Blogger Profile - The Mookie | Poker From The Rail

Blogger Profile - The Mookie

Posted by AlCantHang | Filed under Bloggers on the Rail

4 years ago it was practically impossible for a player to schedule a private poker tournament at an online site. Either they didn’t have the software functionality to create the tournaments or willingess to go out of their way for what was perceived as a low level requirement. Things changed quickly as the software updates were rolled out and the bigwigs began to see the upside of giving players the opportunity to create an event around their criteria.

The best of the private weekly blogger games is being run by Mookie each Wednesday.

Teenage “heart-throb”/actor/writer/blogger/super-geek Wil Wheaton (not sure which he would rank first but I’m guessing geek) was one of the first to have a well organized private tournament running on a weekly basis. The games ran for awhile but other obligation made it impossible for him to keep the game going. Eventually someone was going to have to fill in that gap.

Enter The Mookie.

I can’t remember where I first read about the regular Mookie game or when I even started playing it on a regular basis. All I remember is the surprising number of bloggers playing on a Wednesday night in a game that was everything a blogger game should be. Better than average play (I will get arguments about this from all around, but I challenge you to play a public $10+1 buyin tournament and tell me the play isn’t noticeably worse), tons of good natured trash talking, ridiculous bounties and prop bets, plus regular pre-flop pushing with The Hammer.

Wednesday nights soon became THE place to go for your regular blogger game and it continues to grow and improve.

Mookie himself is a favorite blogger among many readers. One of the “must attend” blogger events is his annual Live Mookie in Austin, TX that features golf, booze and live donkey poker action. I had a chance to chat with Mookie for awhile and here is a little of our “online” interview.

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What is the origin of your online nickname?

I’m not a Mets fan (sadly a Cubs fan) nor a Spike Lee fan. Mookie is an old nickname from my high school basketball days. Back then OU had a good basketball team and some evil person (Hook ‘em Horns!) nicknamed me after Mookie Blaylock.

When did the weekly Mookie tournament start and why throw a regular blogger tournament?

Originally the tournament was setup as an extension of my home game back in February of 2006. However a month or so later bloggers started to join us and the crowd grew from there.

What is your favorite moment from The Mookie game?

Is it even possible to single one or ten out of the many events? Wow, that’s a tough question. I don’t think there is one particular tourney that sticks out. I do remember in the early going being so excited when so called “A-list” bloggers would show up to play. The drive to hit 80 players awhile back is also memorable. It’s amazing how effective pictures of hot chicks on AlCantHang’s blog can be. (editors note: I have no idea what he means by hot chicks, I’m just a lowly blogger. wink wink nudge nudge)

You write a profile about each weeks winner, when did you start it and do you have a particular favorite?

I started posting the profiles in April of 2006. We don’t play for huge amounts of money so I thought the profile would go a long way in complimenting any bragging rights one gets from winning the tournament. There are lots of favorites but if I had to pick one I’d go with Iakaris. His blog location has changed and he doesn’t post as much as he used to, but it’s always entertaining when he does.

Do you think there is any chance you’ll ever profile yourself (that is my subtle way of asking whether you’ll ever win your own game)?

Pffttt! Those who can’t…host. At least that’s my motto. It’s highly doubtful that I’ll ever win my own tourney. I’ve had plenty of chances (two 2nd place finishes each of the last two years) but haven’t been able to close the deal.

When you first started the regular Wednesday game, did you have any idea that it would become one of the most popular around?

Not at all and I didn’t expect it to last as long as it has. This is all due to the blogger community, BBT (Battle of the Blogger Tournaments) and BuddyDank Radio. Without the weekly promotion and attendance from these folks, the tourney would have probably died off by now.

Finally, rumor has it that you have somewhere between 10 and 25 children? Will you leave the wife alone now?

Haha! Well there’s a better chance now that I’ve finally broken down and purchased an HD TV. Football in HD is awesome! I only have 6 kids and we’ve decided to stop there. Fingers are crossed that one of the runts hits it big so pops can retire early.

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The Mookie tournament runs regularly each Wednesday at 22:00ET as a deepstack NLHE Knockout tournament. Mookie welcomes everyone to join along and it’s worth your dime for a good time and great tournament.

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