Charles R. Swindoll once said, “I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.”
Lately, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how lucky I am to have so many incredible friends. I realized that poker is the common denominator in almost all of my friendships.
I just spent four wonderful days with 14 friends from Canada who were in town to celebrate the tenth anniversary of MIF. “What is MIF,” you might wonder. MIF stands for “Make it fo (four),” which was a quirky expression muttered by an infamous poker player during a $2-$4 Limit Hold’em game at the Palace Station many years ago. My friends from Canada were fascinated by this man, dressed in overalls, who would fold hand after hand until he picked up aces or kings. When that happened, he would lean forward and casually toss four $1 chips into the pot while saying, “Make it fo!” Thus, the term MIF was born and became the official name of this group.
From its humble beginnings, MIF has become an annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas for an unlikely cast of Canadians who are linked together through business and friendship. Each year, we spend quality time together over dinners in the finest restaurants and go to the best shows. This year, we saw Carrot Top at the Luxor and Viva Elvis at Aria… both fabulous!
The highlight of MIF is a No Limit poker tournament that pits the United States against Canada. The bragging rights are more important than the cash. So far, the Americans have won four out of seven years despite being outnumbered by at least 2-1 each year. I forgot to mention how much fun these guys are. They even wear the goofy MIF uniform, which is a vest made out of playing card material. Over dinner this year, each of us spoke about our favorite MIF moment. Everyone agreed that the friendships we’ve generated are the primary reason to attend and poker is secondary.
The female version of the MIF consists of approximately 25 women from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who call themselves the Hold’em Hotties. They take their poker very seriously and have their own poker league. I originally got involved with them when they asked me to present a private poker seminar. After spending some time with them, I realized how much fun they were. Over the past few years, we have become great friends and have taken road trips to places like Branson, Biloxi, and Oceans 11. I even flew to Tulsa last December to attend their Christmas party.
I’ve also made a lot of friends through various ladies’ poker groups and online poker forums. Specifically, there are two women’s forums that I belong to: LadyPokerSharks.com and PokerChix.com. In addition to talking poker online, we get together a few times a year for some major poker events like the World Series of Poker, California State Ladies Poker Championship, Card Player Cruises trips, Ladies International Poker Series(LIPS), High Heels Poker Tour, Pink Ladies Poker Tour, and the Women in Poker Hall of Fame induction.
When I am home in Las Vegas on a Monday or Wednesday, I enjoy attending the local poker discussion groups. On Monday night, we meet at the Stake Out and on Wednesdays, we meet at Marie Callendar’s. The people in this group are more than just a common interest group. We are friends who love poker and enjoy hanging out together. I’ve met some of my closest friends through this group.
My company, Card Player Cruises, has been another source for developing close friends. The staff and repeat passengers have become very dear to me. Not only do we get to travel the world together, but we also get to have fun working together. The Card Player Cruises poker room is probably the friendliest poker room in the world; for sure, it generates the most laughter. We do a tremendous repeat business due to making everyone feel at home.
One of my most rewarding activities these days is teaching WPT Boot Camp. The team of instructors I get to work with really like and respect each other. The staff that coordinates and administers the Boot Camp is professional, yet really fun to hang out with. We really are one happy family.
Most people will never know how wonderful the majority of poker players are. I consider myself extremely lucky to have made a plethora of longtime friends through my associations with organizations including Card Player, the World Poker Tour, the Tournament Directors Association, and the Poker Players Alliance. I count my blessings every day and realize how lucky I am to be able to share my passion for poker with so many wonderful friends. Poker makes my life a much happier place. I hope you can say the same.
When I moved to Las Vegas 5 years ago – I know only one person who lived here. I was invited to the Wed Poker Discussion Group by someone while I was playing poker at the Aladdin and that was the beginning of nearly all of my friendships in Las Vegas. Poker players make some of the greatest friends ever and I have found them to be extremely friendly and generous!
Thanks for giving words to what many of us who came here to play poker, are thinking. If it weren’t for my pals from the MPDG and the WPDG, I wouldn’t know anyone here. They all rock!
Linda – thanks for the MIF mention. We LOVE spending time you you, Jan etc. It is what makes the trip special.
Linda is right anout poker providing an excellent source of friends. I moved to ‘Vegas 6 years ago, joined the Wednesday group, and found a great source of friends including both Randi and Jane Goldberg. Linda Johnson has been one of the driving forces in promoting poker, helping to introduce new players to the game, and providimg friendship and stimulating poker ideas for all. I count her as one of the best friends a person could have.
I can honestly say, as did Randi and Jane, that pretty much every friend I have in ‘Vegas is a poker player, and almost all of them, I met through the WPDG.
Great column, Linda!
Thanks Linda – for reminding me that because of poker I have made some wonderful friendships.
Linda – that Charles R Swindoll knows a thing or two! Great article and it’s true – most people will never know how wonderful the majority of poker players are – a fact I was fortunate enough to stumble upon by accident many years ago when a guest speaker at a corporate event broke down all of my erroneous preconceptions. A more generous, gregarious and down to earth crew you could never find!
Having friends to share the poker roller coaster with makes the ride a lot more fun!
I absolutely agree with you 100% Linda, through poker I have formed some of the closest friendships ever and you are such an inspiration!
Wonderful article….I can’t imagine life without lots of friends…..and am
very glad to have you as one of them!! I’ve met just about the best ever people through playing poker!
I agree with all of the above comments. I feel blessed to be able to say Linda, Jan and a lot of other wonderful woman ( and yes men too) that are now my friends.
I always enjoy reading Linda’s articles. She is a down to earth person who has a lot of insight and is just darn nice!
Another wonderful article from Linda. I agree with everything she said. The only friend I have that I did meet through poker is my best friend from college. Before then I had no really true friends, just my sisters. Now I have LOTS of friends and a much better life!
I moved to Las Vegas, leaving friends and family behind, 2 years ago. At a taping of WPT, the dapper gentleman and his female escorts seated behind me were having such a good time that I had to join in. Thank you, Herbie the Hat, for inviting me to WPDG. That day, I did not have a friend in the city. Now, I have a growing understanding of a fascinating game,and friends that both challenge and support me. The more contact I have will any of the groups mentioned above, the more friends I will find. That is a sure bet.
Linda, For now on for me the Fo in Make it Fo stands for:
Friends
Fun
Food and
Foker
Thanks for being part of our lives.
Another great article Linda. I have met so many amazing people because of poker, you being at the top of that list. I feel so blessed to be able to call you friend. When we first met on the CardPlayerCruise to Alaska a few years ago you treated my family and I like royalty. We had a wonderful time on the cruise and look forward to cruising again with you.