His parents got divorced when he was 4 years old and he and his brother lived with their mother, a dance teacher. All Rights Reserved. "I love the World Poker Tour. I remember people sleeping on the office floor when we were all working 24/7 to get the software launched, and I remember the first partypoker Million on a cruise ship which overlaid $500K.". His skill in popularizing the game and his philanthropic work earned him the sobriquet Ambassador of Poker in 2006 and induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in memory of Mike to the local food pantry in Leesburg, OH: Friendly Village Community Center, P.O. Poker legend Mike Sexton dies at 72 | CTV News Mike Sexton was born on 22 August, 1961 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States, is an American politician in the state of Iowa. He began in-home hospice a month ago. State Representative - Iowa RIP, Mike.". + Get the Ultimate Beginners Guide to Texas Holdem - FREE! In 2016 he won a WPT event in Montreal. . Michael Sexton. His friends initially kept his illness tight-lipped and are asking the poker community to send well wishes to the sick poker legend, which many have done. - Everyone says hes washed On September 6th, 2020 he sadly passed away at the age of 72, after a long battle with prostate cancer. Sexton was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009 and has been one of the games top ambassadors for decades. Exclusive $250 Freeroll on Natural8 No Deposit, Exclusive Freeroll on 888Poker: $100 for Grab No Deposit, Get $88 for Free on 888 Poker No Deposit, Honoring Mike Sexton: Six career milestones that made him an irreplaceable legend, Well-wishes sent out to poker legend Mike Sexton in his battle against prostate cancer, People News: Kristen Bicknell faces sexism; WPT Champions Cup renamed in honour of Mike Sexton; German streamer Knossi breaks Twitch Record, Brunson, Negreanu, Sexton: When poker players miss business opportunities, Michael Mizrachi takes the lead of the WPT Tournaments of Champion, Mike Sexton: From Commentator to WPT Champion, Poker Dream Manila: White Horse Cup Short Deck SHR race to the crown today; Christopher Mateo, Rene Van Krevelen, Seungsoo Jeon, Sang Won Song, Duhan Lee win trophies, Asian Poker Tour: A Return to Glory with a Seven-Figure Main Event Prize Pool starts today at CTP Asia Poker Arena, May 1-6. Mike Sexton Poker Journey: The Life of a Poker Legend - My Poker Coaching Served one term in Senate. President, Rockwell City Lytton School Board, present Representative, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 7, 2023-present Candidate, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 7, 2022 Majority Whip, Iowa State House of Representatives, 2019-2022 . Mike Sexton Tributes Pour in After Star Poker Player Dies of - Newsweek Mike Sexton was an American professional poker player and poker commentator. He is from United States. "And why not? Poker World Reacts to Death of Mike Sexton | PokerNews The world of poker has paid tribute to Mike Sexton after the longtime color commentator for the World Poker Tour died on Sunday at the age of 72. His competitors hardly winced when hed take their chips because he was so widely liked, actress and poker player Jennifer Tilly tweeted after learning of his death. Mike Sexton Leaves World Poker Tour, Accepts Role As Chairman Of Mike is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, N. Colleen Sexton; daughters, Elizabeth (Dan) Sexton Walls of La Jolla, CA, Amanda (Andrew Graf) Sexton of Worthington, OH, Michaeline (Matthew) Sander of Richmond, VA; grandsons, Wyatt Walls and William Walls; and brother, Dick Sexton of Ft. Myers, FL. Linda Johnson (@FirstLadyPoker) September 1, 2020. Karen Sexton Age Karen Sexton's age is unknown. First, he spent a couple of decades as a well-respected pro player. In 2012, he made it to the final table and eventually finished 9th in the first-ever $1,000,000 WSOP Big One for One Drop high roller event for $1.109 million. He was 72. . "There comes a time in everyone's life when more people we love pass away but this one really hurts. