Sometimes one has to wonder if they organizers of Poker After Dark are going for the Neville Chamberlain award for the appeasement of agitators. Once again on this week’s installment of the show, they are glorifying those whose witty/insulting/occasionally profane banter are often more powerful then the cards they are holding. The match entitled “Of Mouth and Men” features Mike "The Mouth" Matusow (or course), Alan Boston, Antonio Esfandiari, Jamie Gold, Mike Sexton, and Paul Wasicka. This should prove to be one of the more loud mouthed and occasionally offensive tables that have ever been featured on Poker After Dark.
Most poker fans are familiar with Mr. Matusow. He is a three time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and is, for many fans, the J.R. Ewing of poker; the player they most love to hate. He will be joined by Alan Boston who is a seven card stud ace and an expert NCAA Basketball handicapper. Alan is not really known for keeping his opinions to himself. Now that the Final Four is over, he has time to get back to his poker game.
Antonio Esfandiari will be displaying his own brand of magic during this match. Antonio somehow manages to use his banter to get his opponents to call his bets despite the fact that they are holding hands that are about as valuable as a wiener dog on sled team. Jamie Gold will also be part of this table, and he is a well known talker as well as a controversial figure in the sport. The square pegs at this table are Mike Sexton and Paul Wasicka. While Mike is a rather chatty commentator, he tends to shut up and focus when he is at the table and Paul Wasicka has more in common with a clam then a braying jackass when involved in a hand.
The majority of folks at this table would do well to observe the words of Mark Twain, "it is better to be silent and thought a fool, then to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." Hopefully someone has sent Leeann some earplugs for this week’s match.
