Revision as of 03:38, 20 February 2007 edit Salazar919 (talk \| contribs) 22 edits →Portrayal in adaptations		Revision as of 21:54, 11 July 2007 edit Crazy4metallica (talk \| contribs) 3,187 edits still is known as
Line 1: {{infobox poker player ~~'''Grond''' (called the '''Hammer of the Underworld''') is the name of two fictional weapons from the works of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]].~~ \|firstname=Mike \|lastname=Matusow \|nickname=Mike The Mouth \|image=Mike Matusow.jpg \|caption=Mike Matusow at the 2006 World Poker Tour 5 Diamond Bellagio tournament \|hometown=Las Vegas, Nevada \|wsop bracelet count=2(+1) \|wsop money finishes=20 \|wsop main event best finish rank=6th \|wsop main event best finish year=2001 \|wpt titles=''None'' \|wpt final tables=1(+1) \|wpt money finishes=4 }} '''Michael Matusow''' (born [[April 30]] [[1968]] in [[Los Angeles, California\|Los Angeles]], [[California]]) is an [[United States\|American]] professional [[poker]] player, residing in [[Henderson, Nevada]]. Matusow's nickname of "The Mouth" reflects his reputation for trash-talking at the poker table. He is also known for his habit of ruining hours or days of good play with a single spectacular misjudgment, (known as a "Mike Matusow Blow-up" or "Mike Matusow Meltdown").<ref name="pokerlistings">{{cite web\|url=http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player_mike-matusow?show=bio ~~==In the legendarium==~~ \|title=Mike Matusow - Poker Player Profile\|publisher=www.PokerListings.com\|author=Anonymous\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> Matusow began playing poker seriously in the early 1990s, first while working as a [[poker dealer]], then as a professional player.<ref name="fulltiltprofile">{{cite web\|url=http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/mikeMatusow.php In the [[First Age]], Grond was the great [[mace]] of [[Morgoth]] Bauglír, the first Dark Lord, who wielded it when he fought with [[Fingolfin]], High King of the Noldor. With every blow from the mace that struck the ground, a crater was formed.The Dark Lord Morgoth managed to kill the High King, but not without receiving seven wounds himself. \|title=Mike Matusow\|publisher=[[Full Tilt Poker]]\|author=Anonymous\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> His successes include being a 2-time [[World Series of Poker]] bracelet winner,<ref name="99wsop3500">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7856\|title=1999 World Series of Poker $3,500 No Limit Hold 'em event results\|publisher=[[The Hendon Mob]]\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref><ref name="02omahahilo">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=4416\|title=2002 World Series of Poker $5,000 Omaha hi/lo event results\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> and the winner of the 2005 [[World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions]].<ref name="05wsoptoc">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14994\|title=2005 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions results\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> His success brought him increasingly into contact with [[illegal drug]]s and in September 2004, he was sentenced to six months imprisonment.<ref name="ppm">{{cite news \| last = Kaplan \| first = Michael \| title = Me and My Big Mouth \| date = [[August 2006]] \| url = [[http://www.totalgambler.com/theplayers/playerinterviews/1259/me_and_my_big_mouth.html]] \| accessdate = [[2007-06-01]] }}</ref><ref name="lasvegasvegas">{{cite web\|url=http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/pokerblog/archives/001648.php\|title=Mike Matusow Sentenced\|publisher=www.LasVegasVegas.com\|author="flipchipro"\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> He has played in many tournaments around the world and his winnings (as of 2007) total about 5 million dollars.<ref name="stats">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=s&n=170\|title=Mike Matusow - Stats\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> ==Early years== During the [[War of the Ring]] in the [[Third Age]], a great [[battering ram]] was named after the hammer. A hundred feet long with a head shaped like a snarling [[wolf]], it was used in the [[siege]] of [[Minas Tirith]]. Aided by spells laid on it by the [[Witch-king of Angmar]], and the spells cast upon it during its forging in [[Mordor]], Grond destroyed the formidable gate of Minas Tirith in just four blows. Matusow suffered from [[bullying]] when going through school and did not attend college. He attempted to get work as an [[auto mechanic]], but did not complete the required studying for the job. He later worked at his family's furniture store.