Will Mike "the Mouth" Matusow win a spot in the Poker Hall of Fame? In his favor is sheer brand recognizability. He's one of the best-known players in the game.
Against this stand the vagaries of the voting criteria.There's plenty of wiggle room here and how the voters interpret the following will make all the difference to his chances:
- A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition;
- Be a minimum of 40-years-old at the time of nomination;
- Played for high stakes;
- Played consistently well;
- Gained the respect of peers; and
- Stood the test of time.
Matusow used to play at the highest levels consistently, though he has come down in the world somewhat. His current regular game is a $4-$8 Omaha hi/lo game (a game in which he is a widely acknowledged expert). He remains a sharp player and one whose game is respected within its wheelhouse.
He's a fearless advocate of his beliefs, though this may also be one of the things that weighs against him in the polls.
