Recently there have been a few brand-name celebrities to step into the poker community, seemingly out of nowhere, but there nonetheless. And the online poker rooms are jumping on the chance to sponsor these guys. One example being Michael Phelps, who was spotlighted in a previous post, rumored to be joining the poker team over at Doyle’s Room. But he’s not the only sports figure to take to the felt lately. Randy "The Natural" Couture, and five-time UFC Champion (Ultimate Fighting Championship), who is now 45 years old, but still fighting, has recently been added to the “Friends of FullTilt.” Also on that list are fellow UFC fighters, Mike "Quick" Swick and Matt Hughes. Couture has even shown up for UFC fights wearing FullTilt gear from head to toe, which apparently doesn’t mix with his previous sponsor, Affliction.
Other sports personalities to take to go pro in poker include six-time Grand Slam singles champion tennis player, Boris Becker, who was picked up by the PokerStars team in November, 2007 after retiring from tennis. Still there are more though. Mats Sundin, was previously a NHL hockey player, and T.J. Cloutier played professional football in Canada for five seasons before retiring to play poker full time. Another almost-pro athlete is none other than Doyle Brunson, who was almost drafted by the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers before his professional basketball career was cut short due to a knee injury.
While there are many people who do not believe that poker should be considered an actual sport and deny poker players the title of “athletes” due to the sedentary activity, at least it can be said that some things are similar. It’s the mental strength and stamina that any hardcore competition requires.
Becker claims that tennis and poker are very comparable in the fact that they both require the use of psychology and high-pressure decision making. And the thing about a professional career in sports is that it is not likely to last much past the player’s late-thirties. But poker is open to all ages. It seems like a natural fit for athletes to pass the time after spending so many years getting paid to win. Apparently whatever it takes to win championship sporting titles also works at the poker table.
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