It seems like only yesterday that Carmen Bates came to work at the Mirage, and Pete Popovich went from being a chip runner to a part time dealer and then to a brush and floor man. We used to go to the Peppermill one night each week after work and have a drink and talk about the craziness of poker and people and life…one drink running into the next empty glass. For a long time after Pete started on the floor, he used to say, “I can’t believe it! I’m the chip runner with keys!”
That won’t ever happen again. Pete died today. I find myself still not believing it and the thought disappears and then rolls back into my head like a car slamming into a wall at 110. He had surgery and never came out of the anesthesia. I got word from Carmen telling me the sickening news. Pete opened Bellagio with us and has been the swing shift manager for a very long time. All I can say is I’m so sorry for our loss and what his family is going through right now.
I saw him last Friday night when I took Riot to Bellagio with me to meet Carmen for a moment out in front of the poker room as she was coming in to work. Who would ever think that when you see someone, it would be the last time. Damn!
On a humorous side of that night, as Riot and I drove to Bellagio, I told him I used to work there. He asked, “Why don’t you work there now Grandma?”
I replied, “There are a bunch of mean people there. I dealt cards to them and if they missed their hand or didn’t win, they got mad at me. Sometimes throwing things at me and sometimes swearing at me.”
He went to dead serious. “You mean they got mad at you because of that?”
“Yes. They lost all their money and couldn’t buy any food or pay their rent or buy anything.”
He said, “You point them out to me Grandma. I’ll polite them to you. And then I’ll kick them in the balls.”
I kept as straight a face as possible and said, “Well, thank you Riot!”
“What kind of food were they trying to buy Grandma? Hot lunch or cold lunch?”
I had to chuckle then as I said, “I think they were trying to buy cold lunch.”
Goodbye Chip Runner with the Keys. RIP! Stay strong Riot, there are a lot of mean people out there that need to be ‘polited to’ and you’re just the kid that can do it.
Why Granny! Don’t ‘cha know that kid will grow up to be a poker player just lookin’ to kick somebody?
Why you ought not to allow him to say that!
Why the very idea . . . .
You guys getting rid of that nanny state senator?
I’m so sorry about the loss of your friend Pete. You’ve had a very tough week, and I send hugs to you… 🙂
Pete was my fondest memory of working swing shift in the poker room. He always made it easy and never seem to be shaken by anything. Cool as a cucumber and kind as a kitten……he will always be in my heart as the one to remember from the Bellagio.
Jen, thanks for the hugs.
Suzy, how great to hear from you – I believe we all loved Pete…what’s not to love?
Ten Mile you are a little stir stick, ain’t cha? On the senator I have no idea.
It has been a rather rough week. I’m sure rougher for others. But Monday is just up ahead and I’m expecting to step right into a new day. 🙂