Defending Matusow
 

To those of you that hate him, do any of you actually know mike matusow personally? because from what i hear the players on the tour generally like the guy. Yes he has a bad temper and is emotional. that makes him human and someone we, or at least I, can root for.

The incident last year against raymer was flat out wrong, he crossed the line and some. but in the heat of a competition with millions at stake some people act differently. Players like raymer and ivey maintain their class and composure, while others like matusow and arieh have flare ups.

I can think of a few instances when apparently decent people acted in a manor in which they probably regretted. Dagostino tossing his chips after losing yet another big hand, gavin anderson (i think thats his name) knocking his chips down after losing AA to 99 at last year WSOP. Arieh berating fellow players for apparently bad play. are all of these guys jerks or did they lose it under the pressure of the tournament and the lights of the cameras?

Matusow has a history of problems and is obviously not the most stable guy in the world, but i get the feeling that if you were ever given the chance to hang out with the guy in a bar setting you would end up liking the guy.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

What was it he went to jail for again?

Re: Defending Matusow
 

I agree with this. I get flared up sometimes when I feel I am playing better than the results. I guess that is part of my competitive nature. Part of his deal is to put people on tilt with his banter, and then get them to make bad plays at the wrong time. I hope he does well this year. I really do.

Kyro - He went to jail for drugs, which if you were to survey this board, the big difference between Matusow and the majority would be, the majority did not get caught.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

not to mention that the majority of this board probably dont pay taxes on the money they earn from GAMBLING OFFSHORE. Pot meet kettle.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
Kyro - He went to jail for drugs, which if you were to survey this board, the big difference between Matusow and the majority would be, the majority did not get caught.

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I honestly didn't know what it was. I would agree with you.

Still, it's as foolish to say "Matusow is a huge jerk in real life" as "You would like Matusow if you hung out with him away from the tables."

Personally, I hate rooting for people who can't control their emotions when things go wrong. I hope he loses. Whether or not he's a "nice guy"

Re: Defending Matusow
 

It's funny that people get emotionally attached to the success/failure of people they only know from television.

Beat him Down the Nice arrogant Idiot
 

Date / Time: 2005-07-12 19:36:00
Title: Quote
Log: "Poker lesson of the day: Never call all-in when I move all-in." --Mike Matusow

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
It's funny that people get emotionally attached to the success/failure of people they only know from television.

[/ QUOTE ]

Then i presume you dont watch TV or go to the movies and you certainly dont like sports and root/get attached to your local sports team? Because that would just be "too funny."

If you ever read a book, you would realize that you only turn the pages because you want to know what happens to the characters next. You watch TV shows and movies to the end because you want to know what happens to the actors. You get attached. its fun. Some of us, enjoy being entertained.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
It's funny that people get emotionally attached to the success/failure of people they only know from television.

[/ QUOTE ]

how so? people have favorite sports teams and dislike the rival team all the time.

I don't see what's werid about this when it's applied to poker players.

Personally, i think matusow is the man. He's probably the only person with a sense of humor in the whole 5600 [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Defending Matusow
 

Kyro:
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Personally, I hate rooting for people who can't control their emotions when things go wrong. I hope he loses. Whether or not he's a "nice guy"

[/ QUOTE ]

That's my take on it.

Things like this are debated about athletes, but nobody seems to mind that we don't know them personally. Why should this be different? That's how he chooses to present himself.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
It's funny that people get emotionally attached to the success/failure of people they only know from television.

[/ QUOTE ]

Simply because this happens on many levels, including sports, doesn't make it right, and I still find it funny.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

I agree with you on this one. The incident with Greg last year was way over the line. But whenever I see an interview with Matusow, I was always end up thinking the guy seems alright, just kind of emotional and wears his heart on his sleeve.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

i like mike.

i'm rooting for fossilman first, then matusow. then whoever. ivey, juanda.. whoever.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
doesn't make it right

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a very vague and indefensible position.

Please define "right".

I'm most likely correct in thinking your view of right consists mostly of your own opinions on how things should be.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

i think matusow gives the best interviews in poker. i like him a lot.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In risposta di:</font><hr />
i think matusow gives the best interviews in poker. i like him a lot.

[/ QUOTE ]

my thoughts EXACTLY

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
i think matusow gives the best interviews in poker. i like him a lot.

[/ QUOTE ]

my thoughts EXACTLY

[/ QUOTE ]

Where is that "daryn is right" guy, anyway? [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
doesn't make it right

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a very vague and indefensible position.

