the saddest man in tournament poker

[jonathankaplan]

Tournament poker seems like such a glamorous game. Travel, excitement, television celebrity, chances to win millions of dollars; all of these are a part of poker. The current craze has exaggerated the allure of this, but in some venues, it always existed. Go to a WSOP event and you can feel the energy, the players are pumped, the audience packs in

Comments

My experience is different

[howardtreesong]

I've played poker with the man perhaps five times, and spoken with him for maybe an hour. I'm in no way a known tourney pro, nor am I in any kind of elite group. But in contrast to your experience, I've not ever heard him utter a belittling word. Quite the contrary: he's been nothing but a gentleman to me. After he busted me from a pot-limit tournament one time on a suckout, he said: "Sorry about that, [Howard]; but I just had a feeling on that one." His tone was nothing but respectful. Cynics out there might suggest that he was simply priming me for a loan, but I've seen him a dozen times since then, and he's never asked. Perhaps it's a mood issue, or he had a bone to pick with the player he was discussing.

Surinder is a class act, although he needs better taste in glasses.

But yes, his addiction to craps (and horses, from what I understand) is sad.

I like your point that poker is essentially solitary, while craps is a group game.

Re: My experience is different

[jonathankaplan]

Thanks for the perspective, your tale is probably more common.
I have sat with the man about as often as you. In those handful of times, he disparaged the fish three times, twice at the same table.
In my mind, belittling a weaker player is just about the biggest mistake one can make in poker.

But I don't mean to imply that is a prevalent trait I have seen in him, just that it has happened more than rarely. Doing it even once is wrong, seeing it on more than one occasion means something more.

Re: My experience is different

[howardtreesong]

You are dead-on with respect to your overall view of belittling weaker players. Layne, though he does it amusingly, does it often. Esposito is another one. And given your views on the big man, I'll keep a close eye on it next time I see him.

Re: My experience is different

[howardtreesong]

who? who who who? you're killing me.