Post from the old Blog

Scotty Nguyen:

The author and 1998 WSOP ME Champ Scotty Nguyen

"You call, it's gonna be all over, baby."

The final words of Scotty Nguyen before his opponent, Kevin McBride, made a fateful call of Scotty's all-in, with a board showing a full house, 8's full of 9's. McBride declared he was playing the board, while Nguyen (pronounced "win") held J-9, giving him the higher full house, and the $1 million dollar payday and Main Event bracelet.

He is known as the "Prince of Poker," but he wasn't born into royalty. This is a man who left Vietnam at the age of 14, looking for a better life in America. Much like my father, he found it. Unlike my father, he found it as a rounder. Nguyen is a self-made poker celebrity, but he is also one of the best tournament players around.

His lifetime earnings top $5 million dollars, and he is the owner of 4 WSOP bracelets in his career, but the way you can tell him apart from the other players is easy: his mouth and his gold.

Nguyen goes beyond the Mr. T Starter Kit, and takes it to a new level. Add in the round shades, and the long mullet (a look he got away from in 2003, but has since brought back), and you have one of the most unique pros out there. His table talk can have some bite, but for the most part, Scotty is having fun.

When he stopped for the above photo, he was on his way into the tournament area at the WSOP, but still smiled and spoke to me for a few moments before heading in. Any pro that is willing to share a few minutes of himself to spread the goodwill of the game is tops in my book, and Scotty is truly one of a kind.

NOTE: This post was moved over from my original blog. I had to change web addresses for reasons which I won't get into. Posts from that original blog are still available by clicking here.