I love humor. It helps me pass the time at a poker table, especially in the early stages of a long tournament. This occurred during the recent WSOP Circuit event in Tunica, Ms, in 2010.

I sat down at table #11 and was pleased to see my good friend (Mark "Pegasus" Smith) join me at the table. He had the #6 seat. Mark is a very special poker player... So special in fact, he shares a world record with only one other person on the planet. Both he and "Men the Master" are the only poker players alive that can accurately claim to have won 4 WSOP Circuit Event Championship rings.  Mark recently won his fourth ring in Elizabeth, Indiana. Mark only wears two of his rings when he plays, because, quite frankly, the things are huge! He wears one on each hand.

When the table was full, I began chit-chatting (info searching as I like to call it!) with the young-gun looking  player in the #3 seat. He told me that he had recently cashed in a WSOP event in Elizabeth, In. [As a matter of fact, I had also, but I sure wouldn't share that info with my current opponents.]  I replied with..."oh, I heard a guy won his fourth WSOP ring up there... did you know that?”  "Yep..." He shot back, adding... "And I played with him in that event. I was right there when he did it!"

I shot Mark a glance and he, thru no physical movement what-so-ever, authorized me to terrorize the poor kid!  I asked the #3 seat... "So what is that guy's name anyway?" He replied "Oh, I'm not good with names, but I know him, we played in that event together and another one earlier in the week." "Is that so?" I said slowly and thoughtfully, as I glanced at a now rye smiling Mark Pegasus Smith!  He was clearly amused by what he could see I was about to do to this guy.

I offered my opinion; "I heard the guy is a real Donkey!. What do you think? The kid said "Well... I'm not really sure..." So I pressed him.... "You played a lot with him, any good poker player would know a donkey when they see one, wouldn't they...how about it?"  He stepped in it... "Well, yea, kind of, I'd say he is a donkey... But he has won four rings... He's not too big a donkey!" Then the kid surprised us by turning to Mark and saying "Man, you got two rings... how hard would it be to win 4?" Mark paused for a second so he didn't just burst out laughing... and said " Yep,,, it was pretty tough getting two!...four would be really hard!"

Now everyone at the table was listening or trying to get into the conversation... the guy two seats to Mark's left said... "Man those rings are big, how could he wear four?  I quickly said... "Ya know, I've seen the guy and he's only got two fingers on each hand... I don't have a clue what he would do if he wins another one!"  I think Mark was bitting his lip very hard now...

As the conversation heated up, I continued to draw negative comments from the #3 seat about Mark... they were clearly reluctantly given up by the poor kid who simply wanted to agree with me. He grew tired of the focus seemly to be on him, so he slipped on his earphones when the opportunity presented itself.

Moments later, Lisa, the Tournament OfficIal passed right behind the kid... "Hey Lisa... What the heck is the name of the guy who recently won his fourth WSOP Ring? ... She appeared confused for a second but eventually pointed right at Mark and said... "Hey! You're messing with me... That's him right there!"  The other people at the table (except the kid in the #3 seat) all looked astonished and then as a group burst into hard laughter!!! The kid never heard a word that Lisa had said. He removed the earphones to try and figure out what we were all laughing about but it was too late....

I continued to torment him and everyone else now enjoyed the joke... Finally, I decided he was well done and ready to come out of the oven...I offered my hand and introduced myself... We shook hands and he gave me his name (Which I will not reveal here for his sake!)

I then introduced him to Mark Smith and added... "But you two already know each other don't you..." the kid looked puzzled and said... "Noooo, I don't... think...so!"  I quickly offered... "Sure you do, Mark just won his fourth WSOP Circuit Event ring up in Elizabeth, Indiana!"  The shock on the kids face sent all of us into hysteria for several minutes. I don't think I've ever laughed harder at a poker table!

When the laughter died down... Mark looked at the kid and said "So you think I'm a donkey do you?  The poor kid couldn't back track fast enough as he tried to blame me for all the negative things he had agreed to about Mark... We all laughed even harder