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. He appreciated all the wonde https://t.co/Z3Tt2SNZhz. Mike Sexton Family With Son and Wife Karen Sexton 2020 in ag business from Iowa Lakes Community College. The 72-year-old die-hard Ohio State Buckeye fan hasnt tweeted since Aug. 22. He wrote two books, founded a nonprofit for players to donate to veterans causes and Las Vegas communities, and created partypoker. POLITICAL EXPERIENCE. Though he still lived in North Carolina, he went back and forth to Vegas more and more, and delivered good results. Michael Richard Mike Sexton grew upin Shelby, Indiana. That is the biggest single live tournament score of his career. Earlier this week, when Sexton's battle with prostate cancer first became public, one-time World Series Poker bracelet-winner Todd Brunson paid tribute to the 72-year-old. Mike was preceded in death by his father Marion Sexton, mother Mary Sexton, and brother Charlie Sexton. Michael Richard Sexton (September 22, 1947 - September 6, 2020) was an American professional poker player and commentator. Just poker tourns can help benefit those in need. Mike Sexton (American, Poker Player) was born on 22-09-1947. He is a member of the Poker Hall of Fame. Avenal State Prison reported the Oct. 18, 2020, passing of retiree Michael Sexton. So much so that he was a pallbearer and speaker at his funeral. Who is Mike Sexton dating? My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. So, how much is Mike Sexton worth at the age of 73 years old? Media Twitter : https://twitter.com/mike_partypoker Latest poker news about Sexton Marc More Posts Tags: USA "I know the general consensus is that others were the catalyst for the poker boom," O'Malley wrote. Very few people did more for the game of poker than he did. Service details are forthcoming. The family will host a Celebration of Life in the coming months. Mike Sexton is Severely Ill, Concerned Poker Friends Report - Cardschat Connect any celebrity with Mike Sexton to see how closely they are linked romantically! Last week, Johnson first revealed Sexton's battle with the disease, explaining he had authorized her to speak on his behalf as he sought to keep his fight with cancer as private as possible. Who is Mike Sexton dating? Mike Sexton girlfriend, wife - Who's Dated Who? Mike was also active in philanthropy, founding PokerGives.org in 2009 with Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher and Lisa Tenner. David Hughes Wins Seminole Ladies Event at WPT Hard Rock Poker Showdown, Twitter Reacts, 2. Mike Sexton, Chairman of Party Poker and a long-time commentator for the World Poker Tour, died peacefully on September 6 at his home in Las Vegas after a valiant struggle with cancer. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In November 2016, he won his first World Poker Tour title after being involved with the tournament series as a commentator for 14 years since its inception. Born in Shelbyville, Indiana on September 22, 1947, Mike began seriously playing poker while attending Ohio State University on a gymnastics scholarship. That was a theme throughout his time in poker, with countless players pouring out heartfelt stories of great times with Sexton on and away from the felt. His zodiac sign is Virgo. 2. He is a member of the Poker Hall of Fame. He helped explain poker to the masses on WPT broadcasts amid the post-Chris Moneymaker boom in the mid-2000s. Karen is an actress who according to her IMDB page has appeared on Harvester (1996), Forget Me Not: The Anne Frank Story (1996) and Hannity & Colmes (1996). ", McDonald added: "RIP Mike Sexton- those early seasons of the WPT all over Canadian TV during the hockey lockout were what made me want to pursue poker. The World Poker Tour team had become like family to Sexton, and his death hit the brand particularly hard. Beloved poker commentator and champion Mike Sexton, nicknamed the Ambassador of Poker for his lifelong promotion of the game, has died at 72. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much In 2006, he took down the WSOP Tournament of Champions, an invitational freeroll for WSOP bracelet holders, for $1 million. World Poker Tour and partypoker, an. "Rest in peace, Mike Sexton," Koon wrote. Are you a poker fan and want to write articles? Sadly, Mike Sexton died half a month prior to his 73rd birthday. After serving eight years in the U.S. Navy, Sexton began his 26-year career with the department in January 1993 at CSP-Los Angeles County. It's the right thing to do.". You can get in touch with Dan at dan@vegasslotsonline.com. Karen Sexton is best known for being the wife of Mike Sexton, an American professional poker player and commentator. Sexton's family has also released the following statement and asked PokerNews to share it with the poker world: Mike Sexton, Chairman of Party Poker and a long-time commentator for the World Poker Tour, died peacefully on September 6 at his home in Las Vegas after a valiant struggle with cancer. When he won the WSOP Tournament of Champions for $1 million in 2006, he said he'd be donating half of the money to five