The 2005 Brian Saltus Award

The Brian Saltus Award was established to annually recognize someone not only for his/her poker accomplishments, but for setting a standard of behavior for all to emulate, both at and away from the table. The winner of this prestigious award is a person who is respected by all in the industry and brings class and dignity to the game.

By way of background, Brian Saltus burst onto the poker scene by winning a no-limit hold'em event at the 2001 Orleans Open, and then he captured the 2001 Tournament of Champions a few days later. When that event got down to the final four players, it was the unknown Brian Saltus from Boise, Idaho, versus three of the most successful tournament players of all time: T.J. Cloutier, Scotty Nguyen, and "Miami" John Cernuto. No one thought Brian had a chance to beat these guys, but he did, and did so convincingly.

While the audience sat stunned following his victory, Brian took the microphone and gave a speech that will be remembered forever by those of us who were lucky enough to have been there. He said he felt honored to compete in such an elite event with such outstanding opponents, and then he spoke of his own health problems and the challenges he had to face on a daily basis to survive, let alone play poker.

He continued by telling everyone that poker was his passion, but what really mattered was "the love of family and appreciation of health and life itself." There wasn't a dry eye in the house. It was a very special night – one that should be framed and hung on the wall.

PartyPoker.com and Card Player Cruises honored Brian at the inaugural PartyPoker Million (March 2002) with an award for his outstanding achievements in poker, his courage in the face of adversity, and his conduct both at and away from the poker table. Sadly, he died a few months later. In honor of his memory, that award is now known as the Brian Saltus Award. The first two winners were Maureen Feduniak and Robert Williamson III.

Left to Right: Linda Johnson, Barry Greenstein, and Mike Sexton

The 2005 Brian Saltus Award winner is Barry Greenstein of Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Greenstein is the father of six children and is an extremely accomplished poker professional. He grew up in Chicago and went to the University of Illinois, where he got a bachelor's degree in computer science and spent 10 years in his Ph.D. program in mathematics.

Unlike many poker players, Greenstein doesn't have an ego that gets in his way, and he doesn't need the attention of being a "tournament star." He is a guy who goes quietly about his business and has accumulated the vast majority of his wealth by playing poker and making investments from his poker winnings. Until the advent of the World Poker Tour, playing tournaments never interested Greenstein. He had no reason to play them, as the live-action games he played in paid more than any tournament.

Now, he has a reason to play tournaments, and the reason is amazing. It's strictly for the benefit of others. Greenstein, who has been dubbed the Robin Hood of poker, donates 100 percent of his tournament winnings to charity! He knows that winning will result in publicity, and that could generate more money for his charities. He wanted to take a nonproductive lifestyle and make it productive. He has certainly done that!

Greenstein captured a WPT title at the 2004 Jack Binion World Poker Open in Tunica, Mississippi. First place was a whopping $1.3 million! His main concern was how to divide the money up between his charities.

Greenstein's primary charity is Children, Inc. This charity helps out 15,000 kids in 21 countries who are orphans and need clothes, backpacks, and so on. He's also involved with other charities, such as Guyana Watch (which is like Doctors Without Borders, and the money goes for needed medical supplies), Rainbow Shelter (for battered women and children), the Peninsula Education Foundation (which supports programs in the schools his children have attended), his alma mater Bogan High School, and the University of Illinois math department.

Greenstein is not only a credit to poker, he is a credit to mankind. Congratulations to Barry Greenstein for winning the 2005 Brian Saltus Award. No one deserves it more.

Take care.

Mike Sexton is the host for PartyPoker.com ("the world's largest poker room") and a commentator for the World Poker Tour (which can be seen every Wednesday on the Travel Channel). His new book, Shuffle Up and Deal, is now available through Card Player.