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Flashback to 2008. It is the night before the Main Event. Yours truly is covering the final table of the $1,500 Limit Holdem Shootout Event where Jean-Robert Bellande is heads-up with Matt Graham for the bracelet. At some point, Bellande’s entourage decided to go to McDonald’s and they got a Happy Meal. They brought Bellande the toy for good luck.

The Poker Junkie Monkey

Well, the toy did not bring him any luck as Graham came back from being crippled to win the event. After the event, Bellande left his toy at the final table and the floor person decided to give it to me. The event did not end until 7:30 a.m. the morning of the Main Event and I had to be back into work at 10:30 a.m. for the event. Guess what. Compncards didn’t get any sleep.

Me without sleep is very interesting. I basically go a little loopy. I decided, “Hey! Let’s make the money our mascot!” So, among other weirdness, I made the money our mascot for the rest of the WSOP. I hung him from the laptop and people would come by and play with my monkey.

I’m actually not kidding. People came by and played with my monkey every day. Even people that said they would never play with my monkey in a Million years came by and played with my monkey.

So, fast forward to this year. This year, I will be at the Rio providing coverage of the WSOP for Poker Junkie. And I am bringing the monkey. This year he will be the “Poker Junkie Monkey.”

So, keep a look out for a small monkey hanging from a laptop. If you see me, feel free to come by, say hi, and play with my monkey.