Call him underdog if you want, but Americans have a love affair with the underdog, no matter the sport. It's one of those endearing qualities that the rest of the world loves about them (we are half-joking here). However, what qualifies as an "underdog" in the world of poker?
A watered-down dictionary translation (or in other words, "real-world") might be that an underdog would be the player who has a track record of fewer wins versus the opponent he or she is facing at that table. True enough. However, you can look a little deeper as to why we label someone an underdog and then root for him or her.
Anthony Reategui might be a good example. Reategui, who calls Chandler, Arizona his home, would, on the surface, appear to be someone with enough success to disqualify him as an underdog around poker tables, especially in the high-end tournaments. Look at his track record: Anthony scooped up around 25 cashes in 2006 and in 2005 he won a World Series of Poker bracelet to prove he can play with the big dogs. So when Anthony earned his way into a final of Event 13 of the 2006 WSOP, No Limit Holdem event, most of us would not call Reategui an underdog. Up against Max Pescatori, however, some did put Anthony in the underdog category. And as it played out, Pescatori won. Reategui didn't seem to take it too hard (taking home $356,040 will buy you lots of tissue to cry into), and he would tell you it's just fine to call him "underdog" anytime he's reached a final.
No matter how you cheer for him, Anthony appreciates the support. So call him the favorite or the underdog as he pulls up a chair during a tournament, he doesn't seem to mind it.
