T.H.E. Cat and Mike Matusow: Difference between pages

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{{infobox poker player
'''T.H.E. Cat''' was a 1966-1967 half-hour television show on [[NBC]] starring [[Robert Loggia]] as a cat burglar, Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat ("T.H.E. Cat"), a retired [[circus]] aerialist and former [[cat burglar]] who became a [[bodyguard]]. Cat carries out clandestine tasks such as thefts and assassinations for the government or private clients. Shot in color, the series was considered to be ahead of its time. A detail of interest to musicians was Cat's hangout, a bar in which a jazz band played with the instrumentation of bongos, string bass and bass flute, a rarely seen woodwind curved like the letter J.
|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
T.H.E. Cat often appeared in an all black outfit carrying rope and grappling hook to scale walls and cross buildings to rescue someone in peril or get to the bad guys. Occasionally he might use a gun but mostly he has a dagger up his sleeve (referred to as his cat's claws) that he can throw with great accuracy. Other regulars on the show were [[R. G. Armstrong]] who played Capt. MacAllister ([[San Francisco Police Department]]) whom T.H.E. Cat sometimes would work with. Also was Robert Carricart as Pepe Cordoza who was T.H.E. Cat's friend and occasional informant who ran a jazz club called "Casa del Gato" (House of the Cat). The cool introduction [[jazz]] [[Theme song|theme]] is by [[Lalo Schifrin]].
|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
|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==
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
|title=Mike Matusow|publisher=[[Full Tilt Poker]]|author=Anonymous|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref>
 
==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==
[[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
|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
|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
|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>
 
==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}}
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060030/ T.H.E. Cat] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
 
[[Category:1968 births|Matusow, Mike]]
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[[Category:World Series of Poker bracelet winners|Matusow, Mike]]
[[Category:World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions winners|Matusow, Mike]]
 
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