Kid DynOmite 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 I've been watching poker for a while now and I am stunned at the large number of players that were previously sports stars in individual sports. The most obvious being Gus Hansen who apparently was a junior tennis stud. But Lee Watkinson was a great college wrestler and I recently heard that Yevgheni Kafelikov (sp), who used to be the number one tennis player in the world, recently quit the tour to try and become a professional poker player. I think that Vince Van Patton fellow that commentates the WPT also used to play professional tennis. Is this just a coincidence or is there some mental connection between the world of sport and the psychological battlefield of poker? Oh yeah, and Doyle Brunson was a pretty good basketball player. :wink: Link to post Share on other sites
mark33f 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 I was actually a USTA ranked juinor player back about 13 or 15 years ago until I tore my ACL twice playing basketball.I am an O.K. poker player. I can't really make a connection though.And Yevgeny Kafelnikov is a former world #1. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 what kind of a dumbass correlation attempt is this?? did you also notice many poker players like to drink soda?? who woulda thunk? Link to post Share on other sites
crowTrobot 2 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 i wouldn't mind going all-in against sharipova Link to post Share on other sites
Dixie Wrecked 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 did you also notice many poker players like to drink soda?? who woulda thunk?WHAT??? This is HUGE! Why didnt I know about this? I better start drinking more soda! Link to post Share on other sites
Kid DynOmite 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Author Share Posted July 19, 2005 what kind of a dumbass correlation attempt is this?? did you also notice many poker players like to drink soda?? who woulda thunk?It's a mental thing... I think. Wait, soda? Soda? SODA!!!?? Link to post Share on other sites
Socko669 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 I guess the competitive nature of atheletes lends itself to poker. However, seems to me like a lot of the younger pros are internet geeks who play magic and download internet porn instead of throwing around the old pigskin...not that theres anything wrong with that Link to post Share on other sites
westhead12 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Van Patten beat John McEnroe once. Link to post Share on other sites
jayboogie 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Actually there is a correlation between poker and sports. Athletes tend to be attracted towards poker due to the competitive nature of the game, I think Daniel talked about this before about how he doesn't have the size or athletic ability to be a hockey player, so to him poker is his sport. Link to post Share on other sites
Stylin_Fish 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 i wouldn't mind going all-in against sharipovaThat's a great pic crow. Link to post Share on other sites
kouta43 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 it would be a very hard call. There wouldnt be any softplaying, youd certainly want to stay on top of your opponent Link to post Share on other sites
Nimbletoe 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Wait, do you think... maybe that means that poker pro's are competitive!? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WAY!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Darkritual 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 I would like to fuk sharapova Link to post Share on other sites
PT0077 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 To the OP's defense, Tennis is a very mental game with the top pros. 95% of the players on the tour have the same ability, it becomes a mental grind against the opponent. Some of these abilities transfer well to the poker table because on a tennis court, you can sense weakness in a certain shot and exploit that. Also, I'm sure it has alot to do with the competitiveness. Growing up with a Tennis family, there is alot of mind games that are played on the court, and this does transfer well to a poker table. Link to post Share on other sites
SAM_Hard8 50 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Don't forget about Doyle was drafted by the Lakers! Link to post Share on other sites
HarryDemetriou 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 TJ Cloutier - FootballDavid Benyamine - TennisErick Lindgren -Various College Sports Link to post Share on other sites
renaedawn 1 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Van Patten beat John McEnroe once.Actually, it was twice (and I don't remember the match all that clearly because I was young) but I think it's more accurate to say that McEnroe beat himself. I don't remember the second time at all.And Kafelnikov didn't quit the tour to play poker. He retired from tennis for reasons unrelated to poker. Link to post Share on other sites
Scanner313 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Don't forget about Doyle was drafted by the Lakers!Hey Sam, what's going on in your avatar? I can't make it out, but it looks interesting. Link to post Share on other sites
SAM_Hard8 50 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Don't forget about Doyle was drafted by the Lakers!Hey Sam, what's going on in your avatar? I can't make it out, but it looks interesting.Just Phill having fun with Annie at a photo shoot. Link to post Share on other sites
zimmer4141 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 I definitely think that the same attitudes are necessary in poker and sports. I still play sports for my high school (golf, tennis, ice hockey). I simply find that poker is a way to find that competitive rush without a lot of physical activity. Link to post Share on other sites
greatwhite 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Yeah, sports require the same attitude as poker does. Maybe that's why so many unathletic people think that they are actually playing a sport. Link to post Share on other sites
zimmer4141 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 WHAT??? Poker isn't a sport??? Come on man, it's on ESPN, it has to be a sport!(sw) Link to post Share on other sites
tech_mage 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 TJ Cloutier - FootballDavid Benyamine - TennisErick Lindgren -Various College SportsPhil Hellmuth - Former Nude ModelAnnie Duke - FarmerMike Matesou - Former Little League Announcer Link to post Share on other sites
greatwhite 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 WHAT??? Poker isn't a sport??? Come on man, it's on ESPN, it has to be a sport!(sw)Yeah. The Great Outdoor Games and Tilt are on ESPN too. Link to post Share on other sites
PT0077 0 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 WHAT??? Poker isn't a sport??? Come on man, it's on ESPN, it has to be a sport!(sw)Yeah. The Great Outdoor Games and Tilt are on ESPN too.Some of those Outdoor Games are pretty tough, like the one where they hit the tree, put a piece of wood in the tree and stand on the wood. I think about 1/4 of the stuff the show on the Outdoor Games is a sport, much more physically demanding that most of the X-Games stuff. I definately rather ride a skateboard/bike than swing an axe. And I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a guy and I enjoy the dog events, ie. Big Air and the new frisbee event. Those dogs are cool. Link to post Share on other sites
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