<ref name="ppm">{{cite news \| last = Kaplan \| first = Michael \| title = Me and My Big Mouth \| date = August 2006 \| url = http://www.totalgambler.com/theplayers/playerinterviews/1259/me_and_my_big_mouth.html \|Total Gambler \| accessdate = 2007-06-01}}</ref> Matusow's first experience of poker was playing [[video poker]] in the [[Westin Causarina Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa\|Maxim Casino]] at the age of 18, which he played regularly, to the extent he suffered from [[repetitive strain injury]] in his shoulders and arms. He occasionally stole money from his mother's purse and at one point attended [[Gamblers Anonymous]] meetings. Matusow was taught [[Texas hold 'em]] in 1989 by a [[rounder]] named Steve Samaroff. Early in his career, he won 81 out of 82 sessions and $250,000. He also worked as a [[poker dealer]].<ref name="ppm">{{cite news \| last = Kaplan \| first = Michael \| title = Me and My Big Mouth \| date = [[August 2006]] \| url = [[http://www.totalgambler.com/theplayers/playerinterviews/1259/me_and_my_big_mouth.html]] \| accessdate = [[2007-06-01]] }}</ref><ref name="fulltiltprofile">{{cite web\|url=http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/mikeMatusow.php ~~==Portrayal in adaptations==~~ \|title=Mike Matusow\|publisher=[[Full Tilt Poker]]\|author=Anonymous\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> ~~[[image: grond.jpg\|thumb\|Grond]]~~ In [[Peter Jackson\|Peter Jackson's]] [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (film)\|The Return of the King]], the ram Grond has fire spewing from its gaping jaws and is pulled by four huge rhinoceros-like creatures ("great beasts" were briefly mentioned as pulling it in the book). In the extended version of the film, there is a scene where a small party of orcs are attempting to breach Minas Tirith's main gate with a battering ram. They do this in vain, as the gate seemed near impossible to break. Gothmog and another commanding orc state this: ~~"The door won't give; it's too strong!" (command orc)~~ ~~"Get back there and smash it down!" (Gothmog)~~ ~~"But nothing can breach it..." (orc)~~ ~~"Grond will breach it. Bring up the wolf's head!" (Gothmog)~~ ~~Here Grond is brought up by the beasts and the army start chanting "Grond" as the battering ram is brought up.~~ ==World Series of Poker== At the [[1998 World Series of Poker]] (WSOP), Matusow paid one-third of [[Scotty Nguyen]]'s entrance fee into a satellite event for the $10,000 [[betting (poker)\|no limit]] Texas hold 'em main event. Nguyen went on to win, and gave $333,333 to Matusow in return for his partial stake.<ref name="ppm">{{cite news \| last = Kaplan \| first = Michael \| title = Me and My Big Mouth \| date = [[August 2006]] \| url = [[http://www.totalgambler.com/theplayers/playerinterviews/1259/me_and_my_big_mouth.html]] \| accessdate = [[2007-06-01]] }}</ref> In [[2001 World Series of Poker\|2001]], he finished 6th place in the WSOP $10,000 no limit Hold 'em main event. Matusow claims that the decisive hand was when he was [[bluff (poker)\|bluffed]] by eventual champion [[Carlos Mortensen\|Juan Carlos Mortensen]], but did not trust his instincts to call.<ref name="ppm">{{cite news \| last = Kaplan \| first = Michael \| title = Me and My Big Mouth \| date = [[August 2006]] \| url = [[http://www.totalgambler.com/theplayers/playerinterviews/1259/me_and_my_big_mouth.html]] \| accessdate = [[2007-06-01]] }}</ref><ref name="01wsopme">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=3066 \|title=2001 World Series of Poker $10,000 No Limit Hold 'em main event results\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> At the [[2004 World Series of Poker\|2004 WSOP]] main event, Matusow was a focal point of [[ESPN]]'s coverage, as he verbally attacked eventual champion [[Greg Raymer]].<ref name="04wsopme">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=6628\|title=2004 World Series of Poker $10,000 No Limit Hold 'em main event results\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref><ref name="raymerwebsite">{{cite web\|url=http://www.fossilmanpoker.com/faqs.htm \|title=FAQs\|publisher=www.FossilmanPoker.com\|author=Raymer, Greg\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref><ref name="pokerbabes">{{cite web\|url=http://www.poker-babes.com/bio/mike-matusow/\|title=Mike Matusow\|publisher=www.PokerBabes.com\|author=Rosario, Shirley\|authorlink=Shirley Rosario\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> In the [[2005 World Series of Poker\|2005 WSOP]], Matusow finished 9th out of 5,619 players in the main event, winning $1,000,000.