This man was once my student. I am so proud.
Told him, Lucy always moves the ball and Lucy is everywhere, so always keep a close watch on your balls.
He took it from there. The rest, well, you know, it’s history.
Anyway, I have reprised a piece from a couple years ago. You don’t have to know anything about poker or football. You just have to want a better life. – JDW
Hey everybody, Alex Fitzgerald here.
Happy Football Season to all of you!
Last night I was watching the Broncos play the Patriots. I was struck by a scene. On a break, Peyton Manning walked out and shook Tom Brady’s hand. They talked for a minute and then wished each other well. They did all of this despite the fact their teams were playing against each other. One of the greatest rivalries of the past decade has been between these two quarterbacks, but, when they meet each other it is nothing, but respect.
It’s odd to me in a sport as brutal as American football, there is honor among colleagues. Yet, poker players can’t seem to summon a smile.
Playing cards for money is one of the most enjoyable things we can do on this Earth. I remember the old days of having to go across town to see if a home game was really coming together. Oftentimes, my buddy and I would drive for hours only to find nothing materialized. The fact we can play multiple games now at one time seems almost like science fiction. It’s truly befuddling that people could be so angry.
When you’re playing this holiday season, remember that we are lucky to even be playing in a fair game. Unlike the old road gamblers of yesteryear we don’t have to worry about someone robbing us. We can learn as much as we want, every single day we play. There are kids now who have played more hands in a year than Doyle Brunson played in his entire life!
Gratitude allows you to learn more about your opposition and keep a cool head.
Try these exercises the next time you play, to remain more even keeled.
First, try to say something kind about every opponent you lose against. I know this one sounds wild, but trust me it works. I used to be a very negative player, but then my attitude was dragging down the people around me. I began making myself eccentrically say something I liked about every player who beat me.
Sometimes, I couldn’t muster anything other than, “I’m glad he plays this game with me.” Later, however, I began seeing the genius in lines I would have dismissed as pure luck before. Some so-called donkeys were teaching me great plays.
Secondly, if you’re primarily an online player, try to play live again sometime. Note the time when you start your adventure. Count every hand you play. What you’ll often find is it takes 12 hours to play 200 hands. It can be even worse if you’re playing with some of these kids who take all the time on Earth to think through a situation. When you get back to online, count how many hands you play. You’ll be astounded at how much more you’re getting done without even leaving your home.
Finally, humble yourself by trying to learn from someone. You don’t have to hire a coach, but you can follow a player you know clearly knows more than you do. Watch their training videos or see live coverage of them playing. Think about where you could be.
Realize that every day from this point on will be one step towards the victory you’re looking at right now. If every failure means something and brings you closer to your goal, then you’ll find yourself eventually succeeding more than ever before.