Data visor poser

Author: Simon Dexter

Green visors were originally worn by clerks, beleaguered newspaper editors and others who spent their working lives reading text in brightly-lit surrounds. It’s possible that card dealers began wearing them for the same reason, although they have since become a readily-identifiable badge of office in every poker room.

You can buy one for less than a fiver, although Star Trek fan Ted Moustakis was successful in his bid at a Christie’s auction for what he believed was a unique poker visor – the one worn by the android ‘Data’ in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Mr Moustakis, a fan of the inter-galactic TV show since he was seven, proved his final frontier dedication by dropping ,000 on the “one of a kind” prop.

Later, at a Star Trek convention (this is true), Mr Moustakis had the good fortune to happen upon Brent Spiner, the thesp who played the role of Data in the eponymous show, and asked him to sign his visor which, naturally enough, he happened to have with him. However, Mr Moustakis was to discover that in poker, even where visors are concerned, not everything is as it appears.

Upon being asked for his autograph, Brent/Data recognised the visor and informed Mr Moustakis that it was not the real thing. Apparently, he (Brent/Data) had sold the genuine visor at a private auction some time ago, a transaction of which he had allegedly advised Christie’s. Last week, a lawsuit was issued; Mr Moustakis’ lawyer, Richard Bourzouye, said “They defrauded collectors, fans, honest people…It’s negligent misrepresentation.”.

We didn’t even know Data played poker, although we’re prepared to reconsider should anyone provide evidence to the contrary.