Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[AlunB]

There have been loads of people I will have forgot, but these are the ones that stick out:

Exactly as you expect them to be:
Hellmuth – nice, but managed to refer to himself as the greatest before I even asked him anything.
Devilfish
Patrik Antonius
Gus Hansen – very nice guy btw
Channing – he once rang me up, talked for 20 minutes, I didn’t say a word, he said bye, that was the interview

Surprisingly fun
Ian Frazer – really expected him to be a cock, but hell of a nice guy
Roy Brindley – never been a fan of his as a player/commentator, but loved his book and we talked for hours, mainly about dogs.
Andy Black – oddest interview ever. First of all he was a really good bloke, made me lots of tea and let me finish off his biscuits. We spent hours talking about Buddhism and the meaning of life. I left his house feeling enlightened and then about 6 minutes later I said to myself “hang on, every single thing he said just then was total bullshit”.
Moormans Dad – my favourite interview of all time, a fascinating story, a great insight from an outsider looking in at the game of poker and amazing to ask a highly successful pros Dad questions about being the father of a highly successful pro.

Surprisingly difficult
Tony G – I must keep catching him on off days because he is a hell of a nice guy just to chat to in fact he is probably one of the kindest poker people I know, but its always been a case of pulling teeth and long uncomfortable silences when I interview him. Maybe its because I know him and he is technically my boss, so he probably drops the act.

Top blokes
Thewy, Jake Cody, JP Kelly & Stuart Rutter – same reason, the nicest blokes in poker, very humble despite a shit ton of success
Phil Galfond – really nice, fascinating to talk to, very humble considering his success, shit hot player obv.

Tosspots
Ziigmund - honestly cant remember why, but he spat his dummy out proper about something really trivial, did a right diva strop, last person I expected to act that way

My all time fave interview was Moormans Dad, my all time fave big name was probably Phil Galfond, Ziigmund was the worst.

Really interesting list. I'm amazed you thought Antonius was exactly as you expected. He was the total opposite for me. Really surprised how open and opinionated he was.

Tony G is a lovely bloke, but an awful interview. He just doesn't give good copy.

Durrrr and Ivey and stand outs for me. Just fascinating people to be around. They way they think is just really interesting. They don't exactly give you the best soundbites though.

I'm not sure who my favourite would be though. Probably durrrr. It was before he was big time and we did most of the interview over lunch at Nobu where he played 2k a go rock paper scissors with sorel mizzi. I declined to join in. Just seemed a really sound kid.

[DaveShoelace]

There have been loads of people I will have forgot, but these are the ones that stick out:

Exactly as you expect them to be:
Hellmuth – nice, but managed to refer to himself as the greatest before I even asked him anything.
Devilfish
Patrik Antonius
Gus Hansen – very nice guy btw
Channing – he once rang me up, talked for 20 minutes, I didn’t say a word, he said bye, that was the interview

Surprisingly fun
Ian Frazer – really expected him to be a cock, but hell of a nice guy
Roy Brindley – never been a fan of his as a player/commentator, but loved his book and we talked for hours, mainly about dogs.
Andy Black – oddest interview ever. First of all he was a really good bloke, made me lots of tea and let me finish off his biscuits. We spent hours talking about Buddhism and the meaning of life. I left his house feeling enlightened and then about 6 minutes later I said to myself “hang on, every single thing he said just then was total bullshit”.
Moormans Dad – my favourite interview of all time, a fascinating story, a great insight from an outsider looking in at the game of poker and amazing to ask a highly successful pros Dad questions about being the father of a highly successful pro.

Surprisingly difficult
Tony G – I must keep catching him on off days because he is a hell of a nice guy just to chat to in fact he is probably one of the kindest poker people I know, but its always been a case of pulling teeth and long uncomfortable silences when I interview him. Maybe its because I know him and he is technically my boss, so he probably drops the act.

Top blokes
Thewy, Jake Cody, JP Kelly & Stuart Rutter – same reason, the nicest blokes in poker, very humble despite a shit ton of success
Phil Galfond – really nice, fascinating to talk to, very humble considering his success, shit hot player obv.

Tosspots
Ziigmund - honestly cant remember why, but he spat his dummy out proper about something really trivial, did a right diva strop, last person I expected to act that way

My all time fave interview was Moormans Dad, my all time fave big name was probably Phil Galfond, Ziigmund was the worst.

Really interesting list. I'm amazed you thought Antonius was exactly as you expected. He was the total opposite for me. Really surprised how open and opinionated he was.

Tony G is a lovely bloke, but an awful interview. He just doesn't give good copy.

Durrrr and Ivey and stand outs for me. Just fascinating people to be around. They way they think is just really interesting. They don't exactly give you the best soundbites though.

I'm not sure who my favourite would be though. Probably durrrr. It was before he was big time and we did most of the interview over lunch at Nobu where he played 2k a go rock paper scissors with sorel mizzi. I declined to join in. Just seemed a really sound kid.

Patrik was very friendly, he was very open talking about non poker strategy specific stuff like what he thought of durrrrr as a person, his holidays etc, but he was pretty guarded when I started asking him specific strategy (he probably thought he had to dum down big time for the clown interviewing him)

Snoopy did a fun interview with Ivey, which was basically just Snoopys story about how intimidated he was to be interviewing Ivey. For the most part I hate interviewing people, there have been some really fun ones now and then, but I would love to interview Ivey because he is the only poker player I personally think has a star presence (to poker players, not to normal people).

