Goodbye Brandi

This will be news to some people, many more already know this, but professional poker player Brandi Hawbaker has passed away. Last week she committed suicide, and the Los Angeles County Coroner has confirmed that it truly was her. This is a sad day for anyone who not only appreciates the game of poker, but the culture of it as well.Brandi was a rare personality. Those who met her could not have a neutral opinion on this fiery young lady. They either loved her or hated her. Those that did take a dislike to her didn't do so on a personal level, but rather in a manner like they would "hate" one of the villainous wrestlers who work for World Wrestling Entertainment. For many she was one of those players that people loved to hate. This made her interesting and added a much needed dash of spice to the sport.It is always incredibly upsetting when somebody so young decides to take their own life. Her former boyfriend had told the press that over the past eighteen months or so she had been seeking treatment for what she described as "a very serious mental illness." Obviously Brandi was fighting some personal demons for quite some time, and sadly she lost that fight.Brandi Hawbaker was a beautiful, talented young lady who proved she could stand up to the big boys on the biggest stage the game of poker has to offer. She was also interesting and about as controversial a figure as the sport has seen in recent history. We will all miss Brandi Hawbaker and truly hope she found the peace that she simply couldn't seem to find in life. Goodbye Brandi.