Michael Phelps and President George Bush(credit: Wikipedia)
Michael Phelps has won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Add this to the seven he won in 2004 at the Olympic Games in Athens. The 23 year old swimmer has made history and is the most decorated Olympian like, ever. Apparently, Phelps also likes to play a bit of poker. His fellow USA teammates have said he plays online for hours at a time. In a Canadian newspaper, people who frequent a casino in Windsor, Ontario mention how Phelps regularly crushes the $1/$2 games there.
The man himself even mentioned how he’d like to play in the World Series of Poker someday. Well, Phelps may get his chance to play poker with the big names of the game much sooner than he ever anticipated. The long-limbed Olympian, who has been named World Swimmer of the Year in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007, has received a bona fide invitation to play in the Asian Poker Tour (APT) event in Macau from August 27 – 31, 2008.
Here’s the open letter from the APT’s Marketing Director to Michael Phelps:
Dear Michael,
First of all, congratulations on your eight gold medals and world record breaking feats - what a supreme sporting achievement and I hope superstardom treats you well. However, I write this open letter to you to say that I am in a position to add weight to the argument that you should be crowned history's ultimate sportsman.
I noticed recently that you have told your local newspaper that you were a big fan of poker and look forward to playing again. By a strange twist of fate, I represent the Asian Poker Tour and we are running Asia's largest ever guaranteed tournament NEXT WEEK in Macau.
It starts on the 27th and runs until the 31st and guarantees a prize pool of $1,500,000 and a first prize of $500,000.
This is the biggest prize pool ever offered in Asia! While you are already in China, why don't you give it a go? It would be our pleasure to fly you in, organize your accommodation and buy-you in to the tournament!
Some have said you are a 'human dolphin' but we're keen to know if history's greatest swimmer is really a fish. You may have feet that can reach angles others cannot to give you the ultimate swimming technique but just you wait until you've got sharks like Vegas poker legend Doyle Brunson chasing you. We'll see how fast you really are then when they smell blood - get some flippers on those size 14's!
Don't bring your goggles, bring a pair of sunglasses - dive in at the deep end and we would love it if you showed us your hand. You've almost certainly got more chance of making good money from our $1,500,000 prize pool than securing any commercial deals! Your homecoming to a delirious country can wait.
Go all-in Michael! We'll even get some special one-on-one lessons for you from poker's greatest players. If it makes you happier we'll even bring in Mark Spitz too and you can play heads-up! Some have campaigned for poker to become an Olympic sport. The fact that you are a 'human dolphin' doesn't mean you will necessary get a gold medal for Texas Hold'em!
In all seriousness, come join us, you may as well while you are there! We'll definitely show you a good time and would be honored with your presence. Get the closing ceremony over and done with first though!
Best Wishes,
Jeff Mann
The Asian Poker Tour
The APT Macau takes place at the Galaxy StarWorld Hotel & Casino Resort and features a guaranteed prize pool of $1.5 million. First place is schedule to take home $500,000. In addition to Doyle Brunson, JC Tran, Nam Le, John Juanda and APT Manila champ David Saab are expected to attend this event.
Fancy a bit of Chinese poker? You can play it online at PokerRoom.com!