a great "lebanese australian"

Just watched the Sports Centre program on Joe Hachem, the Melbourne man who paid $10000 to go to Vegas and play against 5000 other poker players from around the world. Hachem was forced to quit his career after problems with his hands, and poker became his 'professional hobby'.

Hachem is obviously someone who hasn't forgotten his Lebanese roots, but he and his fans indulged in the Aussie war cry of "Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!" as Hachem approached the big money and the final table. He's as Aussie as Paul Hogan, and has done Australia proud by winning the 7.5 million US dollars available to the last man standing in the tournament. The last hand where he took the American to the cleaners with a 3 and 7 off suit was real "clever country" stuff.

It was also obvious the respect the other players had for Hachem; a respect that most other "Lebanese Australians" deserve as well. Let's hope they get some of it, and in turn give it back to the 'anglo' portion of Australia, because this country is big enough for all of us.