Hall of Fame 060707

AUSTRALASIAN HALL OF POKER FAME. For many years PNW has been trying to influence one of our Casinos to set up a wall of memorabilia or Hall of Fame for our Oz and Kiwi players. To date the nearest has been the old picture gallery at Adelaide and the glass wall pieces at Crown. Perhaps soon, in view of the enormous popularity growth of Poker it may happen. Any sponsors around? Should this be so the following Champions would have to be considered Mel ‘the Taxman’ Judah from the very beginnings of contemporary gambling in Oz and NZ in the middle seventies, Mel was always around the Casino industry and any development of Poker. He has been a prominent tournament player overseas and the WSOP. He remains Australia’s most famous poker export. Marsha Waggoner is a Queensland girl who first hit her poker straps in 1992 at the 23rd WSOP 7 Card Stud for a massive USD52500. From there it was a constant stream of 65 money finishes in international poker. For the first 4 months of 1998 she cleared USD75000. Marsha returns frequently to Australia and is a feature of the Crown Aussie Millions. Gary Benson has been around the final tables since Tassie 1985 and is our first WSOP Gold Bracelet. Gary is a prominent player in Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. He is still active in all major tournaments overseas as well as home. Jason Gray is a featured player home and abroad. Recognised more for BB Cash games in Sydney and Vegas than the tournament circuit he is a formidable opponent on any table. Billie the Croc Argyros is the charismatic face of Poker down under. Known internationally as the man with the funny crocodile hat and sometimes mistaken for Crocodile Dundee, he is the Pugsey Pearson of Australasian Poker. He is our own Ambassador Overseas. Judge Joe Meissner rates a mention in the Hall of Fame not only for his constant involvement in the growth of Casino Poker in Australian Casinos but also for the APA and his enthusiasm in the conduct of home games in Sydney when the Casino was blocked off to Poker. Peter Pekoe “the Man”. New Zealand conned us into bowling underarm, gave us Pharlap, Pavlova, Russell Crowe and in the eighties probably our best and most successful poker player. His impact on the game both as a player and a gentleman has been substantial. He is remembered with the Peko Memorial trophy. Leo “the Mechanic” Boxell comes into the hall of Fame not only as the most improved player over the last ten years but also with his family as the most outstanding enthusiast and supporter of the competition circuit. When you add up the results over the last three years he becomes the “Crown Player” most likely to succeed? Who can forget his 14 all-ins to Peter Costa? Lee Nelson, the final table specialist and poker author. Millions winner 2006 Speed Poker specialist and Pokernetwork Champion of the years 2001 to 2005. Approaching his best form in 2005 and aiming for the WSOP 2006. Joe Hachem, our first poker World Champion 2005 and constant supporter of poker at Crown over many years. Following up hid 2005 win with impressive results overseas. Christina Pie our first WSOP Lady’s Bracelet. In retirement at present? The Comer “twins”, Mike and Martin repeat winners of many events for organising our first international event at Vanuatu. This was a benchmark in Aussie Poker and a credit to the enthusiasm of the Comer’s. Both of them play a mean game of poker. Mike Maimon and Ronnie Waugh, for many big wins and keeping the game alive at the private club scene in Sydney. It wasn’t and still isn’t easy. Doctor Bob Crossman for his technical skill and knowledge of Casino Mathematics. Bob knows the Casino game better than most, and is still active as a consultant to the industry. Johnny Kocbek, Mike Come, Danny McDonagh and Keith Sloan as our best remembered Poker Room Managers from the nineties, and still going strong both as players and tournament directors.. Alex Horowitz and Milo Nadalin the Crown 1998 and 99 Champions. Peter Mordaunt and John Madaffari the Crown 2000 and 2001 Champions. Tony Frasca and Pete Jones the dual Australasian Champions Adelaide Casino.. The Crown and Pokernetwork ranked Champions Alex Horowitz, Milo Nadalin, Mickey Guttman, Sam Korman, Leo Boxell Jeff Lisandro and Antanas Guoga as our World Champion finalists. They give us all some hope. From the Goulburn club to the Mad Russian they are our Big Bet players. The future for Jeff and Tony is only just beginning. Not Hall of Fame I suppose but worthy of mention. Our Poker families, the Horowitz’s, the Boxells, the Marinos, Lindy and Vic Thornton, Kiwi G and Di, Wes and Jenny Bugiera, Joe and Doris Humunicki, Angie and Dom Italiano, The Comers and the Rossers. The Road Runners Kiwi G Putt, Marco Conjir and Cane Toad Fred Saliba for representing Poker from Cairns to Melbourne and back again. Anywhere any place. These “poker desperates” represent the true comradie and toil of “old time” poker. The great multiple Oz and Kiwi national champions Leo Boxell, Mike Ivin, Tony Tosca, Peter Pekoe, Milo Nadalin, Billie the Croc Argyros, Tony Frasca, John Maver, Alex Horowitz, Sam Korman, Bob Crossman, Gary Benson, Pommie Pete Jones, Sammy Khouiss, Joe Cabret, Ron Gough, Jeff Lisandro, Nick Georgoulas, Mike and Martin Comer, Joan Allen, Doris Humunicki, Tony Guoga, George Mamacas, Tino Lechich, Paula Brough and Irene, Michael Sampieri, Graeme Putt, Jason Gray, Jamil Dia, Constantine Harach, Dino Focus, Percy Lee, Bill Marczak, Peter Selby, Charles Cuschieri, Mickey Guttman, Alex Horowitz , John Maver, John Wylie, John Dalessandri, Vince Moro, Larry Jones, Eugene Juczenko, Brian Hull, Hatz Hatzis Tony Cowan, Tony Trimarchi, Peter Mordaunt, John Madaffari, Angie Italiano and others too numerous to mention. It will be difficult to select the best out of so many good performers. Not to forget the mass of up and comers since 2004 led by Emad Tahtouh, Mark Vos, Arul Thillai. The players of the future but also the players to watch for the present. Look for some results at the WSOP. The Casinos Federal, Sky Adelaide, Canberra, Christchurch, Star Sydney and currently the biggest Crown Casino and management. They all took a step into the future with poker but none so large as the Crown Aussie Millions, which flung us onto the international stage There are of course some International greats of the past who have also set the guidelines. 1. John Scarne who has said it all, first of all. 2. Nick the Greek Dandalos, Johnny Moss who, with Binions, gave us the WSOP. 3. Doyle Brunson on Poker and Ed Thorpe, the fathers of Casino Poker and Blackjack. 4. The World Series of Poker greats. 5. Monte Carlo and its “viatique”. 6. Damon Runyon who told the tale. 7. Binion’s - the first Poker Heaven. 8. And more lately the Poker Champions of Europe. ! TOUT VA ! “Everything that happens in Poker is a random play in which nothing is determined in advance except the rules”. master