Is Poker an Alternative Lifestyle?

At my final table at Mohegan Sun yesterday, some players were joking about how two transvestites played the Ladies Event the day before. A very funny, Irish guy said, forget the transvestites, poker itself is an alternative lifestyle!

I pondered this comment and decided that while it was quite humurous, in many ways it is filled with truth. Playing poker for a living breaks conventionality on many levels. The hours are long and strange, you are home or in a casino more than any other place, the people that you encounter are from all walks of life, the income is, while very good, not consistent and steady. Famililes don't understand, civilians (non-poker enthusiasts) will criticize, and you are a part of a sub culture which will stigmitize you. If you are, or claim to be, a professional poker player, by society's (and my sister's) standards, you are a degenerate, a gambler, a creepy crawler among the casino riff raff throwing $100s into the slot machine and taking your chances at black jack and roulette. You are broke and struggling and this is what they want to believe- it gives them satisfaction As much as you try to break free from this stereotype, it is always there, lurking behind every conversation that remotely touches on poker, hiding slimly behind the commentaries that sound neutral, but you know better.

Recently I informed a relateve that Jon and I are considering purchasing a foreclosure in Las Vegas, and I have been speaking to my father about assisting us with the downpayment. It was as if I said that I was buyin a 500' yacht and sailing around the world. She stated, "Who do you think you are that you of all people can be bi-coastal? You don't even have a j-o-b." Which is her favorite line in the world, by the way (purely ridiculous,b/c I do have a side business, poker is not my sole source of income).

Her reaction was on cue. I challenged her inner belief that 'poker players' are broke and always struggling. I explained to this relative that Jon and I are comfortable, we have a nice cushion, and it makes sense, with the real estate market, to buy a place now in Vegas. She continued on her rant.(***text deleted to protect certain individuals' sensitivities***) And there it was. I don't have a 'conventional job', I don't get up and have a schedule each day and therefore, I did not earn the right to purchase a second house. Its funny. I know this person is not truly jealous or petty, but there is that underlying, 'you don't deserve it' attitude, all rationalized by the fact that I don't put in 50 hours a week at a job. Just an example of how society views poker players and their 'alternative lifestyle'.

In other poker news, I am 4 for 4 my last four tournies and not only did I cash, but I made the final table in all four. It was amazing. My third largest live score, 12.2k occurred Sat night. I final tabled two tournaments Fri and Sat last week and then again, this Monday at Mohegan Sun.

As promised, I will post hand histories from Tunica and I have plenty more from the last four tournaments. I will be a mad post-er for the next few days =)

Good money and peace,

Lucky C and Ace.