That’s a mixed metaphor –“Dressed to the Nines” — to the extent I am talking poker.
This is a tribute to local hero Phil Hellmuth and his winning the 1989 World Series of Poker against Chan using a relatively weak hand — a pair of 9s — and a lot of moxie. I just saw this video for the first time, prompted to look it up at my fav search injun after meeting a young lady working at Foothill that claims to be a player (I believe her!!)
Steve Cohen, SAG actor and poker buff, had clued me in on Hellmuth’s story.
Phil and I frequent the same coffee house and I bugged him once, to get an autograph for Steve Cohen. Although Phil is a lot taller, Steve Cohen could probably play him in a movie; he is sometimes hired to be Jim Carrey’s stand-in.
Phil’s license plate references this historic moment, and the 9s. How to say it: he went all in with so-so odds but won it on the fold, or something. Combination of skill and luck.
That he barely gave me a nod, Phil, next time I saw him at the cafe I will take as if to say it is part of his poker face.
Plastic Alto with Mark Weiss 