different charities. As he talked about his son and Karen, his wife of two years, there was a Kris Kringle-like sparkle in his eye. Senior producer, Legacy.com. He later served as chairman of the online poker site partypoker. Lipscomb asked Sexton to serve as commentator, a role he'd fill alongside Vince Van Patten. Mike Sexton was a legendary poker player andTVcommentator who was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009. https://t.co/qZduLo34tE, People deal with grief in different ways and admit I havent dealt with the illness and passing of Mike Sexton as well as I should have. So, how much is Mike Sexton worth at the age of 61 years old? The entire poker community mourned his death, and many turned to social media to remember special moments they shared with him. A few years later, he realized that he was making more money playing local home games than in his sales job and he spent more and more time playing cards, which ultimately cost him his first marriage. He is a member of famous Farmer with the age 62 years old group. "It's great for me, it's just a fancy name for a nice ambassador. "He appreciated all the wonderful comments and farewells from poker players. Education Graduated from Rockwell City High School. Mike Sexton was the greatest promoter poker could ever have. Her husband was 72 years at the time of his death; he was born on September 22, 1947 in Shelby, Indiana, United States. His zodiac sign is Virgo. His ready knowledge and love for the game helped welcome countless players to the poker world, as the WPT's groundbreaking broadcasts played a huge role in the generating the game's boom years. ", RIP Mike Sexton- those early seasons of the WPT all over Canadian TV during the hockey lockout were what made me want to pursue poker. So, he finally moved to Sin City permanently. Among other things, visitors will find a daily dose of articles with the latest poker news, live reporting from tournaments, exclusive videos, podcasts, reviews and bonuses and so much more. He appeared on WPT broadcasts from their 2003 debut until 2017. The Poker Hall of Famer died on Sunday at the age of 72. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. He was an actor, known for 7 Days to Vegas (2019), World Poker Tour: Rise Above (2017) and World Poker Tour (2003). Semi-pro poker player with 17 years experience on the felt and more than five years working as professional poker media. Multifaceted as a player, commentator, promoter, raconteur, columnist, and author, Mike played a seminal role in the explosive growth of poker in the United States and around the world through his work with Party Poker and the World Poker Tour. I loved him like a brother. His efforts to nurture his family relationships were as extraordinary as his poker achievements. Sexton was known to have been close to Stu Ungar. As a result, his name was etched on the prestigious Champions Cup, which earlier this summer was renamed the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup in his honor. Mike Sexton, a 2009 inductee into the Poker Hall of Fame and part of a commentary team for the World Poker Tour, died Sunday at age 72. A competitor, a friend, a remarkable human being. Poker was just around the corner, literally, as a neighbors kid taught him how to play at the age of 13. Play Free Online Games - Real Money, No Deposit and Wins to Enjoy, Complete Poker Etiquette Guide - Everything You Should (and Shouldn't) Do at the Table, The BIGGEST Poker Strategy Guide from the World's Biggest Poker Ambassadors, Top Bitcoin () Casinos: Where to Gamble with Bitcoin, Top 5 Poker Bad Beat Jackpots You Won't Believe. He is known throughout the poker community as a poker player, but better still, as a commentator and one of the greatest ambassadors the game ever had. Mike Sexton - Wikipedia He passed away on September 6th, 2020. He left Tony Dunst to take his place. Check more, Visit our poker rules section to find all kind of poker variants : 2-7 Triple Draw - 5-Card Draw - 6+ Holdem - Badugi - Courchevel - Omaha Hi-Lo - Open Face Chinese - Pot Limit Omaha - Kr - Razz - Texas Holdem. Fatherhood adds new perspective to the life of Mike Sexton Get more info like birth place, age, death, biography, family, relation, wife, children, height, weight, caste, facts, wiki & latest news etc. In fact, he's been credited with coming up with the name. Raised and resides near Rockwell City. Current poker stars Jason Koon and Mike McDonald also spoke fondly of the influence Sexton had on the sport and their careers. Mike Sexton was a member of the Poker Hall of Fame and the longtime