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//May 11, 2006
I went to New Orleans last week to shoot a movie. It’s a poker movie called, Deal. It stars Burt Reynolds as an old school poker playing mentor who teaches a young 21 year old. It all takes place on the World Poker Tour and I played myself along with co-host Mike Sexton throughout the film. For realism, it was sprinkled with cameos of big name poker players such as Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Rock, Joe Hesche, Isabelle Mercier, Scott Lazar, Jennifer Tilly, among others. We had a great time in one of the most historic and admired cities in our nation. I have to say, New Orleans is coming back strong after being ravaged by Katrina. The people are resilient and are still managing warm smiles even after what they’ve been through. The classic French Quarter was not really hurt all that much by the floods. I wandered the streets, listened to some jazz and enjoyed coffee and beignets at the world famous Café Du Monde.
I also got to run the streets too. I jogged through the entire French Quarter and back getting a great work-out and sweat in the Louisiana humidity. I jogged passed historic century old buildings that fascinate the curiosity. I got lost in the French Quarter. Didn’t quite know where I was going. No big deal if you’re a jogger but down in the back some of these streets started getting pretty run down and deserted. I definitely ran through a rough section, past the dope dealers and transients and then into another section that completely changed and it was bar after bar of lively music and sorted laughter. A broad smile came over my face as I was relieved to be out of the possible danger and now I was appreciating the liveliness and happiness of these partying groups. They were in the bars and on the streets, walking hand in hand smiles by all. Love is in spring, I thought. This is beautiful. I got a few whistles too. Kind of strange, I thought. It was all so wonderful and festive – and then I realized something peculiar the last few blocks: Yep - they were all men. It was a gay section and there I was prancing down the street in my red sleeveless muscle shirt with a silly grin on my face. Needless to say, I picked up the pace very quickly, flashed my wedding ring and I was off.
Within seconds I was on to a different section: Classic Bourbon Street. Jazz bellowing out of bars – ever excited. I cruised down the famous crowded lane. About a block away, I noticed a big crowd of people blocking the street. I kept running forward, my curiosity piquing. When I got there I ran right into the fight. I stopped abruptly just missing a swing to my head. Four drunkards, 2 guys and 2 girls were in a nasty brawl. One of the guy’s nose was bleeding pretty good. A little bit of screaming, lots of staggering missed punches. It was like watching Jerry Springer live. What’s weird was there was a young cop just a few feet away that seemed like he was in no hurry to break this up. I decided to get out of there before I got hit in the head with a bottle.
I got back to the hotel a few minutes later in one piece. I took a swim in the cold pool and then went out to a fantastic New Orleans restaurant with my co-hosts of the WPT, Mike Sexton and Courtney Friel. I ate well in New Orleans, going for the delectable local favorites such as the gumbo and the jambalaya and a beautiful blackened swordfish. Next couple days we shot the movie. I had great conversations with Burt Reynolds. What a story teller this man is. Hilarious, self-deprecating, and an all around good guy – and a living legend. Then it was time to go home. My Thursday Michael Woods Tournament was calling and even though I hadn’t been running to good in that lately, it was going to be a lot safer than my run through the French Quarter.
‘Til next time, stay out of my pots. 
~ Vince Van Patten
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