Quest of a Closet Poker Player

I’m fairly back to the grind now of looking out at the world from my basement.

I wanted to add a bit more about what made the WSOP great for me. Connections and following people I met or know, that is what made the World Series of Poker bearable. Let me start in a particular order:

• Fuel55: John and I are now friends, I think it’s safe to say. My cell phone bill skyrocketed whenever he was in Vegas as the master of messaging would pummel my little Razr with note after note. I got to have three dinners with John and followed him when he was in the Amazon Room. His run was too brief, as were our dinners. An INTP like me, I was able to be more like myself with him, or at least like the self I used to be.
• lucko: I’ve marveled at Kevin’s game since the night I watched him play with sprstoner and smokkee at the IP. I was major pulling for him during the Main Event as I thought he might make a run like Strasser did last summer. He and stoner made my week when I bumped into them at the Palms Supernova party. It was just great to sneak into their world for a bit.
• CarmenSinCity: The best thing I did was to recruit Carmen to work with me. She was a breath of fresh air every time she blew into the Media Room, and I probably should have taken more time to step back and drink in her energy. It’s easy to see why so many people care about her, and I’m now firmly in her corner.
• Otis: First, read his WSOP recap for all its greatness. Putting aside whether Brad can write good or any of that, he’s just a great, great guy. He’s unassuming amid a little world of self-promoters; possibly to his detriment, although I don’t know enough about it. I didn’t want to intrude too much into his WSOP world, just working with him was enough for me. I still promise myself that I need to get his family together with mine, and I hope to do that before the summer is over.
• MiamiDon: Don doesn’t need me to pull for him, but he’s a guy that I am pulling for to be successful. I value every conversation I have with him, just for how open he’s been with me. I don’t mean any great poker secrets, but just how he’s continuing to make his dream work out there.
• Amy: My only regret is that I didn’t get to work with Amy enough. I was intimidated when I met her last year, but I’m glad I got to know her a bit this year. I’d love to work with her on a project as I know I would learn a ton from her.
• MeanGene: Gene and I were the two late night nerds as we headed to one of our post work haunts to eat nachos. We shared the rides to and from the Rio, split meals, played a little poker occasionally (where we saw the most beautiful Russian girl I think I’ve ever seen). Gene was a buddy, something I really don’t have in my life at all. It was a welcome gift for seven weeks.
• Tuscaloosa Johnny: Well, if there is a nicer guy on Earth, I don’t know who it is. When Dan suggested that Johnny team up with us on PokerWorks, I was delighted. We met last year, but he was kind of a rock star since he was playing for a living. Johnny is just terrific, was extremely professional and patient with me, and would probably do anything for just about anyone.

I didn’t get to see a bunch of folks much, like Pauly, change100, Dan at Pokerati (ok, I lived with Dan, but I may have seen my wife more than I saw him!). I did miss my rides to the Rio with Pauly as he humored me a bit last summer. There is no one who works harder than he does, and I’m so glad that things are going well for him.

That’s enough for now. If I left you out (drizz, Wes, cmitch, etc.), it’s more from fatigue than anything else. More later, but I need to get back to work a bit. Thanks again, and I’ll try to write up my interviews from the WSOP later.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 at 8:12 am and is filed under Uncategorized.