Mike Sexton Finds Success in the Poker World
Every time poker professional Mike Sexton is asked about the course he took up in college, he always says that he majored in poker because he can never remember a day he did not play poker during his college years. But despite his passion for the game, he made sure that he was able to finish college. He even experienced holding jobs that are not related to poker. But then, this guy was really passionate about the game that he just could not help not to become a professional poker player.
Born in Shelby, Indiana on September 22, 1947, Mike Sexton used to be a gymnast. He obtained his bachelor's degree in public recreation from the Ohio State University. The first course he took up at the said university was business but he decided to shift to public recreation. During this time, he was a regular player of poker and contract bridge. There was even a time when he conducted contract bridge classes in North Carolina.
In 1970, Mike Sexton had the chance to join the U.S. Army. He was a paratrooper and was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. He conducted ballroom dancing classes in the army until one of his students encouraged him to work as a salesman. He tried his luck in sales but then, he realized that among all the jobs he held, poker was still the one that could make him earn bigger. And so in 1977, he became determined to become a professional poker player.
During his first few years in the poker tournament circuit, Mike Sexton never had major achievements. He did not even have the opportunity to qualify for the World Series of Poker events. This was because of the fact that apart from being a professional poker player, he was also working as a coach of Little League baseball teams. He knew that he could not be successful in the world of professional poker if he would only involve himself as a part-time player. And so he decided to relocate to Nevada in 1985 in order to play full-time professional poker.
Aside from Mike Sexton's World Series of Poker bracelet that allowed him to earn US$3,200,000 and aside from his other achievements as a poker player, he is also known for his other contributions to the entire industry. Mike Sexton has also been known to promote different poker services and events. He is involved with the World Poker Tour as its main hose and he is involved with the online poker room PartyPoker.com as its spokesperson. He has also written articles for poker magazines and periodicals, including "Gambling Times" and "Card Player Magazine." He was also the founder of the Tournament of Champions of Poker.
Because of his poker affiliations, Mike Sexton is prevented from playing in some major poker tournaments. But then, such affiliations have allowed him to be known as the ambassador of poker. Now, it doesn't bother him that much that he doesn't get to play often because at least, his other jobs still allow him to be involved with the poker world.
Mike Sexton also often advices beginning poker players that they will not succeed in the industry if they only "like" poker. He says that they have to "love" poker in order to succeed.
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