Vince Van Patten: World Poker Tour Commentator
By Linda Johnson

Editor's note: This is the second of a series of three exclusive interviews that Linda Johnson has done with World Poker Tour personalities. In the next issue, look for an exclusive interview with World Poker Tour commentator Mike Sexton.

As the live-audience commentator for the World Poker Tour, I am fortunate to work with a great cast of people, including Vince Van Patten and Mike Sexton, television commentators for the WPT. I wear headphones during the tapings so that I can hear this comical duo, and I assure you that the comments made by Vince and Mike are very entertaining. Vince and Mike work hard during the actual tapings and later in the studio to provide us with interesting and insightful commentary. In this column, you will get to know more about Vince.

Linda Johnson: How did you get the nickname "King of Hollywood Home Games"?

Vince Van Patten: That is what they call me at the WPT – but it isn't how I refer to myself! However, the fact is that for years I've played in a circle of poker games in the Los Angeles area as a hobby. I guess you can call them "Hollywood" games, because they are made up of mostly entertainment people – actors, comedians, writers, and so on. Some games I started, others I fell into. I don't know about being called "King," but I am still standing after decades of this abuse, and there is the fact that I've taught and tutored half the players in those games, which sometimes comes back to haunt me.

LJ: Please share some of your personal information with us.

VVP: I am 45 years old, married to an incredible woman, and have three sons, ages 10, 7, and 2 months. We live in Los Angeles. I was a child actor from age 9 to 18. Another passion of mine was tennis, which I taught myself to play. I practiced at a public park in Hollywood, Poinsettia Park, and went on to make the professional tennis tour. My tennis career lasted for eight years on the circuit, and my highest ranking was No. 26 in the world. I was the ATP rookie of the year in 1979, and had wins over most of the world champions, including John McEnroe twice. After retiring from tennis, I went back into acting. I guess you could call me an entrepreneur, as I have also written, directed, and produced films. In 1999, I was the national paddle tennis champ, and was runner-up last year. I love to bet on anything that moves. My life is very happy, and yes, I recently taught my kids how to play hold'em – a family tradition.

LJ: Tell us a little about your poker background.

VVP: My father, Dick Van Patten, is a very good poker player, and he taught me how to play poker and read the Racing Form at age 9. He thought it would be good for me. I quickly adapted to it, and became quite good for my age. I played poker and other games at school (three-card Monty, coin pitching, and so on) during recess. When I was 12, we lived in Long Island, New York. I used to sneak into Belmont Racetrack after school and ask adults to make $2 bets for me. So, my background in gambling and poker started young.

In 1969, we moved to California. There, I used to watch my father play poker all night long in our kitchen at his weekly poker game. He played with a cast of characters and actors. I was riveted by these games and by seeing these grown-ups act like children and berate each other. At age 15, they let me play with them. We played every game imaginable, and the stakes were pretty high. At about that same time, I also started driving to Gardena to play in the local poker clubs. Back then, they played five-card draw and the players dealt. I had a fake mustache and beard, and glued them on and played all night. I was only 5 feet 5 inches tall and looked like a little freak, but it usually worked. The experience was very educational. I've never stopped playing since, and I'm always looking for a game.

I've played in every environment, from backroom pool halls to chic Beverly Hills cigar clubs. I've played in games for three days straight, including playing through Thanksgiving dinner one time. I've been stiffed by players I least suspected would do so. But, I still love it. I love to play big. Pot-limit and no-limit are my favorites, but I also know how to play small. To a real poker player, it just matters that you play. Poker has been good to me, but I have had huge leaks in other areas – mainly football, baseball, blackjack, and, of course, horse racing. It's a dangerous passion that I luckily control.

LJ: You were a top-rated tennis player, so is it your competitive nature that makes you want to play poker?

VVP: No, but don't get me wrong. I love competition, and yes, I am a highly competitive person, but that doesn't drive me. To me, poker is the ultimate game. It is something I am good at and a pastime that I truly look forward to. Most of all, it is matching wits, heart, and money against your fellow man. It is the complete game.

LJ: If you weren't commentating, would you play in the WPT events?

VVP: If time permitted, I would play in all of the WPT events. The WPT is the best forum for showing your skills. I believe it is making stars and future legends out of the finalists, and who wouldn't want to take a shot at that?

LJ: Where do you see poker and the WPT being five years from now?

VVP: I believe poker and the WPT will grow in the future. The WPT offers a high-quality show that viewers – even those who are not familiar with the game – find fascinating.

LJ: You and your co-commentator Mike Sexton disagree on table talk. Please elaborate for us.

VVP: I believe table talk adds another element to the game. It puts more of the actor into the game and enhances the psychological factor. It is nothing personal. I applaud someone who can talk me out of a pot. It makes it that much more fun when I can snap someone off with a great call because of something I picked up when he was "chirping."

LJ: Tell us what you think of Mike Sexton.

VVP: Mike Sexton is one smart man. He is a true Southern gambling man who is always willing to take me up on my crazy proposition bets. I like him and truly enjoy working with him.

LJ: What was your favorite moment during the first season of the WPT?

VVP: For pure thrill, it was seeing the "Godfather of Poker," Doyle Brunson, make it to the final table in the WPT championship event at Bellagio. It was only fitting, and just showed the quality of this legendary player.

LJ: Who is the most interesting poker player you have ever met?

VVP: From the Hollywood scene, it was the legendary movie director John Houston. Before he passed away in the early '90s, we used to play at his house. We played a big pot-limit five-card stud game, and he was pretty good. All of the players were awed to play with this big director, and listened to and followed all of his rules. One of them was to drink straight shots of tequila with him. As the game progressed, we all semihappily sucked them down as he distracted us with great stories of Bogart and Bacall. By the end of the game, we would be too careless to win, and he would take home all of the money.

The funniest player was Don Adams – Maxwell Smart of Get Smart. Don was a very serious, suspicious, big-time poker player. He was pretty good, and he loved to bluff. After successfully bluffing with a big bet, he always showed his cards to rub it in and say in his famous Maxwell Smart voice, "Sorry about that, Chief." He would bust the table up laughing every time.

LJ: What traits do you need to succeed in poker?

VVP: You must like bad-beat stories, love free buffets, have a good-sized ego, be sneaky, have patience, be bold, and you have to love watching the cards flip off the deck.

LJ: What is your favorite part of the job as a WPT commentator?

VVP: Watching the guys play and getting a vicarious thrill out of it, but being delighted to be even after the game is finished.

LJ: What is your least favorite part of the job?

VVP: The frustration of being even after the tournament is over.

LJ: Is it difficult to keep the conversation flowing during the commentary of the WPT?

VVP: No, it's not at all difficult when you know something inside and out and truly love it. Mike and I have decades of experience and are like a talking Ken and Barbie … just pull the string and we won't shut up.

LJ: How much of the commentary is done live and how much is dubbed in?

VVP: We do the commentary live throughout the taping. However, we are just speculating at that point because we can't see the players' cards. We later go back into the studio, see the cards they held, and then supplement the live commentary. Then, the editors choose what they want to use for the final mixed cut. They take some from the original and some from the studio cut.

LJ: Thanks for the interview, Vince. I look forward to working with you during the second season of the WPT.