Just
to show you that poker pros are human just like all of
us, we have posted this section on our site. They are
not mathematical robots, there are even a few funny or
sometimes compelling stories that have surfaced about
them that will shed some light on just who they are.
Some are characters; some are quiet players who keep to
themselves. Whatever the case, what you learn about a
pro player on this page should make you smile.
The
stories we are sharing with you are all true and you
will find them to be pretty interesting. Read here and
see for yourself:
Johnny
Moss – a true story
Even
pro poker players can go broke. Johnny Moss is no
exception to this fact. In the 1950s, Johnny Moss needed
to get his hands on some money after a string of bad
luck landed him broke. There was a big game in town (he
was living in West Texas at he time) and he didn’t have
any money to enter the game with. So, he didn’t just
give up and pass on the event – he went to the local
bank for a loan. He actually wanted to get a loan to
play poker with.
When
he entered the bank, he asked to speak to a loan
officer. Right away, he was met by a young loan officer
that worked at the bank. The loan officer took Moss to
his office and asked how he could be of assistance to
him. Johnny Moss said he was in need of a ten thousand
dollar loan. Keep in mind, this was no small figure in
the 50s. In Texas to boot.
Anyway, the loan officer asked Moss what type of
collateral he would be posting in order to qualify for
the loan. Moss replied that he had no other collateral
than his skill. The officer promptly asked what skill
Moss was referring to. Moss quickly fired back that he
was a pro gambler. Stunned, the loan officer replied
that he could not believe that someone would march into
a bank asking for a ten thousand dollar loan to gamble
with. Moss stood there and said yes, he did want to
secure a loan to gamble with.
Right
at that moment, one of the bank’s most respected members
of the board happened to walk in and immediately
recognized Moss. In fact, the board member has even
played cards with Johnny Moss a couple of times in the
past. He knew Moss was as respectable as they come and
wondered if Moss was doing business with the bank.
So,
the young loan officer wryly told the older board member
that Moss wanted a ten thousand dollar loan to gamble
with. SO, the board member quickly stated that Moss
could get a twenty thousand dollar loan if he needed it.
Moss
got the loan and repaid it shortly there after.
A
funny Stu Ungar story
Three
time World Series winner, Stu Ungar, had a very youthful
look to him. He was a smaller man at 5’4” and basically
a hundred pounds. One time, he went into a bar and
ordered a drink. The bartender on duty, who thought he
didn’t look old enough to drink legally, asked Ungar for
proof of his age. Stu Ungar never carried any
identification, so the bartender refused to serve him
any drinks. Not one to take no for any kind of answer,
Ungar was completely convinced at proving his age to the
unbelieving bartender. After reaching into his pockets,
he pulled out two huge wads of one hundred dollar bills
each containing ten grand. He then slammed the money
down on the table and exclaimed something to the effect
of see this – what kind of kid carries around this
kind of money? The bartender took a good look at the
money and hesitated. He then said that Ungar had a valid
point and then asked him what kind of drink he wanted.
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