|
Berry
agreed to do this interview during the second break of
yesterdays $2,500 no-limit hold-em short handed, but when he
unfortunately went all in and came up short
before the break,
I asked him if now would not be a good time. "Why not"? He
asked. I told him some players would want to let the "steam"
clear from their ears first or reflect on the recent hand. He
replied "tomorrows another tournament and the day after that and
after that. If I don't run out of money (fat chance) |
|
|
Berry is
one of the most successful and consistent tournament and cash
game players around, besides, as popular as he is, I'm sure he
can find a willing person to float him a loan or as good a
player as he is, someone to stake him.....) I'll try again! The
1986 Main Event winner does not play as often as he used to but
on a percentage basis, he is just as successful.
When this
reporter asked him how poker has changed from when he started
playing in1977. He answered "We had to teach ourselves how to
play, now there are computer programs and tutors and countless
books, that makes everyone a better player, making it tougher on
us pros.
I also
asked him if there were still characters like Crazy Kid or Kenny
"What a Player" Smith around any more. He just smiled and asked
"What ever happened to CK? I guess he and Kenny and a few others
know for their antics have gone by way of the dinosaur. Poker is
more "Big Business" now, I believe.
Finally,
when I ask him
"You have made it to the
final table in a $10,000 buy-in Hold'em event, which nine
opponents would you NOT like to see at your table?"
he pondered and then listed, Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth,
Scotty Nguyen, Johnny Chan, T.J. Cloutier, Stu Ungar, Treetop
Strauss, Eric Seidel and The Master Nguyen.
Then, it
was off to see about tomorrow's tournament for the true
gentlemen of poker, Berry Johnston.
Thank You
Berry |
