Some men have become real legends due to
the passion and talent they have shown while playing their favourites
gambling games. Here are some of the best and most famous gamblers the
world has ever known:
Doc Holliday
 |
John Henry "Doc" Holliday was Wyatt Earp's best friend
and, some historians believe, responsible for quite a few of the troubles
that ensued in Tombstone. Born on August 14th, 1851 in Georgia, with
a cleft palate and lip to an aristocratic Southern mother and middle
class father, life was interesting from the beginning. His uncle,
John McKey, for whom he was named, was a talented surgeon. While still
a baby, Dr. McKey repaired the problem. I'm sure it was one of the
reasons that later in life Doc chose to wear a moustache to cover
the scars. |
He was educated at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery and practiced
for a short time as a dentist. Soon, however, Holliday was diagnosed with
tuberculosis, and headed out west. Doc tried to keep up with his dental
practice, but patients found it uneasy to have a man with tuberculosis
coughing in their face. Doc found that there was money and adventure to
be had in gambling, so this became his profession.
"Homicidal" and "killer" are often used to describe
Holliday. Doc had nothing to lose, he was dying of tuberculosis and this
was probably the likely cause of his reckless attitude. Doc's reputation
as being an ace with a gun are by most accounts, inaccurate. Doc may have
been well and good with a gun when he was sober, but since he spent most
his later years in a pickle, we don't really know. Many humorous stories
about Doc are told of him, usually in a drunken stupor, trying to shoot
someone that has come into confrontation with him, and missing badly.
Whatever bad things Doc was, there is no doubt he was a man you wanted
as your friend when the chips were down.
Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer is undoubtedly the wealthiest man in Australia as well as
the biggest casino gambler. He is the owner of Nine television network
and Australian Consolidation Press, which publishes many of Australia’s
best-selling magazines. In the gambling world Kerry is known for great
winnings and heavy losses. Mr Packer found his fame when he hit a $26
mln blackjack pot in Las Vegas. In 1999 it is said that he lost $16.5
mln at Crockford’s casino in London. But losing the game didn’t
upset him as this sum was only a tiny fraction of his enormous wealth
estimated to be around $8bn. He has a passion for polo and horses and
spends several months a year in England playing the game. In 1990 he had
a severe heart attack when playing polo. It was dead serious but his improvement
was spectacular.
|
| William Crockford
 |
Mr Crockford was the founder of the famous Crockford gambling house.
Owner of a very remarkable life, he used to be a fishmonger of Fleet
Street as well as a bookmaker and a swindler.
As he had always dreamt of opening a successful and popular casino
club for the top people, after winning a huge some of |
money he built a grand gambling house in London. The club was very exclusive
for the selected members only.
The Crockford’s club quickly became celebrated for its prominent
members, and now it is one of the most dazzling and best-conducted dining
establishments in London – the “Wellington”.
He died in 1844 following a fit of apoplexy. On the day of his death
his corpse had to be held up for a couple of hours in a chair positioned
before a window at the Club in order to give confidence to one of his
horses which would have been withdrawn from a significant race if his
death had become known prior to the officials.
Stu Unger
Stu Unger was a three-time poker champion. He won back-to-back tournaments
in 1980 and 1981 and again in 1997 after a fifteen year break. Truly gifted
card player, he had many ups and downs in his life. He struggled with
various drug addictions and eventually passed away in a cheap motel room.
It is so sad when somebody blessed with the gift of greatness treats that
blessing with less respect than it deserves. He was the most feared person
at the gambling table, and was winning the most money than anyone of us
would ever win. He did want to kick drugs, but it was so hard to keep
off his bad habit. But it is not his weaknesses or drug addiction people
will remember him for. It would be for his talent – for he was the
greatest person to ever grace the green felt.
|