color commentator for the World Poker Tour. Karen and her husband Mike Sexton have a son known as Ty Michael Sexton born in 2009. Died: Sunday, September 6, 2020 ( Who else died on September 6 ?) I loved him like a brother. By Jon Sofen. Mike Sexton - IMDb In the course of his 50-year career as a poker player, Mike met and befriended most of the biggest names in the business, many of whom are featured in Lifes a Gamble. Kenneth Michael Sexton, 61, of Laramie died on May 2, 2016 in his home with his loving wife and caregiver, sitting by his side, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. "Mike served as a WPT commentator for 15 seasons and spent a lifetime growing the game of poker around the globe," WPT CEO Adam Pliska said, according to Deadline. He was also an accomplished player. Karen Sexton is an American actress and the wife of poker commentator and champion Mike Sexton, nicknamed the "Ambassador of Poker" who died on September 6, 2020 at the age of 72. "Mike Sexton passed away peacefully at home earlier today surrounded by family members," Johnson wrote on September 6. Mike Sexton Red Hat Account Manager at Emergent, LLC Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States 680 followers 500+ connections Join to connect Emergent, LLC James Madison University About. He was. American TV Personality Mike Sexton was born Michael Richard Sexton on 22nd September, 1947 in Shelby, IN, USA and passed away on 6th Sep 2020 Las Vegas, Nevada aged 72. After nearly 15 years of commentating for World Poker Tour, Sexton won his own World Poker Tour title in 2016. Featured Stories. When Lipscomb readied his big idea for launch, he let Sexton and Johnson know about it over a plane ride to Costa Rica. Mike Sexton, World Poker Tour Commentator, Dies at 72 In addition to his many columns for Card Player Magazine and other industry publications, Mike authored two books: Shuffle Up and Deal (HarperCollins, 2005), and Lifes a Gamble (D&B Publishing, 2016), a colorful memoir about the personalities and vicissitudes of the gambling life. The company took off after that, soaring to the industry lead as online poker exploded and poker boom came to fruition. Mike had a dream of owning a car dealership and did just that for 17 years with Indian Mound Pontiac and Mazda in Heath, OH. Age Her wife is almost half her age. Sexton convinced them to run it one more time after going on a rant about how successful it was going to be, and with perfectly timed ad campaign built around the newly airing WPT, he was right. Mike was the creator of two mega events in poker, the groundbreaking Tournament of Champions in 1999, and the Party Poker Million in 2001, an event that helped Party Poker become the number-one online poker site in the world. Then, he transitioned smoothly into a memorable role as TV commentator for the World Poker Tour, the job for which he's probably most well-known. He authorized this tweet. - Big underdogs It was Sexton who came up with the concept of this tournament. Mike Sexton has uttered this, his famous catch phrase, for the last time on the World Poker Tour. Karen is the wife of Mike Sexton, the couple got married in 2007 at the time Mike was 50 years old while Karen was in her 30s. "I was at partypoker from the start, before there was even a name or a single virtual card was dealt," he said. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009. He was a popular TV commentator for the World Poker Tour with his partner Vince Van Pattenfrom 2003 until 2017 when he retired to become chairmen ofPartypoker.com, an online poker platform. Only a few months later, in February 2017, he came in 4th in the $10,000 WPT Championship Main Event at the L.A. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. Like everyone, I adore Mike. Legendary Poker Icon Mike Sexton Passes Away at 72 | PGT Mike Sexton (1947-2020), World Poker Tour legend - Legacy.com Mike was 60 when he and his wife Karen welcomed their son Ty to the world. Profession Environmental consultant, entrepreneur, and farmer. pic.twitter.com/qidp9FzFrl, Mike Sexton (@Mike_partypoker) January 11, 2019. Poker would not be as well regarded as it currently is without Mike Sexton, Hellmuth wrote. Truly one of poker's greatest ambassadors. [1] Early years Sexton was a gymnast and attended Ohio State University, where he earned a degree in public recreation after changing majors from business. State Representative - Iowa Jamie McCarthy/WireImage. PokerNews joins the rest of the poker world in expressing their condolences to Sexton's family and remembering all he did for the game of