Sometimes, Nice Guys Finish First

Being at the World Series of Poker from beginning to end, I developed a unique perspective about poker and its players. I saw the good and bad of tournament life, from generous players who donate their time and money to charitable causes, to the seedy underside of drugs and prostitution that creep into the lives of some players. I saw female players embraced, yet demeaned. I noted how the media took advantage and was taken advantage of. I witnessed money won by some who deserve it, and money borrowed by people who don't. I was in awe of the excitement of the high points, but stunned by mind-numbing moments.

The players were the most interesting to watch and interact with. Some are consistently open to fan requests, others avoid the general public at all costs. Some are calm and focused at the tables, others are obnoxious and severely in need of constant attention. Some players are overwhelmed by success, others couldn't seem to care less about a bracelet and a few hundred thousand dollars.

When I meet someone who seems to be one of the good guys on all counts, it is truly refreshing. And when that person achieves great things, the karma of it all becomes apparent.

Tom Schneider became the star of the 2007 World Series of Poker by making three final tables, winning two bracelets, and capturing the Player of the Year award. On June 3, he was a member of an all-star table in the $2500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud 8-or-Better event with names like Annie Duke, Chris Ferguson, Chris Bell, David Benyamine, Josh Arieh, and John Phan; he won his first WSOP bracelet in that event. On June 9, he made the final table of the $2500 H.O.R.S.E. tournament and cashed in fourth place. On June 28, he skated through the $1000 Seven-Card Stud 8-or-Better event and won his second bracelet. And when the final day of the WSOP arrived, he graciously accepted the POY honor.

I had the opportunity to get to know Tom a bit through a fun evening (morning) of blackjack and Pai Gow with a group of friends. And after the WSOP was over, I had the pleasure of interviewing him for several magazine articles. Putting the pieces of his personality and career together proved what I hoped to be - nice guys sometimes finish first.

Tom had played poker for years, and slowly graduated to high-stakes cash games. He played often at the local Arizona casinos but often traveled to Las Vegas or other West Coast cities to play. In 2002, he began to participate in tournaments and quickly showed that he had what it took to make final tables. The same year was when he resigned from his position as the CFO of a public golf company to play poker professionally.

His career and poker resumes boast of successes down the line, but it wasn't until 2007 that many people became aware of Tom due to his stellar performance at the WSOP. And the most interesting tidbit about his accomplishments there was that he set a very specific goal for himself before he came to Las Vegas for the WSOP. He told his wife, Julie, that he was going to make three final tables and aim to achieve POY status.

At the tables, there is nothing to make Tom stand out to the television cameras or railbirds, with the obvious exception of his play. He doesn't berate other players, he doesn't have a wild card protector or wear loud clothes. Tom won't be seen jumping up and running around after the river card drops, and he isn't currently sponsored by a major online gaming site. Even Tom's witty, dry sense of humor often goes unnoticed or unappreciated because of his low-key personality. When other players exhibit rude or inconsiderate behavior, even when directed at him, Tom responds with a joke or no comment at all. This kind of composure should be recognized in today's world of ADD-afflicted players and camera whores.

Tom takes every opportunity to give advice to other players when asked, and he even compiled a book full of lessons from the business and poker worlds called Oops! I Won Too Much Money. Some of his free time is spent co-hosting a radio show called "Beyond the Table," and blogging on Pokerati.com - neither of which is a paying gig. Why? He does all of these things because he not only appreciates the complexities of the game, but the people who play it and work hard to succeed.

I only mention these things about Tom because most people don't have much insight into who the 2007 Player of the Year really is, and I believe he is worth getting to know. As time goes on and he continues to rack up the wins and cashes, it may be hard to avoid seeing him around the circuit and on television. But for now, Tom Schneider remains low-key and is happy with that life.

So many people say that they hope the winner of the WSOP main event will be gracious, humble, skilled, personable, and a great ambassador for poker. Maybe when we look for that ambassador, we should widen our scope and take a look at the person who was truly the best all-around player. The one who conducted himself with nothing but class and dignity is that Player of the Year - Tom Schneider.

Please feel free to contact me with comments at jen3351@msn.com.

Until our next rendezvous...

Jen

Jennifer Newell is a freelance writer, originally from St. Louis but now living in Los Angeles. She fell in love with poker while working at WPT and began writing about it in 2005. Please feel free to e-mail her with your comments, experiences, and feedback at jen3351@msn.com. She looks forward to your thoughts.