Sexton Entertains, Pollock Acclaims Inductees

At Women in Poker Hall of Fame Ceremony

A Color Commentary by Dana Smith

"Your first hole card is brought to you by Hank's Fish Market ... the flop is sponsored by Bob's Hotdogs 'n Mortuary ... and this bad beat is brought to you by Betty's Bondage Co.," host Mike Sexton quipped, mimicking the visibly increased use of sponsors at the World Series of Poker. The humorous master of ceremonies and unofficial "Ambassador of Poker," chaired the elegant festivities at the recent dinner dance honoring this year's inductees into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame-June Field, Jan Fisher and Cyndy Violette.

Jeffrey Pollock, the WSOP Commissioner of Poker, joined Sexton on the podium to congratulate the inductees for the "force, grace and determination women bring to the WSOP," as well as encourage them in the Women's Championship tournament with his personal mantra, "Yes, we can!" Even Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman got in on the action by proclaiming June 5th Women in Poker Hall of Fame Day.

"We're here tonight to recognize three women who've spent their entire lives in poker," Sexton continued. "June Field has been around a long long time, first playing poker by candlelight. In fact when she won the ladies event at the WSOP years ago, she bought a brand new black 'n white TV with her winnings. And Cyndy Violette was the first health-food nut in the poker world. Fisher's done everything there is to do in poker, and claims to know 90 percent of the people in this room tonight."

The always gracious Maureen Feduniak, dressed to the nines of course, invited me to sit at her table, along with event chairwoman Lupe Soto, who later received kudos and gifts for putting the bash on the map, so to speak. After Sexton misread her last name, the perky and expert organizer quipped, "Next time you screw up my name, could you call me Jennifer Lopez, please?" Sitting at the table next to us were two of last year's inductees, Marsha Waggoner and Barbara Enright with famous poker columnist, Max Shapiro.

"Are we goddesses?" Waggoner asked in explaining the gala's theme, Pleiades, the sisterhood of seven goddesses in Greek mythology. "In our minds, we are!" she joked in her charming Aussie accent.

Women's HOF member Susie Isaacs followed Marsha onto the podium to introduce June Field, who founded Card Player magazine in 1988, about a year before I began writing for it. I hold June in high esteem, and credit her with giving me my start in poker journalism, as she did so many other poker writers "in the day." Isaacs covered a long list of June's achievements: the fifth blackjack dealer hired on the Strip, once received the Las Vegas Employee of the Year award, was a go-go dancer "back when," and worked for golfer Arnold Palmer. Susie capped her eloquent stint at the podium by quoting June's famous closing line, "God, I love this job!"

The usually publicity shy Field, with Isaacs standing by her side, delivered a masterful and poised commentary. "Here we are," she said, "Jan, the outspoken; Cyndy, the softspoken; and me, the unspoken." Referring to her really-not-that-old self, June joked, "I won the Ladies Championship when many of you were still in diapers." Exiting the podium to a standing ovation, one of the true pioneers of poker gracefully rejoined her husband Phil and other family members.

Linda Johnson, the "First Lady of Poker," introduced noted inductee Jan Fisher. After listing Jan's multitude of accomplishments in poker, Linda related a humorous story that reflects the affection Jan induces in her poker students. Several years ago during a WPT boot camp, Jan advised her students, "Don't ever just double your bet in no-limit hold'em." Linda convinced the group to play a trick on Jan during their practice session. The first player bet 200, the next one raised to 400, then to 800, and then to 1600 chips around the table in the rehearsed deal. "I must be the worst instructor in the whole world!" Jan said, throwing in the towel in dismay.

"Notice I'm not wearing blue jeans or Birkenstocks tonight," Fisher said on the podium, referring to her more formal attire. "In the '70s when I got into poker, I was driving a forklift for Eddie Bauer," she said. "Six-card stud was our main game back then." In giving credit to her profession of choice, the former announcer for the Pro Poker Tour and one of the most visible people in poker ended her remarks with, "Poker has supported my lifestyle for 32 years. Poker has allowed me to see the world. I am grateful."

Barbara Enright took the podium to introduce the glamorous Cyndy Violette. "Cyndy is wholesome, sincere, and into a healthy lifestyle," Barbara said. "But watch out! She can hold her own with anyone in poker." Judging from her youthful and charming onstage demeanor, it might be hard to believe that Cyndy started her poker career dealing and then playing at the old Silver Nugget in Vegas.

When Violette walked to the podium, I was wowed by the unique and lovely mod outfit she was modeling: a black lace skirt over black calf-length tights with lace-up platform shoes. It is part of the women's clothing line she designs and promotes. After giving credit to her dad, Cyndy expressed special thanks for her daughter Shannon for "putting up with a poker mom for all these years."

WSOP Media Director Nolan Dalla and noted author and speaker Mike Caro, the "Mad Genius," sat at adjoining tables. The two empty seats at our table were supposed to be filled by TJ Cloutier and Tom McEvoy, but they were still playing a no-limit event at the WSOP, keeping their priorities true to poker. At the close of their inductions, the three new members of the Women's HOF joined Nolan and Mike and the rest of us for DJ music and dancing-after heeding a reminder by Lisa Tenner to bid on the multitude of gifts donated to "Poker Gives," a major charity supported by poker players.

For complete news coverage of the Women in Poker HOF induction, refer to the fact-filled article Poker Pages published June 8.