Please define "right".

I'm most likely correct in thinking your view of right consists mostly of your own opinions on how things should be.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sadly, you are not correct, as in this instance my use of "right" was used only in the context of illustrating how multiple instances of the similar occurences do not necessarily equal justification.

In no place did I mention what I thought "right" was, and furthermore, I specifically said I find it funny that others find the emotion to hate Mike from what they see on television - not that you should find it funny, or that you must find it funny as well.

Finally, to declare that a position is indefensible, well my political/philosophical mind simply cannot understand.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

You say, I think...

Phil H - whiner
Raymer - Class gentleman
D. Brunson - legend
Ivey - Ice Man - always cool
Howard H- Einstein
Matusow - Wanker
T. Brunson - Mullet
Marcel - Class clown

I sure the guys okay but right or wrong you only get one chance to make a first impression....

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
Sadly, you are not correct, as in this instance my use of "right" was used only in the context of illustrating how multiple instances of the similar occurences do not necessarily equal justification.

In no place did I mention what I thought "right" was, and furthermore, I specifically said I find it funny that others find the emotion to hate Mike from what they see on television - not that you should find it funny, or that you must find it funny as well.

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Very nice. You got me. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
There's no point in pretending you didn't.

However, understand that I don't 'hate' Mike, nor do I have much of any emotion attached to my dislike of him. Other people liking him is fine with me, but nobody should waste their breath trying to change my opinion of him.


[ QUOTE ]
Finally, to declare that a position is indefensible, well my political/philosophical mind simply cannot understand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Some positions can be indefensible, but I digress...

Re: Defending Matusow
 

Matasow is jerk, but he knows that he is a jerk, so that makes it OK. He probably is a decent person.

I hope he does well, he can probably use a good break. I'd rather see Ivey or Raymer win, but Matasow is OK and will make for great TV. I'd like to see Kenna James do well, he seems like a OK guy.

The funny thing is all the interviews I heard with him over the course of the series. He kept saying that poker was a scam and that it is impossible for anyone to win. He claimed to have not won a pot the entire series.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

I didn't like him at first but after awhile I've started to really like him. He just seems to be a kind of person who says whatever is on his mind without thinking much about it first and I like that. Sometimes he goes over the edge but hey, that's just the way he is. As for the drug charge, the US government sends people to jail for just using drugs, even if their addicted and have no chance of cleaning up. They send people to jail for multiple years for selling it. He got 6 months, shows just how solid there case was, it was a joke to begin with.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

i dont hate mike.

Hes a pretty good guy and he plays pretty good as well.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

Just what did he do to Raymer? I have no idea about this and I really want to know. Someone please tell me.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

it bothers me when people try to take away from matusow by bringing up his jail time. do you believe he is the only poker player that had issues with drugs in the past? matusow is the only one that has been caught recently that is all.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

He did apologize twice I do believe and they did shake hands after.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

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To those of you that hate him, do any of you actually know mike matusow personally?

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I stopped when I got this far. The answer is obvious, don't you think? Geez.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

Matusow got screwed anyway. Some FBI guy befriended him over a long period of time and he asked Mike for drugs and Mike agreed to get them for him. He wasn't active in that [censored], and while I think it was retarded to say yes he was trying to do the guy a favor out of friendship as wrong as a favor it was. Mikes a cool guy and represents the "common man" he isn't a total class act like other players try to be, which is fine but sometimes you need a wild card.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
He did apologize twice I do believe and they did shake hands after.

[/ QUOTE ]Maybe, but check out the FAQ from Fossilman's website:[ QUOTE ]
I’m told he’s a great guy away from the table. But, I’ve never spent any time with him away from the table. And I’ve never really liked him at the table. Unlike Josh, Mike seems to always be saying something egotistical and aggravating. I first met him during the second Tournament of Champions, when he got moved to my table as we were approaching the bubble. He was on tilt, and proceeded to play every hand during the Omaha hi-lo phase, getting extremely lucky and catching every card he needed. Instead of being grateful for his good fortune, he proceeded to tell the table what a great player he was, and how they had no chance against him since he was no longer taking bad beats. He appeared to completely miss out on the fact that instead of taking bad beats, he was giving them, as he was playing a terrible game and simply getting lucky to catch flops, turns, and rivers. Basically, I don’t like Mike, and don’t yet have any evidence that my opinion is likely to change in the future. He’s smart enough and quick-witted enough to be a likable guy, but I’m not sure he cares enough for that to ever be who he will be.



