On Might 14, 2023, poker legend Doyle Brunson handed away on the age of 89. His loss was immeasurable and was the most important poker story of the yr. Whereas the neighborhood mourned the lack of the 10-time bracelet winner simply weeks earlier than the beginning of the 2023 World Collection of Poker (WSOP), that they had the chance to have a good time his legacy months in a while October 2, referred to as Doyle Brunson Day in honor of the 10x2x hand that noticed him win two WSOP Principal Occasion titles.
What many individuals don’t know is that within the yr earlier than he handed, Brunson, who wrote the game-changing 1978 ebook Tremendous/System, set about on one final poker challenge – to adapt his autobiography, The Godfather of Poker revealed in 2012, into an audiobook.
The audiobook, which is on the market now on Audible, was inspired by Brunson’s longtime agent Brian Balsbaugh of Poker Royalty. It proved a prolonged and time-consuming affair with the completed product clocking in at 12 hours and 27 minutes.
Whereas I learn The Godfather of Poker upon its launch, I not too long ago had the chance to revisit it by listening to the audiobook. What I can say is that the poker world is extraordinarily lucky to have had this challenge accomplished earlier than Brunson’s passing, as listening to him learn his life story in his signature Texas drawl is a transcendental expertise for these with an recognize for poker historical past and for the person who was just about there for all of it.
For me, it’s akin to the oral historical past interview William Hernstadt carried out on February 8, 1976, with Benny Binion, who didn’t grant many interviews. Binion was illiterate however shared his knowledge for the Las Vegas, Nevada KVVU Channel 5 tv program “Highlight.” The gathering is now housed at UNLV and isn’t solely an oral document for a poker patriarch but additionally the town of Las Vegas.
Audiobooks weren’t a factor 50 years in the past, so if you wish to hear Binion it’s important to go to the school campus. Nonetheless, in relation to Brunson, poker followers can take heed to Texas Dolly proper at their fingertips due to The Godfather of Poker audiobook. What’s extra, clips from the audiobook have already been used, and can proceed to be, in persevering with Brunson’s legacy. PokerGO’s World Poker Award-winning ‘Doyle Brunson Celebration of Life’ is a main instance.
How the Audiobook Got here About
Poker Royalty’s Jesse Fullen, former PokerNews Neighborhood Supervisor, really attended one of many audiobook recording classes and have become instrumental in its launch. He was type sufficient to reply some questions concerning how the challenge happened, how Doyle took to it, and extra.
PokerNews: When and why did the concept for Doyle to do an audiobook come about?
Jesse Fullen: Doyle Brunson had probably the most wonderful and recognizable voice. Once you assume again to these traditional episodes of Poker After Darkish the place Doyle narrated the introduction, it was magical. Doyle’s autobiography and story have been made to be shared and if you happen to’re going to take heed to an audiobook of it, you couldn’t have anybody in addition to Doyle narrate it. It’s an concept that had been round for some time, simply needed to discover the appropriate second to fireplace on it.
How did Doyle really feel in regards to the challenge? What did the challenge entail?
Doyle was an enormous fan of the challenge. He put in lengthy hours to get that recording accomplished. We arrange a recording studio in his residence workplace and had 2-3 audio technicians and a producer within the room with Doyle. We might convey that workforce out for 3-4 hours twice every week and over just a few months we have been capable of get the entire ebook recorded.
“Doyle could need to hold going after just a few hours however the sound of his voice instructed a distinct story.”
What have been the most important challenges whereas bringing the audiobook to life?
It isn’t laborious to learn a ebook. Studying a ebook slowly right into a microphone with a number of individuals analyzing every phrase you say and the rhythm and pace as effectively is a complete totally different factor. There have been challenges, after all, and one of many greatest ones was understanding when to cease. Doyle could need to hold going after just a few hours however the sound of his voice instructed a distinct story.
Are there some other ebook or audiobook initiatives coming down the pipeline that you may both share or tease?
There could also be one other audiobook challenge popping out this summer season however you gained’t hear any particulars about that as we speak. Preserve your ears open and it’s possible you’ll hear about one other actually thrilling challenge releasing in only a few weeks.
Can poker followers count on one other “Doyle Brunson Day” on 10/2/24?
We’re laborious at work planning one other celebration of Doyle Brunson in 2024. 10/2/23 was a really thrilling day and the experiences we heard about from poker rooms all around the nation have been so thrilling. Our purpose is to continue to grow and hopefully have an enormous celebration for Doyle right here in Las Vegas. Extra info can be coming quickly on this for certain.
“He Performed At An Elite Degree For Seven Many years”: Doyle Brunson Remembered Throughout WSOP By His Friends
Standing of Doyle’s Fortunate Appeal Casper
Poker followers who used to observe the ESPN episodes of the WSOP may recall a well-known section by which Brunson talked about his fortunate allure, a Zippo lighter bearing the Ghostbusters emblem and affectionately referred to as “Casper.”
Brunson talked about it extensively in his autobiography, and the way Casper grew to become such a fortunate allure that different gamers would pay him to hire it out for an hour at a time. The speed diversified relying on the sport and gamers, however by his estimate, Brunson acknowledged Casper made him greater than $25,000 in rental charges alone.
It was such a fortunate allure that the notorious Howard Lederer as soon as tried to purchase it.
“I bought so fortunate each time I used my Casper protector that my playing buddy Howard Lederer supplied me $3,500 to depart it to him in my will,” Brunson wrote. “I wasn’t certain he was critical till he plunked down his cash. So, I bequeathed Casper to him. Casper was already gaining fame as a result of poker gamers had gotten wind of our deal. ESPN even picked up on the story.”
Brunson then shared that his daughter, Pam Brunson, used Casper within the 2006 WSOP Principal Occasion and outlasted each her father and brother, Todd Brunson. In 2007, she used it once more and completed in 364th place out of 6,358 gamers for $35,000, outlasting her members of the family for a second yr in a row.
Casper continued to show a fortunate allure for Pam, and he or she as soon as pleaded on nationwide tv for Lederer to present again the rights.
“Howard, please let my dad have Casper again. I do know that he bought him to you, however he means a lot to me, and he wants to remain within the household.”
Lederer did promote Casper again to Brunson, albeit for $7,500, greater than twice what he paid for it. So the place is Casper now? PokerNews reached out to Pam Brunson by means of an middleman, and it was confirmed that “it’s packed up someplace however she has it.”
Who is aware of, Casper may sooner or later assist Pam seize a bracelet of her personal.
“And if that occurs,” Brunson wrote of the chance, “they’d certainly induct Casper the Pleasant Ghost into the Poker Corridor of Fame.”
PR & Media Supervisor
PR & Media Supervisor for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