<ref name="05wsopme">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14015\|title=2005 World Series of Poker $10,000 No Limit Hold 'em main event results\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> Several months later, he won the [[World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions\|WSOP Tournament of Champions]] in a heads-up battle against [[Hoyt Corkins]], earning another $1,000,000 in the process. He also placed third in the Tournament of Champions the following year.<ref name="05wsoptoc">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14994\|title=2005 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions results\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref><ref name="06wsoptoc">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=15520\|title=2006 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions results\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> =====World Series of Poker bracelets===== {\| class="wikitable" ! style="background: #E9E9E9;" \| Year ! style="background: #E9E9E9;" \| Event ! style="background: #E9E9E9;" \| Prize Money \|- \| [[1999 World Series of Poker\|1999]] \| $3,500 No Limit Hold 'em \| $265,475<ref name="99wsop3500">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7856\|title=1999 World Series of Poker $3,500 No Limit Hold 'em event results\|publisher=[[The Hendon Mob]]\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> \|- \| [[2002 World Series of Poker\|2002]] \| $5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split \| $148,520<ref name="02omahahilo">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=4416\|title=2002 World Series of Poker $5,000 Omaha hi/lo event results\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> \|} ==Other poker events== ~~{{Meweapons}}~~ [[Image:Mikematusow2.jpg\|right\|thumb\|Mike Matusow in the [[World Poker Tour]] Bad Boys of Poker II event.]] In October 2004, Matusow made his first [[World Poker Tour]] (WPT) final table at the UltimateBet Aruba Classic, earning $250,000 for 3rd place.<ref name="wptaruba">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8650\|title=WPT Aruba Poker Classic results\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> In 2006, he finished runner-up to [[Tony G]] in the WPT Bad Boys of Poker II in heads-up play.<ref name="badboys2">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=17366\|title=WPT Bad Boys of Poker II results\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> Matusow also appeared in [[Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament\|Poker Superstars III]], where he made it to the Elite Eight. In the winner-take-all championship match, Matusow beat seven other players to win $500,000. He also appeared in the second and third season of [[High Stakes Poker]].<ref name="ps3">{{cite web\|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/5398712 ~~[[Category:Middle-earth weapons]]~~ \|title=FSN: Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament 3\|publisher=[[Fox Sports Network]]\|author=Anonymous\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref><ref name="hsp2">{{cite web\|url=http://www.pokernews.com/news/2006/5/high-stakes-poker-second-season.htm\|title='High Stakes Poker' Back For A Second Season In June\|publisher=www.PokerNews.com\|author=Burton, Earl\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> In September 2006, Mike made his debut on the [[European Poker Tour]] (EPT) in Barcelona; however, he was eliminated on the first day. In early 2007, Matusow appeared on two episodes of [[Poker After Dark]] where he finished 3rd and 2nd respectively. He plays [[online poker]] under the following aliases: "dill pickle" ([[UltimateBet]]); "mrpokejoke" ([[PokerStars]]); and "Mike Matusow" ([[Full Tilt Poker]], where he is also a member of "Team Full Tilt").<ref name="pokerlistings">{{cite web\|url=http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player_mike-matusow?show=bio ~~[[bg:Гронд]]~~ \|title=Mike Matusow - Poker Player Profile\|publisher=www.PokerListings.com\|author=Anonymous\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref><ref name="fulltiltprofile">{{cite web\|url=http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/mikeMatusow.php ~~[[es:Grond]]~~ \|title=Mike Matusow\|publisher=[[Full Tilt Poker]]\|author=Anonymous\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> As of 2007, his total live tournament winnings exceed $4,800,000.