Trade number two is in the books

I’ve just taken one more step in my journey to trade my way from a sixty cent check from PKR.com to a ticket into the Main Event of the 2007 World Series of Poker.

I’m trading the set of 500 GoldenPalace.com poker chips to Lee Adams in Fishers, Ind., for an autographed basketball signed by the 1975-76 Indiana Pacers.

A lot of people probably thought I’d given up on my quest. I’ll admit it’s been awhile since I’ve made a trade. I’ve been holding onto these GoldenPalace.com poker chips for almost three months, but I was waiting for the perfect trade, and yesterday, it finally came through.

Why is this the perfect trade? Well let me tell you a little bit about the basketball.

A little over 31 years ago, Lee won an auction held by his local PBS television station to be a “Pacer for a Day.” He was issued a team uniform, participated in team warmups and sat on the bench during an exhibition game on October 13, 1975.

Lee, who was 20 years old and a huge fan of the team, hoped to get some playing time with some of his favorite players, but never got a chance to get off the bench.

He did, however, get interviewed by the Pacers play-by-play broadcaster. And as a souvenir, the club gave him a signed ball.

When Lee first offered me the ball, I have to admit I was a little skeptical. I asked him why he was willing to trade such a treasured memento.

“My priorities in life have changed immensely over the years,” Lee said. “I still enjoy sports and follow current events as I have time. But I am a father of eight children, seven of which are special needs and adopted.”

“I actually had it in a box and when we recently purchased a new home I found it and began thinking about what I should do with it. I have an album that chronicles that night, so that will always be my keepsake.”

Lee was interested in the poker chips because he’s been “swept up in the poker boom.” He enjoys the occasional trip to Las Vegas and has won a few small tournaments.

These chips will certainly be a conversation piece in any home game Lee plays. Wait until he tells the story about how he got them …

So it’s now official: The poker chips are off the board. I’m now accepting offers for a basketball signed by the 1975-76 Indiana Pacers.

If you’d like to make a trade for the basketball, please send me an e-mail at . I’m looking forward to hearing your offers!

1975-76 Indiana Pacers Signed Basketball

• Last season Pacers played in the ABA
• Ball is red, white and blue with Indiana Pacers logo
• Traded by Lee Adams, the original owner, for a set of 500 poker chips from GoldenPalace.com

Ball is signed by

• Bob “Slick” Leonard
• Jerry Oliver
• Don Buse
• Billy Keller
• Nate Barnett
• Mike Flynn
• Bob Netolicky
• Billy Knight
• Len Elmore
• Dan Roundfield