Rodney E. Pardey

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Rodney (Rod) Erin Pardey (born September 14, 1976 in Las Vegas, Nevada) aka "Michael Valentine" is a songwriter and professional poker player. Pardey is the son of seven-card stud player Rodney H. Pardey.

[edit] Music

In 2002, Pardey formed and fronted the band Romance Fantasy, which featured Ronnie Vannucci Jr., later of The Killers, on drums. Pardey was the inspiration for the Killers' B-side, "The Ballad of Michael Valentine." Pardey also fronted the Las Vegas band Chapter Eleven, formed in 1992 with drummer Ben Crosby. Clayton Scrivner of The Rodeo Boys played drums in a second incarnation of the band.

[edit] Poker

At the age of 21, Pardey entered the $1,500 seven-card stud event at the 1998 World Series of Poker (WSOP). Despite having never entered a tournament before, Pardey managed to finish fourth taking home $24,030. Pardey finished 52nd in the $10,000 no limit hold'em main event of the 2005 WSOP, earning $173,880.