Mad Marty's Wild Card

Living Life in the Fast Lane … Then on the Hard Shoulder … Then Back in the Fast Lane

I read a piece in a national newspaper recently that really hit home. I can't remember it word for word, but the gist of the article was that all of the author's favorite friends were gamblers. He explained that these were the people he chose to hang out with, and that he hoped his children would grow up to be gamblers! His point was this: "While most people have a love of life, gamblers have a lust for it." I agree. Gamblers are the most exciting and enthusiastic people in the world, and they tell the best stories.



A couple of years ago, I went for a night out with my daughter, Jodie, and a friend whose partner was expecting their first child. Jodie was on the dance floor all night, and despite the fact that no one of her own age was present, she was chatting away, happily enjoying herself. My friend turned to me and said he wanted his child to know me, because while I might not be the most stable of role models, I could be relied upon to show them how to enjoy life.



I first met Lawrence Gosney three years ago in a small tournament in Hull. I was staying 25 miles away, on a short break with my youngest son, Jak. As I was walking along the beach, a guy came up to me and said, "I know what you're here for, the big game in Hull." That was music to a poker player's ears, especially as Jak had met a schoolmate, and had been invited to a barbeque and to stay overnight. The man on the beach said he would sign me into the casino and told me that there was a bus leaving at 7 p.m. Figuring it couldn't be that far away if you could get a bus, I took a taxi. A £45 fare, plus a £5 toll fee later, I arrived to discover that the bus was actually a free coach, put on by the casino, and the big competition was a £20 rebuy. Already £50 down, I entered the tournament and ended up splitting it with my beach friend. At least I could afford a taxi back.



I wish I could tell you that my beach friend turned out to be Lawrence, but it wasn't. It was at this event, though, that Lawrence first introduced himself to me with the opening line, "I started playing poker because of you." I'm always wary when people say this to me, not that it happens a lot. Do they think, "If this guy can make a living at poker, it must be easy"? However, Lawrence followed this up by explaining that it was my aggressive and fearless style he liked. That's reason No. 1 why I like Lawrence.



A few months later, I met up with Lawrence again in Scotland. After both of us busted out early from a competition, we went to the bar, and when that shut, we took the party across the road to the hotel. Inevitably, a pack of cards was produced, not for a game, but for Lawrence to rise to my challenge of who could throw a playing card the farthest. The wager – £100 each. As Lawrence confidently stepped up to take the first shot, I began to feel a little worried. With a determined look, he flung the card. It went straight up in the air and floated down a couple of feet in front of him. From the same spot, I launched a card across the room, striking the back wall. As I reached for the money, Lawrence asked what I was doing. "I won," I replied.



"I know that," he responded, "but I want double or quits." That's reason No. 2 why I like Lawrence.



On the motorway the next day, Jak and I were overtaken by a car that literally left us for dust. We couldn't make out the color of the car, let alone get a good look at the driver. About 10 miles down the road, we saw Lawrence on the hard shoulder, talking to the police officer who also had overtaken us.



I really admire these players who begin in their small, local comps, build a tank, and travel the world looking for new games. Lawrence is one such player, who, before his result in Vegas, had had some big payouts in cash games across America.

"Mad Marty" Wilson is a professional poker player from Wolverhampton. He is a poker consultant for Matchroom Sports and is sponsored by NoblePoker. Marty tutors players through his website, http://www.madmartywilson.com/.