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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The closing of the Trump Taj Mahal casino on Monday will cost thousands of workers their jobs and bring a final end to Donald Trumps legacy in the seaside resort, but it will also mean the closure of what was once one of the premiere destinations for poker outside Las Vegas.The poker room in the casino on Atlantic Citys boardwalk long ago lost its luster, but in its heyday drew packed crowds of gamblers from around the region and country to dozens of tables around the clock.Around lunchtime Wednesday, the 24 remaining tables were empty. A security guard and two soon-to-be unemployed employees milled about, but there were no dealers, no chips being shuffled, no cards flying through the air.After opening in 1993 when poker was legalized in New Jersey, the Taj became the center of the East Coast poker world, certainly the legal poker world, said Brian Koppelman, who used the mix of locals, tourists and pros as inspiration for scenes in his 1998 film Rounders.It was the place that you could go play without violating any laws and where, if you were someone who wanted to get better at poker and study the best players, you were there, Koppelman said. If you were someone who wanted to hustle people, you could go there and find tourists to hustle.Koppelman, creator of TVs Billions on Showtime along with Rounders writing partner David Levien, said the scene in the film where Matt Damons character plays for more money than he should against poker legend Johnny Chan was inspired by him sitting at a table at the Taj with brash World Series of Poker champion Phil Hellmuth.Koppelman and Levien traveled there for research after deciding to make a film about the New York underground poker scene. When they shot there, none of us slept. We were shooting and then just playing cards.The steady stream of players from the New York and Philadelphia region made the room popular, but it was the U.S. Poker Championship in 1996 that turned it into a destination. Some of the games top players laid down $10,000 in what was the first tournament on the East Coast on the same financial level as the World Series of Poker.When we went there, the Taj Mahal poker room was kind of a mess, said former World Series of Poker tournament director Jack McClelland, who Trump hired to launch the tournament that was broadcast on ESPN. They ran the poker room like you run the blackjack pit. ... It was just a mess.McClelland says the tournament organizers helped to change some of the problems, and he said he enjoyed working for Trump, for whom he plans to vote in November.Connecticuts Foxwoods Casino had already begun splitting up the lucrative New York market, but it was the opening of Atlantic Citys Vegas-style Borgata casino in 2003 that started the end of the Taj poker room. It began drawing most of the citys big action, and the opening of poker rooms in Pennsylvania, Delaware and later Maryland took away most of the rest. The room closed for renovations in February 2015 and didnt reopen until this past May, less than two months before workers at the casino went on strike.Kevin Thompson, 38, was walking through the room on Wednesday, looking for one last game. When that didnt happen, he reminisced with a reporter about the good times. A full room. An attached horse racing and keno lounge. A place where the locals played and staffers treated you like family.There was always something to do. You could always enjoy yourself here, he said. Im going to miss it a lot. Sad, its real sad.---Follow Cornfield at https://www.twitter.com/JoshCornfield Cheap Air Max Uk Sale .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Air Max Sale Uk .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. http://www.airmaxsaleuk.com/ Nike Air Max Sale Outlet Uk . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Nike Air Max Clearance Uk . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Don Lutzs mother didnt like the sound of his voice when he called her at home in Germany an hour before he started in left field for the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. "Ive been sick, and she said, Whats wrong with your voice?" Lutz said. "She said, Take your vitamins." Lutz wasted no time proving to his mom, Marlen, that he was healthy. The rookie, who was born in the United States and grew up in Germany, hit his first career home run, a three-run drive off the right-field foul pole in the second inning that led Cincinnati over the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 for a three-game sweep. Lutz, who made his big league debut on April 29, homered off Wily Peralta (3-3). Pinch-hitter Xavier Paul homered in the seventh, sending Milwaukee to its fourth straight loss and ninth in 10 games. Bronson Arroyo (3-4) ended a four-start winless streak, allowing five hits in 6 2-3 scoreless innings with one walk and five strikeouts. He had been 0-3 since beating Philadelphia on April 15, and he snapped out of the slump despite not feeling well, manager Dusty Baker said. "Im not sure what he had," Baker said. "Sometimes, you just dont feel right. Its not something you can name. We knew about the seventh that he was about out of gas." Arroyo rarely feels well in day games, he said. "I didnt have a whole lot of stuff," he said. "I was grinding from the first inning on. I knew I was getting away with pitches that I normally wouldnt. Luckily, they were beating them into the ground." Sam LeCure struck out Jeff Bianchi looking to end the seventh, Jonathan Broxton allowed an unearned run in the eighth and Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth. Peralta (3-3) gave up four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and two walks in six innings. Baker got his 1,603rd win as a manager, moving past Hall of Famer Fred Clarke into sole possession of 17th place on baseballs career list, 16 behind Ralph Houk. Baker, in his 20th season as a manager, is 1,603-1,448 (.525). The Brewers have lost 10 of 12 against Cincinnati. The Reds have won the last four series against Milwaukee in Ciincinnati and five of the last six overall.dddddddddddd Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce opened the second inning with singles and, one out later, Lutz lined a 1-0 pitch off the foul pole. He is 6 for 13 during a six-game hitting streak. "It was awesome," Lutz said. "My mom and grandma were watching (on television). Im sure they were pretty excited." He hadnt promised to hit a home run during his pregame Mothers Day phone call. "I didnt want to get ahead of myself," Lutz said. Peralta had no problem with the pitch. "I made a great pitch," he said. "Theres nothing I could do. If I had to put it right there again, I would. I dont think hed hit it." Cincinnati scored an unearned run in the third. After a throwing error by Peralta on a comebacker, Bruce hit a potential inning-ending, double-play grounder, but shortstop Jean Seguras relay sailed over first baseman Yuniesky Betancourt for another error. The Brewers have been their own worst enemies, according to manager Ron Roenicke. "We havent played well," he said. "We cant do the little things against good teams." Paul led off the seventh with his second homer of the season, a 404-foot drive into the right-field seats on an 0-2 pitch from Mike Fiers, recalled from the minors Saturday and making his first big league appearance since April 16. Paul has four career pinch-hit homers, including two this season. Alex Gonzalez scored on Ryan Hanigans passed ball in the eighth. NOTES: Reds RHP Johnny Cueto is scheduled to make his second injury rehabilitation start Tuesday for Class-A Dayton. Cueto has been on the DL since April 15 with a strained muscle in his upper right arm. LHP Manny Parra, on the disabled list since April 26 with a strained left pectoral muscle, and OF Chris Heisey, out since April 29 with strained right hamstring, both are due to start rehab assignments on Monday with Double-A Pensacola. ... The Reds are off Monday before opening a nine-game trip Tuesday at Miami. ... Milwaukees 10-game trip resumes Monday with the opener of a four-game series in Pittsburgh. ' ' '