<ref name="stats">{{cite web\|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=s&n=170\|title=Mike Matusow - Stats\|publisher=The Hendon Mob\|author=Butt, Robert\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> ~~[[fi:Grond]]~~ ~~[[no:Grond]]~~ ==Personal life== In September 2002, Matusow held a party in a VIP booth of [[The Palms]], providing free ecstasy to friends. He was introduced to undercover [[Narc (Narcotics)\|narcotic agent]] Mike Fento, who claimed he was involved in an [[organized crime]] family in [[Chicago, Illinois\|Chicago]] that planned to open a [[strip club]]. Matusow claims that Fento got him involved in [[money laundering]] and asked him to score drugs for him. Matusow discovered from one of his dealers that Fento was an agent, but was arrested at his house on [[September 25]] [[2003]] for "selling and trafficking controlled substances." The police offered to allow him to wear a [[Covert listening device\|wire]] to help them secure evidence on a nightclub owner, but Matusow refused as the person was connected to organized crime and could have had him killed.<ref name="ppm">{{cite news \| last = Kaplan \| first = Michael \| title = Me and My Big Mouth \| date = [[August 2006]] \| url = [[http://www.totalgambler.com/theplayers/playerinterviews/1259/me_and_my_big_mouth.html]] \| accessdate = [[2007-06-01]] }}</ref> Matusow was in prison from September 2004 to April 2005. During this time, Matusow lost his $250,000 winnings from his WPT final table on sports betting. [[John Juanda]] was one of the few poker players who visited him.<ref name="ppm">{{cite news \| last = Kaplan \| first = Michael \| title = Me and My Big Mouth \| date = [[August 2006]] \| url = [[http://www.totalgambler.com/theplayers/playerinterviews/1259/me_and_my_big_mouth.html]] \| accessdate = [[2007-06-01]] }}</ref><ref name="lasvegasvegas">{{cite web\|url=http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/pokerblog/archives/001648.php\|title=Mike Matusow Sentenced\|publisher=www.LasVegasVegas.com\|author="flipchipro"\|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> Upon his release, [[Phil Hellmuth\|Phil Hellmuth Jr]] loaned him $5,000 to start up a new bankroll. At the 2005 WSOP, however, he lost most of the $750,000 bankroll he had built up from Hellmuth's original loan and even convinced friends to take away his [[Computer keyboard\|keyboard]] and [[Mouse (computing)\|mouse]] so he could not play online poker.<ref name="ppm">{{cite news \| last = Kaplan \| first = Michael \| title = Me and My Big Mouth \| date = [[August 2006]] \| url = [[http://www.totalgambler.com/theplayers/playerinterviews/1259/me_and_my_big_mouth.html]] \| accessdate = [[2007-06-01]] }}</ref> Matusow resides in a 3,700 [[square foot]] home in Henderson (with a cathedral ceiling) and bought a $90,000 [[BMW E63/E64\|BMW 645 CI cabriolet]] from a $750,000 winning session at online poker.<ref name="ppm">{{cite news \| last = Kaplan \| first = Michael \| title = Me and My Big Mouth \| date = [[August 2006]] \| url = [[http://www.totalgambler.com/theplayers/playerinterviews/1259/me_and_my_big_mouth.html]] \| accessdate = [[2007-06-01]] }} </ref> He often wears a gold chain with the Hebrew symbol 'chai' around his neck.<ref name="ppm">{{cite news \| last = Kaplan \| first = Michael \| title = Me and My Big Mouth \| date = [[August 2006]] \| url = [[http://www.totalgambler.com/theplayers/playerinterviews/1259/me_and_my_big_mouth.html]] \| accessdate = [[2007-06-01]] }}</ref> Additionally, Matusow hosted Card Player's poker radio show / [[podcast]], ''the Circuit'', before being replaced by [[Gavin Smith]] and [[Joe Sebok]].<ref name="cardplayer">{{cite web\|url=http://www.cardplayer.com/thecircuit/?page=11 \|title=The Circuit\|publisher=www.cardplayer.com\|author=Anonymous}}</ref> ==Notes== <div class="references-small"> <references /> </div> ==External links== [http://www.mikethemouth.com/ Official site] [http://www.matusowtruth.blogspot.com/ Official blog] [http://www.worldpokertour.com/players/?x=profile&poker-player=8526 World Poker Tour profile] [http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=170 Hendon Mob tournament results] *[http://www.myspace.com/mouthpoker Official Myspace] {{World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions Winners}} [[Category:1968 births\|Matusow, Mike]] [[Category:American poker players\|Matusow, Mike]] [[Category:Jewish American sportspeople\|Matusow, Mike]] [[Category:Living people\|Matusow, Mike]] [[Category:Poker commentators\|Matusow, Mike]] [[Category:World Series of Poker bracelet winners\|Matusow, Mike]] [[Category:World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions winners\|Matusow, Mike]] [[de:Mike Matusow]] [[fi:Mike Matusow]]

Grond and Mike Matusow: Difference between pages