parks, full of pound coins from his Pay and Display machines. His trademark saying is My name is Howard Plant and I dont lend people money. He does though, underneath that gruff exterior lies a heart of gold.Crikey, Ive barely started, and Im up to my Editors 1,000 word limit, so I guess Id better leave it at that for now. Maybe I ought to write that book, after all. 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The big man is averaging 8.9 points and 9.6 rebounds for Chicago, which won its third straight game with a 93-75 win at Miami on Sunday and dropped a 93-86 decision against Atlanta the following night. Jimmy Butler scored 22 points, Taj Gibson added 15 and 17 rebounds, and Pau Gasol added a double- double of 13 points and 12 boards. Derrick Rose recorded 14 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the loss. The Bulls struggled from the field, making 37.6 percent, and connected on six of their 29 3-point attempts. We had a couple shots go in and out on us, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. You have to give (the Hawks) credit. They made big plays. Chicago lost despite a 57-40 rebounding advantage and is 4-5 at home.dddddddddddd The Knicks are only 5-22 this season and have lost two in a row and 12 of the past 13 games. In Tuesdays 107-87 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Carmelo Anthony led the hosts with 26 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. netted 14. New York shot 44 percent from the floor and made 5-of-21 3-pointers. Amare Stoudemire and Jason Smith scored 10 points apiece for the Knicks, who trailed, 36-24, after the first quarter. I thought the start was not the right way to start a professional basketball game, said Knicks coach Derek Fisher. Guys that start the game need to be mentally and physically ready to play. Fishers team is 2-11 outside of Madison Square Garden this season. The Knicks dropped a 104-80 decision to the Bulls in the season opener on Oct. 29, as Anthony scored 14 points. Gibson and Gasol scored 22 and 21 points, respectively, in that one for Chicago, which will host the Knicks on March 28 and is 8-2 in the past 10 meetings. New York has lost six straight games at the United Center. ' ' '