Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.

[mrkilla]

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This is both unsurprising and sucky.

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recent events most likely prompted all this

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Nothing online at WPIX (Channel 11 News) that I could find. But I did find this odd tidbit at the Daily News.

Echoing the hard-line stance of new NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Eric Mangini has lectured the Jets on the importance of staying on the right side of the law. The coach is trying to build a team of wholesome players, and one player near the top of his list is Jonathan Vilma.

Except for one slip of the tongue - he compared illegal dogfighting to horse racing last week in a radio interview - Vilma has forged a solid reputation on and off the field. The talented linebacker is the latest to shoot a soup commercial with his mother, and what could be more anti-Pacman than that?

"We have a bunch of kids looking up to us," Vilma says. "I remember when I was a kid, looking up to Jerry Rice."

To maintain his image, Vilma says he tries to stay away from potentially troublesome situations. One of his favorite retreats? Poker in Manhattan.

Every week or so, Vilma ventures into the city to play cards in a poker den, a members-only club that attracts celebrities and serious gamblers looking to avoid crowded casinos. More than a year ago, Alex Rodriguez made headlines for frequenting these establishments, where it is legal to play poker but against the law for the house to profit.

Playing poker legally isn't a violation of league policy, according to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. But some might question Vilma's association with the clubs, considering the perception it might create because of the raids and robberies the clubs occasionally face, although he says he doesn't see any downside. He views it as a winning situation - even when he loses.

"They told us to stay out of trouble and that's the best way to stay out of trouble," he says. "I'm inside, I can't get into trouble, I can't get hurt, I'm just playing cards."

Unlike A-Rod, who initially refused to comment on his involvement, Vilma openly discussed his jaunts to poker dens. He says he isn't worried that it will raise questions.

"I would hope not," he says. "Anybody who likes to play poker, if you want to find a good poker game, you're going to go play. It's not anything where I'm betting the house, like $100,000. You go, kick back, have fun, talk to some of the fans, enjoy it. I like playing poker. It's like playing basketball, but you can't do that (because of potential injuries)."

Vilma says he plays when he's bored, heading into Manhattan "maybe once a week, once every two weeks." To him, it's akin to shooting baskets or playing video games at the ESPN Zone.

The Jets weren't particularly expansive when asked to comment on Vilma's poker playing, releasing a statement that said, "We were unaware of this situation. The New York Jets support the league's stance on gambling."

Vilma said the team has addressed the matter with him, but declined to reveal what was said.

Many of the city's poker dens are sleek and inviting, although they're vulnerable to holdups because of the amount of cash on the premises. Thursday night a slick high-end parlor on E. 61st called National CardRoom was knocked off to the tune of $50,000. Making it even more enticing is the fact would-be robbers know the owners of these halls aren't going to call the police because their poker dens are illegal.

And there are the occasional raids - National was busted as recently as 2005 - which would be embarrassing for a professional athlete.

"There's never been an incident when I've been there," says Vilma, who, according to poker sources, is a terrific card player.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/fo...isky_hand.html

[*TT*]

This is a photo of National, which was robbed and raided last week, as shown in the Daily News.

[HobbyHorse]

I don't understand - what is the point of this? Merely a power play? Do they not have anything better to do?

This is definitely a drawback to life in NYC - at least in MN I could go and gamble whenever I wanted without having to travel 2.5 hours to get to a casino...

Atlantic City it is I guess... [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[AragornX151]

That Vilma article was from this past Sunday.

This is very annoying. I hate having to deal with this nonsense when I just want to play some poker. AC and Foxwoods will have to become more integral trips, I suppose. Though I know of a few small places that nobody will care about...they don't run that high, but they're still good and much better than nothing.

[TMTTR]

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I don't understand - what is the point of this? Merely a power play? Do they not have anything better to do?

This is definitely a drawback to life in NYC - at least in MN I could go and gamble whenever I wanted without having to travel 2.5 hours to get to a casino...


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I think the robbery last week (along with the public comment by at least one politician) put a lot of pressure on the police to shut down the clubs they knew about. If another robbery happened and it was said the police had already been informed (like was said about the National), the proverbial sh*t would hit the fan.

The scum from last week not only took my cash, they have forced the police department's hand in dealing with the other larger clubs.

[craigruby]

More on last night....

The cops sliced all of the felt tables and the carpeting in the front room. All of the chips were removed and some players even arrested for having similar names as other people who had bench warrants out for them. This is now the 3rd time a raid has happened in NYC when I have been there that day and left prior...

[John Kilduff]

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More on last night....

The cops sliced all of the felt tables and the carpeting in the front room. All of the chips were removed and some players even arrested for having similar names as other people who had bench warrants out for them. This is now the 3rd time a raid has happened in NYC when I have been there that day and left prior...

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Bloomberg (or Giuliani) won't get my vote for President, and I don't even live in New York. What a travesty in what is supposed to be the Land of the Free.

[corvair girl]

were there two clubs hit last night or just the one in Chelsea?

[SA125]

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More than 100 people inside at the time. Gamblers arrested.

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It's well documented playing poker isn't illegal. Collecting the rake/time is. Players are only arrested are for warrants, drugs, etc.

Did they in fact lock up everyone in the place? Can't see that.