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Metro

By Harry Kirsbaum
Staff Writer

he said. "But right, now there's
no big purchases."
Borman has been gambling
pair of aces is called
legally since he was 21, and
the best open:
makes about five trips to Vegas
ing hand in Texas
a year.
Hold'em Poker, and the two
Melissa will go with him
red beauties didn't fail Alan
about twice a year. She's very
Borman of Birmingham. The • supportive of him, but she's not
26-year-old television commer- a gambler.
cial producer beat 83-year-old
,"I don't even put a quarter in
retiree Jack Goldberg from Las
the slot machines," she said.
Vegas to win $1 million and the
She met Borman through
title "King of Vegas" from the
a mutual friend when she
Spike TV reality series of the
came to visit from Pittsburgh.
same name on March 21.
She was 16, he was 17 and he
The taped cable series began . asked her to marry him that
with 12 professional and ama-
night, but they waited until last
teur gamblers playing casino
August to marry — in Vegas,
games like craps, poker and
of course.
blackjack.
A kindergarten teacher
Each week, one contestant
at Hillel Day School in
was eliminated.
Farmington Hills, Melissa said
. The show began airing in
she kept a little quiet about
January, but Borman
theshow, but some
has known for months Borman poses
of the staff and her
that he's Won, and he's with cha mpagne, student's parents
kept the good news
some lo of and his were watching.
from Melissa, his wife. lucky T- shirt.
Throughout the
"I've known for so
series, Borman,
long that when Lorigi-
a Michigan State
nally won I was so excited, btit
University grad, flashed his
I had no one to share it with:'
"lucky" T-shirt whenever he
Borman said. "Now that I have
won a big hand. When he won
people to share it with I'm over
the title he showed off his T-
it, it happened so long age .
shirt and drenched himself in
And what happens now?
champagne. .
"I'm going to sit back and
"The produceri don't care
continue my normal suburban
who wins, one of the 12 people
life for a while, and take things ,was going to win," he said,
if and when they come:' he
explaining his antics. "They
said. "The moment was kind of just want good TV. That's what
overwhelming in itself and to
you're there foe ,
really jump into something life-
Ben Ellis, a friend since high
changing, so to speak, I don't
school, said Borman was a
think would be the smartest
natural for the show.
thing to do." .
"He's always had the person-
They'll use some of the
ality of someone whose won a
money to pay bills and "have
reality TV series:' said Ellis of
some fun with a little bit of it,"
Chicago. "And he finally did?' 0

A

ax e r•
Birmingham's newe

Jig

March 30 • 2006

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