poker. SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. Mike served on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Heath, OH, and shared his business expertise with many community projects as well as sponsoring events and teams in both Grandview Heights and Heath, OH. Mike Sexton (1947 - 2020) - World Poker Tour "Mike Sexton is the epitome of what and how a player should conduct himself both at and away from the poker table," he wrote on Twitter. Karen Sexton Age Karen's age is unknown. His stories are priceless. Brought into the world on September 22, 1947, he was the age of 72 years of age starting at 2020 Likewise, his zodiac sign was Libra. Meanwhile, Las Vegas-based broadcaster Jeff Platt praised Sexton's huge influence on the game of poker. Home. Remembering Poker Legend Mike Sexton | PokerNews Mike Sexton Death Linda Johnson: Mike Sexton Was Poker's Greatest Friend . April 06, 2023. Mike Sexton Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Some of it was described in his 2009 autobiography Check-Raising the Devil. Please keep us updated and I just hope hell make a swift recovery, soon, poker commentator Kara Scott said. Karen Sexton is an American actress and the wife of poker commentator and champion Mike Sexton, nicknamed the Ambassador of Poker who died on September 6, 2020 at the age of 72. The story of Mike Matusow is a complicated one and filled with many bad choices along the way. We all love you.". Alongside others, he created the non-profit organization PokerGives.org to help make it easier for poker players to give to charity. He was lucky in the end and actually never saw combat. Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, CA. At the height of his career, he had some struggles with a sports betting problem but he seems to have gotten that under control fairly well shortly. Discover Mike Sexton's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Mike Sexton Calhoun County Term Serving first term in House. Mike Sexton, World Poker Tour legend, dies at 72 | CNN Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 62 years old? He began in-home hospice a month ago. News > Latest Poker News > Concerned Friends Report Mike Sexton in Hospice Care, Suffering from Prostate Cancer. We have estimated Dedicated daily to memorializing notable personalities. Sexton also wrote for CardPlayer Magazine, created the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions event, and has been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009. He was incredibly hardworking and devoted to his family and his work. His wife is Becky Sexton Mike Sexton Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Hes one of the most beloved members of the poker community and among the games most valuable ambassadors. 1 site in the world. He took his final gasp on September 6, 2020. He knew that someday in the near future, people would watch it on TV just like any other sport. In 2008 Mike received a Patriot Award from Paralyzed Veterans of America for his work in supporting veterans causes. Copyright 2023 Albafinis FZCO All Rights Reserved ~ Sitemap ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms & Conditions ~ Disclaimer ~ Poker Glossary, Poker Dream Manila: Winfred Yu overcomes a deficit at heads up to win the White Horse Cup Short Deck Super High Roller. Carrie is also into media duties as a television producer and socialite in America. He filled a variety of roles in and around the game, touching countless lives with his gregarious personality, ready humor, and instantly recognizable voice. I remember walking into the hospital room the day Ty was born . As he was also writing for CardPlayer Magazine, he was in a great position to promote the game and the vision he had. Mike Sexton passed away peacefully at home earlier today surrounded by family members. Karen Sexton is the wife of Mike Sexton, Chairman of partypoker and a long-time commentator for the World Poker Tour. We are here about famous people's birthday, today famous birthday, celebrity birthday, celebrity born, celebrity born today etc. Mike Sexton is fighting prostate cancer, according to his poker friends on social media. Sexton coached Little League baseball and even skipped poker tournaments if they interfered with his baseball schedule. Another theme throughout Sexton's career was a commitment to charity. Unfortunately, Sexton's longtime friend Linda Johnson shared that the poker legend passed away on Sunday. And the person that was most responsible for that was Mike Sexton.". Sexton has passed away at age 72 Credit: Getty Images. He called it humbling