If you see a guy playing poker with a cowboy hat and ostrich skin boots Wholesale Jerseys China , chances are that guy is either mimicking Amarillo Slim, or it may be Thomas ?Amarillo Slim? Preston. Slim is one of the most accomplished and recognized players of poker in the world.
Thomas Preston Jr. was born in Johnson, Arkansas on December 31, 1928. When his parents divorced, he moved to Amarillo, Texas with his father. While Slim was in the Navy, he hustled pool, sports events, and returned to the states as a seasoned gambler. When Slim met Doyle Brunson, they became good friends and formed a partnership traveling town to town playing poker. Slim proclaims himself to be ?The greatest gambler who has ever lived.?
Amarillo Slim became famous when he won the 1972 World Series of Poker Championship. At that time, poker was played under the radar as most gamblers were afraid of publicity and didn?t want the government snooping around in their winnings. Slim won the 1972 event and took home $60,000 dollars and has since won three other bracelets. These bracelets include the $1K no Limit Hold?Em in 1974, $5 K pot limit Omaha event at the 1985 and 1990 WSOP. He almost won his fifth bracelet but lost to Phil Ivey in 2000. Slim was very unorthodox as we welcomed the attention and became extremely famous by touting his win to the world. This forever changes the way poker was viewed by the public eye and brought popularity to poker. He appeared in movies, tv shows, and became an icon in the 70?s. He holds four Word Series of Poker Bracelets and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992.
Slim also holds the Guinness Book of Records for being in Five Halls Fame. These halls of fame include: poker, gambling Wholesale Jerseys , seniors, legends of Texas, and Legends of Nevada. Slim?s character and love of the spotlight forever changed poker and the worlds of gambling forever. Just like the popular athletes of today, who are plastered on TV commercials and merchandise, the same was said of Amarillo Slim back in his hay day.
Now poker events are highly televised and poker players that win are heralded by the public. These events and tournaments are shown on huge stations like ESPN and other sports networks around the world. The players that win and get instant fame all have Amarillo Slim to thank for this as Slim took the underbelly of gambling and turned it into a competitive sport that would be well known about by the public and sports communities throughout the world. Slim became a legend in Las Vegas as a poker icon and changed the way the game was played forever.
Slim?s positive image and fame has increased gambling profits and has caused casinos to pop up all over the world because of the increased popularity of gambling worldwide. Amarillo Slims impact to the sport of gambling will continue to be felt as the ripples of popularity and fame continue to help players boost into the limelight and take home never before seen monster