From live tournament reporting to playing poker professionally, Jay “WhoJedi” Newnum has done it all. This week, he’s camped out at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit stop at Horseshow Southern Indiana, just outside of Louisville. Poker News Daily sat down with Newnum on Deck #1 of the riverboat to catch up. By the way, you can follow Newnum on Twitter at @WhoJedi.
Poker News Daily: How did you become involved in tournament reporting?
Jay Newnum: I won a $33 rebuy on PokerStars in 2004 to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, so I went down and played in the World Poker Tour event there and met B.J. Nemeth. At the time, he was working for CardPlayer, said he was leaving after that event, and asked me if I wanted the job. I’m like, “Sure, why not?” In 2005, I started doing it for CardPlayer. I started the CardPlayer forums and then worked with PokerNews. Then, I got away from it for a while and was playing full-time before Matt Savage and the WSOP dragged me back in.
PND: Tell us what it’s like working with Matt Savage, one of poker’s top tournament directors.
Jay Newnum: Working with Matt is awesome. Matt is the best boss in the world. He’s very easy-going, lets me do what I think will work for our coverage, and is very fun to work with.
PND: Give us the origins of your online handle “WhoJedi.” We’re praying for a “Star Wars” reference.
Jay Newnum: It’s my phone number. I’m a huge “Star Wars” fan and wanted 5334 as the last four digits of my phone number. You can’t pick the first three digits, but they randomly gave them to me and they spelled “Who.” I started being “WhoJedi” on Full Tilt and PokerStars. Then, everyone just knew me as that.
PND: Where do you see yourself going in the business from here?
Jay Newnum: I don’t know yet. I’m enjoying what I’m doing and have been doing this for a long time. I also run Twitter and Facebook accounts for people; I help the World Series out and work with three of the November Niners. If more stuff pops up in the future, I’ll do that. If not, I’ll just keep doing the social media work and the live reporting.
PND: Do you miss playing poker full-time?
Jay Newnum: I don’t miss the grind of it, but I miss the money.
PND: Who is your pick to win the WSOP Main Event this year?
Jay Newnum: I actually met Jonathan Duhamel out in Foxwoods. I didn’t know the kid before and he’s incredibly nice. It’s hard not to pull for him after you’ve met him. He’s a very nice kid plus he has a ton of chips. I’d like to see John Racener and “The Grinder” do well. Jason Senti also seems like a nice guy and I’d like to see him do well. I’m really open.
PND: John Racener seems to be a popular pick to win the Main Event. What can you tell us about his game?
Jay Newnum: John Racener is solid. He has been flying under the radar, but he’s played well. I talked to some of his people and he really has himself together, which I’m really impressed with. He’s on a path where he’s playing well, he’s focused, and he’s doing the right things in his life that are leading to his success at the poker table. He’s been continuing that since the November Nine ended. Even if he doesn’t win the Main Event, he’s going to do good things in the future.
PND: You worked with UB.com pro Tiffany Michelle reporting for PokerNews during the 2007 WSOP Main Event. Tell us what that experience was like.
Jay Newnum: That was outstanding. She is a fun girl to work with and that was a fun summer. She’d so some of the updates in the mornings and then I’d come in and do the afternoons and vice-versa.