|
There I was, 19 years old, going to college like any
good kid, and just by walking into a restaurant one
day, my life took an unexpected turn. I’ll never
forget it. I was sitting at the bar at the Left at Albuquerque
restaurant in San Jose, CA. and the bartender said to
me, “Hey kid, pick a card.”
It only took two months before I dropped out of college
and was practicing magic 12 hours a day (I kid you not);
12 hours a day, EVERY DAY, for two years. I woke up
with a deck in my hand. I went to bed with a deck in
my hand. I walked with a deck in my hand. I went to
the movies with a deck in my hand. I even steered my
car with my knees and practiced while I drove. That
was my life for an entire two years. All I did was practice.
My friends got so sick of it. I didn’t pay attention
to anything else. I was hypnotized.
I wanted to be the next David Copperfield. I was performing
magic at holiday parties and corporate events and, at
the age of 20, was doing rather well for myself. It
was while I was performing magic at Birks restaurant
in Santa Clara that I met another man that changed my
life. That man was Scott Stewart and he introduced me
to poker.
Let’s just say my conservative Persian family
was not too thrilled about me dropping out of college
to pursue my dream of becoming a famous magician and
you can only imagine what they said when I told them
I was giving up magic to become a professional poker
player.
Scott gave me a book to read: Winning Low Limit Hold’em
by Lee Jones. One of only two books I have ever read
on poker. I read it in a day and just started doing
what it told me to do. It was working. I was winning.
I remember sitting at a poker table one day early in
my career and realizing the beauty of the game. I saw
what was happening. I understood. I was in the Matrix
and I was Neo. In essence, that was that. My life story
in a nutshell. I never planned on being a professional
gambler. I have always been interested in the restaurant
and nightclub business and will someday steer into that.
One thing I know I don’t want to do is to raise
a family on poker. No thank you!
Never in a million years did I think I would be fortunate
enough to live the life that I live today. I always
dreamed of being rich and famous. The wealth I thought
was possible, but the fame I never thought about twice.
I was pretty much a dork in high school and all I ever
wanted was to be The Guy. Let’s just say I am
looking forward to my high school reunion.
I must be the happiest 26 year-old on the planet. I
have the greatest family and friends. I get to wake
up every day and do whatever it is that I want to do.
I remember 23 being the greatest year of my life. I
thought if it gets better than this I will be a happy
camper. 24 was even better, and 25 better still. 26
is shaping up real nice so far, but it will be tuff
to overcome 25.
Poker is an amazing game and I am thankful for what
it has done to my life. I can recount numerous times
where I have been at some party where I think to myself,
“Wow! I just started playing a game which I enjoy
and now I am hanging out with you fine folks.”
Big time celebrities are actually interested in me!
It just doesn’t make any sense.
What happened to my life? College? Not for me. Magic?
Still perform a bit. Only for friends – and the
ladies of course. Poker? Now we’re talking. Family?
Working on it. I’ve come this far, and I am very
curious about the future. Ultimately, I know that none
of this really means anything. The parties. The celebrities.
The money. The fame. The Who’s Who. It’s
all fun and games. Everybody wants a piece of everybody
and most people don’t genuinely care about anyone
but themselves. It’s very easy to get caught up
in it. All you have in this life is your loved ones.
Remember, it’s like The Matrix: “There is
no spoon.”
|