and the "highest peak" of his career. Wife: Becky; 5 Children, EDUCATION. Mike Sexton is fighting prostate cancer, according to his poker friends on social media. Learn how your comment data is processed. On Sunday, September 6, Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton passed away after a battle w/ prostate cancer. I really hope everything turns out ok, Jamie Kerstetter commented. For the next 20 years he worked for Huntington Bank. They enjoyed attending their moms classes and learned to dance. He is a farmer. A Warner Bros. First class event for a good cause. Beloved poker commentator and champion Mike Sexton, nicknamed the "Ambassador of Poker" for his lifelong promotion of the game, has died at 72. Mike Sexton Biography, Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Facts, Wiki Among his many achievements as a player, Mike won the inaugural World Poker Finals $10,000 buy-in No-Limit championship at Foxwoods in 1992; successfully defended his previous years victory in the Summer Four Queens No Limit championship in 1997; won the Grand Prix de Paris championship in Paris, France in 2000 (at the time the largest poker event in Europe); won the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions in 2006, beating Daniel Negreanu for $1,000,000 in a seven-hour heads-up battle; cashed in the first two World Series of Poker One Drop tournaments in 2012 and 2013, the only player other than Antonio Esfandiari to do so; and won the World Poker Tour Montreal Main Event in 2016. Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner. Right from the start, he had a feeling and a vision of the phenomenon that poker could become. The Indiana native was part of the initial team that created the Partypoker poker site in 2001. We will update Mike Sexton's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. Mike Sexton passed away peacefully at home earlier today surrounded by family members. World Poker Tour and partypoker, an online poker . In a career spanning over 40 years, Sexton amassed over $6.7 million in lifetime tournament earnings, which included winning a WSOP bracelet in 1989, the WSOP Tournament of Champions in 2006, and a WPT title in 2016. Mike Sexton was a legendary poker player and TV commentator who was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009. Karens net worth is unknown but her husband had an estimated net worth of 10 million. In his role as broadcaster, Sexton played a crucial role in bringing poker to the masses and explaining the game to viewers. Mike Sexton attends the American Poker Awards during the Global Poker League Draft Day on February 25, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. Trump's latest attack addresses DeSantis' overseas trips to the U.K., Israel, Florida's Covid-19 record, and polling support for the 2024 Presidential race. Sexton saw charitable donations as a way for poker to build goodwill in communities and cast off negative reputations some held for the game. He tweeted a similar comment about the Poker Hall of Famers situation. - On the road "It's been fantastic," he said after a few months on the new job. Sources: Text above from Iowa Official Register/Other Compiled Redbook Biographies Information from State Historical Society of Iowa resources All Biographies In 2016, he had a dream come true when he captured a WPT title by taking down the WPT Montreal Main Event for $317,817. In May 2017, he returned to his position as Chairman of partypoker. Mike Sexton girlfriend, wife list. World Poker Tour and partypoker, an online poker company Sexton cofounded, confirmed his death. Early in adulthood . Family. The death of poker legend Mike Sexton didn't exactly come as a shock, considering close friend and fellow Hall of Famer Linda Johnson had confirmed to the world via Twitter that . Would You Accept the Terms of this $100,000 Poker Freeroll? Received A.A.S. Let the family know you are thinking of them. It was hard leaving that job but it was just an opportunity I couldn't pass up.". CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. "If you're a poker player, you looked up to Mike Sexton," he wrote on Twitter. In 2017, Mike was the second person to be inducted into the World Poker Tour Honors Society. Back with partypoker starting in 2017, Sexton traveled to events the world over, glad-handed with players, and generally just played the role of ambassador to perfection. During his time at the Ohio State University, earning a degree in public recreation, he liked to joke that he actually majored in cards as he was playing all kinds of card games, including poker.