Last week at the WSOP, Joe Sebok and I agreed to meet for an interview next to the WSOP ESPN stage. After retrieving my recorder, it took 20 minutes to walk back to the other side of the room. It was my fault it took so long, I wanted to take pictures of Amanda Leatherman raking in a big pile of chips playing in the Ladies Event. But then someone said “hello”, we began to chat, I saw someone else, we began to chat… then my purse began to buzz and I continued East. It also took 20 minutes because that’s how long it takes to walk anywhere inside the Rio.
Then it took a few minutes to start the interview because Sebok’s fans, including MySpace friends, started showing up for autographs. Actually, the MySpace friends was a joke. But several friends stopping by to see Joe is not a joke because he’s Mr. Friendly. He also had to make sure John Stapleton cleaned his buffalo wings off the tournament poker table.
The is media life in the Amazon Ballroom. It consists of delayed agendas, welcomed chats, photo opportunities, non-stop joking around and buffalo wings on the table. It’s really one big summer camp party… except for moments of elimination. Six weeks of 55 events…the Amazon Room can get old. Yet, Sebok lives this experience all year, developing relationships with people who love, respect and believe in him.
Holding a psychology degree from Berkeley and known as “Barry’s kid” he is often feared at the table. However, Chops, of Wicked Chops Poker, will tell you “He is one the nicest, smartest guys I know in the poker industry.” So, to make sure Chops wasn’t lying… I asked Sebok to share with me about his poker success, furrys, media adventures, infamous and famous prop bets and what advice he received from Barry Greenstein
Hump to the jump for the interview…
