Norman Chad is the co-host of ESPN’s coverage of the World Series of Poker. Fresh off the taping of the WSOP’s Main Event Final Table, Chad joins us via our Newsmaker Hotline to discuss the coverage ESPN gave the World Series this year and talk about how this final table differed from past November Nine events.
When asked how this final table differed from the previous two November Nine formats, Chad explained, “Well, it was the youngest final table of all time. Otherwise from that, all three have had a nice assortment of personalities.”
With the champion being crowned in Jonathan Duhamel, Chad was asked about differences and similarities to last year’s champ, Joe Cada. Chad explained, “Jonathan is like Joe Cada in that they don’t say much at the table. But when you are around Jonathan, he’s got a lot of personality. He’s got a lot of spunk. Anyone that bungie jumps off The Stratosphere certainly walks a different path than the rest of us… But I think Jonathan has the potential to be a great ambassador for poker.”
Chad was asked to comment about the theatrics behind this year’s WSOP Main Event final table and said, “I never thought when they put it in the Penn & Teller theater it would become such a raucous atmosphere for hours on end. I don’t know where they find the energy … and it becomes an incredible scrum where people are shouting and cheering. It’s an extraordinary atmosphere for people in the crowd.”
During the interview, Norman Chad is asked about how ESPN and the 441 Productions team, along with his co-host Lon McCarren is able to produce the Final Table episode in such a short amount of time. He is also asked about his fascination about Georgia Tech’s “Rambling Wreck” mascot and finally wraps up with a comment about futher poker coverage on ESPN with more episodes of the NAPT Los Angeles stop.
Norman Chad is a nationally syndicated sports columnist on top of his WSOP and NAPT coverage duties at ESPN. He is a poker player himself, having cashed at the 2009 WSOP Stud 8 or Better event.