[AlunB]

I've only interviewed Ivey once. Years ago, when we first relaunched InsideEdge as a poker mag. 2006? If anything from seeing him at various media dos and the like he seems a bit more relaxed and less guarded these days. Good luck getting more than 10 minutes with him though so you're never really going to get a proper interview. He definitely has a presence though and I think all poker players secretly want to be him. Antonius definitely does.

Why do you hate interviewing people? It's the most fun part of the job.

[DaveShoelace]

I've only interviewed Ivey once. Years ago, when we first relaunched InsideEdge as a poker mag. 2006? If anything from seeing him at various media dos and the like he seems a bit more relaxed and less guarded these days. Good luck getting more than 10 minutes with him though so you're never really going to get a proper interview. He definitely has a presence though and I think all poker players secretly want to be him. Antonius definitely does.

Why do you hate interviewing people? It's the most fun part of the job.

Don't get me wrong, its a cushy gig and sometimes you have lots of fun. However as much as they can be geniuses, poker players are pretty one dimensional a lot of the time and 9 times out of 10 the story is essentially 'man wins poker tournament' and you have to make it seem a lot more than it is. Most players think they are better than they actually are (most think they are in the top ten) and few of them have anything particularly interesting outside of poker to talk about, so most poker player interviews are the same.

Also I am sure there is an element of envy involved, because usually I am asking a 21 year old 'so what you gonna spend your $1 million on?'

There are notable exceptions of course, like the ones I have already mentioned and this is also one of the reasons why Moorman's Dad will always be my favorite interview, because its not an interview like any other I have done.

[DaveShoelace]

Can't believe I forgot one of my all time fave interviews - Steve Davis. I'm a big snooker fan so it was a real joy anyway, but he was every bit the gent you expect and has a really good understanding of poker, with a very balanced appreciation of where he is in the game.

[AndrewT]

9 times out of 10 the story is essentially 'man wins poker tournament'

Please use this as a headline on Pokernews.

[DaveShoelace]

9 times out of 10 the story is essentially 'man wins poker tournament'

Please use this as a headline on Pokernews.

[boldie]

9 times out of 10 the story is essentially 'man wins poker tournament'

Please use this as a headline on Pokernews.

My thoughts exactly..now that's proper telly

[AlunB]

Man wins poker tournament is a headline that so so nearly made it into print many times. There was one season of the WPT where that it happened event after event after event...

Ahh you see you said you didn't like interviewing people not poker players. People are fun to interview. And to be fair so are most poker players if you get some time with them. Interviewing someone who has just won a tournament I grant you is one of the duller aspects of the job.

People always have a story to tell though. And poker players are no exception.

[AlunB]

I actually think poker media have it really really easy. Try interviewing football players or celebs and see how forthcoming they are...

[tikay]

Loving all this "interview" stuff, & it's helping me compile my list, & more to the point, "why". Keep it coming, please.

I have some odd ones on my list, a very eclectic bunch.

Had SUCH a bad day today, & I have the Show tonight, so dunno when I'll be doing it, but tonight or tomorrow, I hope. It needs to be just so, & I can't think straight when my heads all messed up with Mods stuff, & overdue PM's galore. The harder I run, the less distance I seem to cover.

I'm sure someone will say or think "well I won't send you any more", & that's the last thought on my mind. Some of the questions I get asked, though, by perfect strangers, don't  'arf take some answering.

I worked from the Hotel today, as I find it hard to go to the Office & do a days work, then go & make the 2 Shows, which amounts to another 6 hours work, ending at Midnight. The idea was to work all morning, then grab a kip, then go across to the Office & Studio, suitably refreshed. Fail that, of depictable proportions.

All good though. The tough times - & this week has been more stressful than most I can recall - are great to battle through, afterwards the feel-good is superb. In a day or two, I'll feel right grand.

Meanwhile, the Mods Room is well busy today - I think there are at least three matters, all causing modderage. Pretty much the same next door this week, too. And when I'm in a tetchy & grumpy mood, I don't help much. At all.

I chatted with Tom yesterday, & had a little whinge about all the aggro, it gets on my tits. As ever, he listened quietly, nodding his head wisely, "yes", "Oh, absolutely", "yup, you are right Tony".

Then he gives you that one-liner, & I feel so bad, because he is right, of course."Having said that, Tone, we've met some truly wonderful people & friends via Forums, eh?".

He slays me, every single time.

[pleno1]

Tikay/Alun/Barry - Thoughts on Robl and if you've met him, Dan Fleeshman (sp) please.

[DaveShoelace]

Tikay/Alun/Barry - Thoughts on Robl and if you've met him, Dan Fleeshman (sp) please.

I met Robl briefly last year, only to say hello to, havent formed a strong opinion but leaning towards 'meh' if that helps at all?

[tikay]

Tikay/Alun/Barry - Thoughts on Robl and if you've met him, Dan Fleeshman (sp) please.

I don't recall interviewing either, to be honest. That's not to say I have not - I only remember certain people, those who make an imprsession on me for good or bad reasons, I suppose. I do interviews fror the online equivelant of the Red-Tops really, those who appeal to a wider viewing public, rather then the hardcore poker minority.

[DaveShoelace]

Man wins poker tournament is a headline that so so nearly made it into print many times. There was one season of the WPT where that it happened event after event after event...

Ahh you see you said you didn't like interviewing people not poker players. People are fun to interview. And to be fair so are most poker players if you get some time with them. Interviewing someone who has just won a tournament I grant you is one of the duller aspects of the job.

People always have a story to tell though. And poker players are no exception.

You are absolutely correct, I meant to say I dislike interviewing poker players, I could interview people all day long.