Stu Ungar: Legend, Yes. Role Model, No!

[Johnny Hughes 0]

One of the best and most successful books out there is the Nolan Dalla, Peter Alson book about Stu Ungar. A movie is in the works, possibly starring Tobey McQuire. A series of poker movies have not done so very well. Now Nicolas Cage is working on a film based on Amarillo Slim's book. It looks like the two movies that might make a big impact are these two. I am going to be interveiwed by Gary Wise for his radio show on poker history and my novel. He is a huge Stu Ungar fan and it is bound to come up. I watched Stu Ungar at his last final table. I bought that old video which is available some way on the Internet now. When I first started writing about poker, four years ago, I posted this opinion piece on Stu Ungar. It got a big response, so I thought I would re-post it here. If it breaks a rule, delete it, with my apologies.In my humble view, Stuey would not make a list of the top fifty. A poker player has to have a little bit of management about them. He was broke all the time. He died coked up and broke a few months after winning the World Series. Pathetic form of loser's suicide.I was there the year he won the big one and it was very uplifting. The comeback Kid. Great press. Stuey kept a small picture of his daughter behind his chips to remind him the money was real. I started doing that. To determine who is great over time, you must look at players that stay in money. Some people are playing poker for the glory, rebuying way too many times and entering every possible tournament.I can think of four World Champs whose early demise could partially be attributed to alcohol and/or drugs.I think you have to be a great gambler not just a great poker player to make anyone's top anything list. What are your personal leaks? One of the top players can be found very early in the morning shooting craps. He lowers his eyes in shame when old gamblers amble by. Many bet sports. When all the big players were betting golf higher than a hawk's nest, Stuey asked Treetop Strauss, also a World Champ, to teach him to play. Treetop beat him out of $58,000 on the putting green. I asked Nolan Dalla about this number and he asked Mike Sexton. The first time I met Treetop, I challenged him to play me head up which is a normal greeting in the Lone Star State. He drew out. When I see him not long after in Las Vegas, he is broke from his sports betting leak. I admire the colorful characters with leaks and I am one, however I see this wonderful web site as a way to speak to the newer, younger, serious players.Many of the people reading about poker are trying to make the decision whether or not they can make it as poker players. Some have a serious plan to learn and grow and move up in limits. All of this discussion is about what to do at the table. You have to really manage yourself.I love downtown Vegas but I wouldn't want to die there.Poker is the best and hardest job. It is the hardest easy money you will ever make. Stuey is sitting there with this picture of his daughter on the table. It was a very human thing that captured the imagination of the press and the crowd as the "Comeback Kid" dusted out one player after another until he was sitting behind a pile of chips once more. Where did all that money go?Up his already damaged nose.What are your leaks? You need to walk through a casino thinking that you are one of the few people who will be taking the best of it. There's only one place you might, just might, get the best of it...the poker table. You cannot get the best of it at any casino game. You cannot get the best of it drunk. You cannot get the best of it at the sports book. You cannot get the best of it high.What are your leaks? Either you can make it as a poker player or you cannot. It's all about leaks.Stuey died in a scary sleazy Las Vegas hotel, alone, sad, and he had a few hundred in his bankroll in his bankroll. He was an all time top gin and poker player but he could not handle cocaine.What are your leaks? Johnny Hughes

[mtdesmoines 3]

What are your leaks? Johnny Hughes

raising low suited gappers in MP and chicks who can suck a golf ball through a garden hose.

[Balloon guy 158]

I've known a few tough people in my life.None were tougher than drugs

[king1305 0]

Whose joke account?

[gatortom64 1]

Whose joke account?

Not a joke account. Johnny is a real author.

[king1305 0]

Not a joke account. Johnny is a real author.

Yea but Matt Damon is a real actor and Clay Aiken is a real singer.

