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Camaraderie, Trash Talk Make Dominoes Fun

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By JANIS D. FROELICH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2007

TAMPA - Playing a crafty game of dominoes is half the challenge at Centro Asturiano de Tampa, one of a few hangouts representing a throwback to the cigar-making days when workers took regular domino breaks.

The other half is the insults tossed lightly as the dominoes clink on the wooden tables.

"Why'd you make that move?"

"I never knew you could be so stupid!"

"I wouldn't have played with you if ..."

"It can be very animated," said Al Frederick, Centro's executive director, who opens the private club at 1913 N. Nebraska Ave. in Ybor City most days from 2 to 4 p.m. for domino and card players.

The trash talk, dominoes-style, is all in fun.

"There's no bad blood here," said Frank Gonzalez, 84, a club member since 1951. "They wouldn't do it with strangers."

"There's a lot of cheating," Octavio Infiesta said affectionately as he quietly nursed a beer in the corner.

"I don't play much anymore," he said. "It's talk, talk, talk with them."

At 95, George Garcia reigns as the survivor of the flak.

"They try to take advantage of my age," he said as he sat solemnly eagle-eyeing the tiles.

Garcia attributes his domino skills to his good memory.

The only card group on a recent Friday afternoon was the table occupied by Robert Weintraub, who said he plays "rummy with dummies." He came with a friend eight years ago and has returned ever since.

"It's just a good group," he said.

Gonzalez, who grew up in Ybor City, said most of the players are old school friends.

"This has been a family atmosphere for years," Gonzalez said. "It's a place away from home."

Frederick, who said the club has more than 400 members, believes the game room keeps alive Centro's mutual aid spirit.

"These members are rock solid with each other," he said.

Frederick said 300 people used to play dominoes in the yellow brick building's cantina. Cigar workers came in the evenings as part of a social outing. Today, dominoes are popular worldwide, especially in Latin America countries.

Frederick said men and women often drop in for dominoes, which can be played simply by getting rid of your tiles before your opponent or in the more-involved version using bidding and trump suits to score points.

"The dominoes players are our most loyal," said Frederick, before going back into the game room.

PLAYING THE TILES

For information about dominoes games and other activities at Centro Asturiano de Tampa, call (813) 229-2214.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

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