[...]



When Mike was berating me, it was the end of the level, and we were all about to leave for the 75 minute dinner break. As I always do at such times, I was writing down my chip count. That’s all it was, despite much guesswork otherwise. Of course, the whole incident does say a lot about Mike. It’s one thing to be the type of person who will act like a jerk in order to put the opponent on tilt and try to win his money. However, in this case, Mike was supposedly using his gamesmanship to put me on tilt, but if so, why would he choose to do it just as I was about to get a 75 minute break that would allow me to cool down and get over it? I think this is a great piece of evidence that Mike was not merely engaging in gamesmanship, but was merely displaying his poor attitude and demeanor.




http://www.fossilmanpoker.com/faqs.htm

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Re: Defending Matusow
 

Matusow is one of the more entertaining players to watch. And, unlike that Phil Hellmouth jagoff, he can actually make fun of himself. He's A-OK in my book.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
Matusow is one of the more entertaining players to watch. And, unlike that Phil Hellmouth jagoff, he can actually make fun of himself. He's A-OK in my book.

[/ QUOTE ]Shouldnt that be AKo...oh....nevermind...

Re: Defending Matusow
 

Gotta say, watching Matusow on TV, he comes across VERY badly. But in person at the tables, he's hilarious, very entertaining, seems nice. Maybe just wears emotions on sleeve too much (particularly after losing). Covering the main event, my opinion of him changed this week for sure.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

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Matusow has a history of problems and is obviously not the most stable guy in the world

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Just ask his computer monitor

Re: Defending Matusow
 

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What was it he went to jail for again?

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A non-violent, drug-related joke of a "crime."

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
i think matusow gives the best interviews in poker. i like him a lot.

[/ QUOTE ]

how sweet it is!
 

Date / Time: 2005-07-13 14:42:00
Title: Matusow Cracks $4 Mil
Log: Mike Matusow has just cracked the $4,000,000 chip mark, and he is now the chip leader.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

I think that alot of the Raymer groupies on 2+2 try to give Matusow a bad rap for something he did a year ago. It takes alot of guts to talk about the problems that ruined his life on national television. Also, he might be a trash talker, but he's a good card player, and after the bad beat he took last year, for him to be in the chip lead right now with forty some people left is a credit to his determination. Poker is an egotistical sport, so for those people who can't take a little trash talking, I say grow up, by taking it seriously, your at the same level as the person dishing it out. A respectful image of poker where people say Thank you instead of trash talking isn't going to do anything for poker, but alot of the same people on 2+2 who belittle NEW (Keyword NEW) players for their play do alot to hurt the sport of poker. People don't mind proffesionals trash talking, that's why Muhamed Ali is considered to be a legend. What's good for poker isn't seeing people respect the game, but entertainment value and seeing Joe Smith from nowhere, u.s.a, qualify to win millions of dollars and hang with professionals. So, in conclusion, all the raymer groupies have to get out of Matusows grill.

Re: Defending Matusow
 

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I think that alot of the Raymer groupies on 2+2 try to give Matusow a bad rap for something he did a year ago.

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What's the deal with all the Raymer groupies here? The guy's worth millions and could buy and sell everyone here four times over and yet there is a never-ending line of people on this site who are clamoring to massage his testicles. They protect him like he is a 2-year-old girl or something.

Do people think that Raymer will give them money if they say nice things about him here?

Re: Defending Matusow
 

"Mike is a pussycat" - Howard Lederer on FTP rail chat

Re: Defending Matusow
 

[ QUOTE ]
i think matusow gives the best interviews in poker. i like him a lot.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think his videos have been the thing that has started to win me over. He is obviously a funny guy, and he is obviously well liked by most of the poker pros who know him well. The videos show a very self depricating side to him that I like and that counters his "I've got big balls, you've got tiny balls" bravado for which he is so disliked.

As to the drug arrest, if I recall correctly, he went to jail because he facilitated a deal between some other people and a friend he was helping out. Evidently, he did the time because he would not rat out the others involved. I find that to be somewhat admirable in an otherwise sad situation.

I also have a feeling that his winning this, or at least doing really well, might humble him. Don't flame me on this ... it is a gut feeling that could be 100% wrong.

Go Fossilman, Matesow and Ivy. Love to see that final table.

NCAces