May 2021 - 22
Tales
from the
Olden Days
Belladonna and the Omar Sharif Bridge Circus
BY BARNET
SHENKIN
In 1967, Omar Sharif organized a
team of all-stars: Giorgio Belladonna,
Benito Garozzo, Pietro Forquet, Claude
Delmouly and Leon Yallouze. Dubbed
the Omar Sharif Bridge Circus, they
played in many countries to promote
bridge. When they played against the
Scottish team, first in Edinburgh, then
in Glasgow, they used predealt hands.
Scotland won the first 32-board session by a small margin.
The Circus decided that Scotland had played too well and
insisted that the rest of the boards be dealt at the table!
I played in the second match in Glasgow. All the players
and followers came back to our house. My father had invited
them for drinks; it was nearly midnight. Belladonna told
me how he started life as a professional soccer player but
retired after an injury. My dad handed him a nice glass of
Italian red. He took it and said, " I don't like to drink on an
empty stomach. " My poor mother rushed off to the kitchen
to make some sandwiches.
In 1974, a very young Michael Rosenberg and I played a
session against Belladonna-Garozzo in Vittel, France, for
Great Britain vs. Italy. It was a great memory for both of us
- playing two of the world's best-ever players - made even
better as we won the match. I have
to smile while writing this: I found
the old scoresheet together with
an article from one of the leading
UK newspapers reporting that the
young British Team had done well
in finishing third, but that " young
Michael Rosenberg, only 21, had
played brilliantly throughout. " At
such an early stage in his career,
he must have had a very good
press agent.
Giorgio Belladonna
In 1970, the Circus toured several cities in the U.S. and Canada
and played matches against the Dallas Aces. When they
arrived in Winnipeg MB, the weather was in the minus 30s.
Omar found it rather chilly.
Dlr: East
7654
A83
Vul: None
J32
KQ5
K J 9 2
83
N
Q J 10 6 W E 9 2
8 5 4
9
S
8 6
A J 10 9 7 4 3 2
A Q 10
K754
A K Q 10 7 6
-
West North East South
Eisenberg Garozzo Goldman Belladonna
4 5
Pass 5 Pass 6
All Pass
(from left) Wolff, Belladonna, Hamman, Garozzo
22 | Bridge Bulletin | May 2021
5 was a strange choice by Belladonna; double would
today seem normal. He then gave himself 6, as what else
was he to do?
Billy Eisenberg led the 8. Garozzo tabled the dummy,
and Belladonna gave it a look for a few moments.
May 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2021
In First Seat - Paul Linxwiler
Inbox -Letters to the Editor
A Message from the Executive Director
Brand Refresh
NABOBC Results
2020 Canadian Bridge Championships
How's Your Imagination?
Grand Reopening
Music, please! by "DJ' Rick Roder
Tales from the Olden Days by Barnet Shenkin
The Death of the Doomsday Scenario
Half a Loaf by Augie Boehm
Holding Hands by Simon Cocheme
Successful in Seattle by Al Bender and Ann Romeo
Product Reviews
Hollywood Magic results
Educational Foundation News
Club News
Ruling the Game
The Bidding Box
It's Your Call
Card Play 101 - Phillip Alder
Parrish the Thought - Adam Parrish
Reasoning with Robert - Robert Todd
Startup Bridge by Lynn Berg
Lessons Learned by Michael Berkowitz
Bidding Basics by Larry Cohen
West Hands -Bidding Box
Ask Jerry - by Jerry Helms
Mike's Bridge Lesson- by Mike Lawrence
East Hands -Bidding Box
Chalk Talk- Eddie Kantar
Defensive Maneuvers - Paul Ross
The Real Deal - by Larry Cohen
Challenge of the Month
Boehm on Bridge
Better Bridge with Bergen
Bidding Matters - by Karen Walker
Test Your Play
Election Notice
Mike's Advice - Mike Lawrence
Solutions to Test Your Play
My Bridge and Yours - by Frank Stewart
Consults with the Doctor
Bridge with the Abbot - by David Bird
Big Games
Dear Billy - by Billy Miller
George's World - by George Jacobs
Life Master Milestones
New Life Masters
In Memoriam
Obituary - Steve Nellissen (1953-2021)
Obituary - George Bloomer (1930-2021)
Obituary -Mary Oshlag (1942-2021)
Obituary - Frances Yedlin (1938-2021
Tournament Directory
May 2021 - 1
May 2021 - 2
May 2021 - 3
May 2021 - 4
May 2021 - 5
May 2021 - In First Seat - Paul Linxwiler
May 2021 - Inbox -Letters to the Editor
May 2021 - 8
May 2021 - A Message from the Executive Director
May 2021 - NABOBC Results
May 2021 - 11
May 2021 - 2020 Canadian Bridge Championships
May 2021 - 13
May 2021 - 14
May 2021 - 15
May 2021 - How's Your Imagination?
May 2021 - 17
May 2021 - 18
May 2021 - 19
May 2021 - Grand Reopening
May 2021 - Music, please! by "DJ' Rick Roder
May 2021 - Tales from the Olden Days by Barnet Shenkin
May 2021 - 23
May 2021 - The Death of the Doomsday Scenario
May 2021 - 25
May 2021 - Half a Loaf by Augie Boehm
May 2021 - 27
May 2021 - Holding Hands by Simon Cocheme
May 2021 - 29
May 2021 - Successful in Seattle by Al Bender and Ann Romeo
May 2021 - Product Reviews
May 2021 - Hollywood Magic results
May 2021 - 33
May 2021 - 34
May 2021 - 35
May 2021 - Educational Foundation News
May 2021 - Club News
May 2021 - Ruling the Game
May 2021 - 39
May 2021 - The Bidding Box
May 2021 - 41
May 2021 - 42
May 2021 - 43
May 2021 - It's Your Call
May 2021 - 45
May 2021 - 46
May 2021 - 47
May 2021 - Card Play 101 - Phillip Alder
May 2021 - Parrish the Thought - Adam Parrish
May 2021 - Reasoning with Robert - Robert Todd
May 2021 - Startup Bridge by Lynn Berg
May 2021 - Lessons Learned by Michael Berkowitz
May 2021 - Bidding Basics by Larry Cohen
May 2021 - West Hands -Bidding Box
May 2021 - Ask Jerry - by Jerry Helms
May 2021 - Mike's Bridge Lesson- by Mike Lawrence
May 2021 - Chalk Talk- Eddie Kantar
May 2021 - Defensive Maneuvers - Paul Ross
May 2021 - Challenge of the Month
May 2021 - Boehm on Bridge
May 2021 - Better Bridge with Bergen
May 2021 - Bidding Matters - by Karen Walker
May 2021 - Election Notice
May 2021 - Mike's Advice - Mike Lawrence
May 2021 - Solutions to Test Your Play
May 2021 - My Bridge and Yours - by Frank Stewart
May 2021 - Consults with the Doctor
May 2021 - Big Games
May 2021 - Dear Billy - by Billy Miller
May 2021 - George's World - by George Jacobs
May 2021 - 71
May 2021 - Life Master Milestones
May 2021 - 73
May 2021 - New Life Masters
May 2021 - In Memoriam
May 2021 - Obituary - Steve Nellissen (1953-2021)
May 2021 - Obituary - Frances Yedlin (1938-2021
May 2021 - 78
May 2021 - Tournament Directory
May 2021 - 80
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