I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas night with my friends…yes, poker players gathered around me as I dealt game after game. The casino was packed, over 500 people stood in the buffet line; the poker room was busier on Christmas Eve than it was on Christmas night but still busy.

Reminiscing brought back the first year the Mirage was open…November 17, 1989; on Christmas Eve we still had 31 tables going at 6 a.m.; 25 of us on swing shift worked overtime. See…I told you poker players have no home.

I dealt to Johnny Chan on Christmas Night…please hold the ooohs and aaahhhs. All of the youngsters that have watched Rounders think that he’s the best of the best; I do not agree. The best of the best don’t steam or think the dealer did something to cause them to lose a hand; they just play it out because they know in the long run they will take home the bacon. Chip Reese has my vote here, no whining, no crying – just get the ‘Mother’ on.

Mike Matusow was in the game with Johnny Chan, it was four handed, $400-$800 7 Card Stud 8 or Better and Omaha 8 or Better. Mike is quite a story. He used to deal at Sam’s Town. He’s noisy, mouthy, egotistical, and those are his good points but he’s not mean or malicious…Johnny is. Mike paid Johnny off in a few hands and made comments about himself, “I’m an empty chair…I’m the worst player in the world.”

On a day that Mike is winning…when he’s dragging chips, “Thanks you guys for coming in today and giving me your money…It’s great; knowing that whenever I need money, I just come in and you guys are here for me!…You all play so bad that you can’t possibly win, that’s why I’m here.”

I’ve often wondered who talks the most, Mike Matusow or Sam Grizzle. Biggest difference is that Mike plays his own money or is staked by someone, Sam just hangs on the rail always waiting for a sucker to put him in the game. Sam talks a great game, but can he actually play it? If he’s so great, why is he always looking for a stake horse?

Sam was sitting at the table during this game…not as a player but a rail bird. He tried finessing Johnny, “As a matter of fact, Johnny, you’re the 1st player that ever saw my potential as a player.”

It didn’t work, Johnny never handed him money to get into a game.