[Gallo 1]

Yea but Matt Damon is a real actor and Clay Aiken is a real singer.

lmao

[Pot Odds RAC 23]

Yea but Matt Damon is a real actor and Clay Aiken is a real singer.

Hey now, he actually watched "Stuey's" Final Final Table on bootlegged video......that's gotta add some authenticity points as he ambles by.What are your leaks?

[PrtyPSux 0]

One of the top players can be found very early in the morning shooting craps.

The 'ol Deejbub ball....

[Cappy37 0]

My biggest leak is I'm a positive lock to cash deep in O8B tournaments and 100% lock to go out on the final 2 tables.. 28% ITM and -47% ROI FTMFW. :icon_wall:I also still find myself accepting all in without seeing the floop too often in NLHE.

[rdtedm 0]

My biggest leak is I'm a positive lock to cash deep in O8B tournaments and 100% lock to go out on the final 2 tables.. 28% ITM and -47% ROI FTMFW. :icon_wall:I also still find myself accepting all in without to see the floop too often in NLHE.

[Mercury69 3]

Apply directly to the forehead.

[Fluffdog87 2]

Apply directly to the forehead.

LOL

[Fluffdog87 2]

Yea but Matt Damon is a real actor and Clay Aiken is a real singer.

LOOOOOL

[Muck, You Suckers! 0]

My biggest leak is arguing with old college professors about poker history. But I like it, and so far it hasn't damaged my nose.What are your leaks?

[mtdesmoines 3]

I also still find myself accepting all in without seeing the floop too often in NLHE.

Nice call back.

[StrippersNBlow 0]

[SpiderGuard 0]

I also still find myself accepting all in without seeing the floop too often in NLHE.

I don't think it's possible to do this too much. The goal is to accept all in without to see the floop every hand. POTRIPPER did it, so should you.

[Jam-Fly 8]

When the fukc did this happen?

[Johnny Hughes 0]

Thanks to one and all, I think.

[Johnny Hughes 0]

Thanks to one and all, I think.I did the Rounder's Radio. We discussed a lot of people, but not Stu. The guest right after me was Gogobboy, so my claim to fame will be that I was his front act.

[dscoot 0]

i enjoyed reading it. my life management has clearly been my biggest improvement in my poker game the last 6months

[Ladi77 0]

In my humble view, Stuey would not make a list of the top fifty. A poker player has to have a little bit of management about them. He was broke all the time. He died coked up and broke a few months after winning the World Series. Pathetic form of loser's suicide.

I also liked reading your post...but have one issue to question...how does managing your money have to do with overall poker skills? Stuey was an incredible player, dispite his personal demons. All though I can see how drugs could effect your play, just like I've learned not to drink alcohol when I play, I don't think it took away from his overall poker skills. I've never met the man but am sure when he was sober, he was on his game and had he'd stayed sober and lived, he would be among the top poker players. We can agrue that his drug lifestyle contributed to his erratic, out of control life, but if he would have been able to clean himself up, I think his life would have leveled out and he would have been able to use his great poker skills today to become on of the top poker players. At the very least, he would have cashed in on the poker hype that now exists with books, DVD's, tv appearences, etc. But of course, the only thing we will be able to do now is debate it....sad.Ladi

[Variancelawl 0]

I think we here is coming from the money management thing, Was stuey's massive sports betting problem and anything gambler degen related. The guy had a lot of obstacles to over come. While im sure he was a great player. I also dont think he would have made it to the "big game". Due to his lack of ability to manage his money. He would constantly play higher and higher and blow his winnings on sports betting. So even without his drug addiction i think he would be in the same fate as say Eskimo clark. But this is all hey say as we would never know.

[OrzyVibe 0]

My take on Unger's play was that he played a very aggressive style....much different than 99% of how the players played. In fact, ahead of his time in that vein. Would he be that much better than today's players? I doubt it. And he'd have had to tone done his act a ton in today's tournament world, personality-wise. He was abusive to dealers and his speech was constantly littered with profanity.