Michael Phelps: The Big Poker Tease
Ever since the news surfaced about Michael Phelps being interested in playing in the WSOP someday, poker organizations have been hot on his trail trying to woo him into the poker world. But the only person who has really proved successful in their courtship of Phelps is Doyle Brunson who not only partied with Michael at his old age, but also introduced him to a lot of the great poker players. All of this has me wondering if Phelps has any real intentions of playing poker anytime soon.
Sure Phelps will probably hit the felt a lot more when his swimming career will presumably be over after the 2012 London Olympics, but I don’t think poker wants to wait this long. For the second straight year, APT officials sent Phelps letters trying to convince him to play in their APT Macau tourney. And for the second straight year, I think that Michael Phelps will say hell no to playing at their event. In fact, I think Phelps will be saying no a lot until the end of his swimming career.
You’ve got to understand that this is a guy who consistently rejects $5 million offers because they don’t fit into his lifestyle (or at least the image he portrays to the media). So the riches poker brings isn’t going to entice Phelps onto the tables alone. He’s got to devote too much time to swimming, and he has to spend the rest of his time partying like any other rich 24 year-old would.
And while I can’t wait to see Michael Phelps in tournaments in the future, I don’t think it will happen at the height of his fame. Rather it will be when Phelps has worn out his swimming endorsements.