When it comes to blind luck, I’ve always considered myself to be fairly fortunate.I’m still waiting for the day when my numbers come up in the lottery, but I’ve won more than my fair share of football and baseball pools to keep me content.My greatest triumph came as a little league baseball player in my hometown of Breckenridge.At the end of every season, the league’s coaches pulled names out of a hat and awarded a prize to the individual whose name appeared on the piece of paper.Some of the prizes were great (a lightly used bat, or a brand new ball), and others were gag prizes (cracked bats and tainted balls).The grand prize, however, was something every one of us there coveted. It was a whole watermelon.In my six years as a member of the little league, I’m proud to say I landed the watermelon once. It was a test of will to navigate the streets of Breckenridge on a bike while toting a watermelon that probably was half my size at the time, but I completed the trek without mishap.My triumph was a victory for all, as I shared the melon with some of my closest friends and family members. Looking back at the experience, it was a day of great fortune that I’ll never forget.In light of some recent events, I’m beginning to think my luck has run out. After consecutive weekends taking part in games involving playing cards, I write this column as a beaten man.I was all fired up when Tollefson Publishing manager Rick Petersen came up with what I thought was his greatest suggestion two weeks ago.With Adrian playing a playoff game in Springfield on a Friday night, and the state cross country meet being staged some two hours away in Northfield the next day, my plate was full for the weekend. When Rick said I should consider staying at Jackpot Junction near Morton after the Adrian game instead of driving back to Luverne, then driving all the way to Northfield the next day, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.So, before Adrian took the field against Sprinfield, I talked business with Dragon coach Randy Strand. I revealed my plans for after the game and then shared some strategy with the coach. I told him to run the ball a lot on offense in order to keep the clock moving. That would lead to a quicker game, and I could find a position at the blackjack tables in the casino a little earlier than I anticipated.The game lasted a little longer than the average high school football game, but I was playing cards shortly after 10 p.m. That proved to be a bad thing. After a couple of early wins (I should have quit when I doubled my original $20), I found myself in a $40 hole.At that point, I retired to the snack lounge. The short-order grill was open, so I purchased a quick meal while telling myself it’s a lot cheaper being in this particular part of the casino.I returned to my room after my snack, knowing the Timberwolves were playing a late game on ESPN. I had no intention of staying there. After watching the Minnesota team fall in overtime, I returned to the casino and proceeded to lose $40 more before leaving with my tail between my legs shortly after 2 a.m.After sulking about my misfortune on the way to Northfield the next day, the outstanding performances turned in by our area runners re-energized me.Their efforts gave me hope, and I decided to enter my first Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament last weekend.The problem is, I know little or nothing about poker. Still, I threw my hat in the ring, thinking I could shock the field and win the tournament.After receiving no decent cards to play during the first four hands, my imagination ran wild when I found a pair of aces in my stable during the fifth hand of the event. After watching the table leaders exchange chips for the first four rounds, I decided to join them in a raising war until all of my chips were pushed into the center of the table.I was thinking, with one more ace, the pot would be mine. That ace never came, and I ended up bowing out of the tournament with the table’s third best hand of that particular deal.With those experiences being shared, I’m proud to say there will be no more poker tournaments for me. I’m cured.When it comes to playing cards, I now know I’ll never win the watermelon.