About Us
… Welcome to Pokerati …
a blog with peculiar interest in poker news, poker skills, and poker lives
Dan M
pokerati in chief
Dan Michalski is a mid-career journalist who converted to orthodox poker four years ago. He’s served as editor of All In magazine and PokerBlog.com. In a previous life he was the “official” blogger for the WSOP, and taught strippers how to deal for amateur tournaments in Texas. He now likes to yammer about poker in podcast form.
Beyond the Table / Poker at it’s Renaissance / The Biggest Game Ever / Texas Poker PAC / All posts by Dan M / Email Dan
California Jen
poker writer, hip-hop booty shaker, amateur bluffer
Jennifer Newell is based in LA, where she left a steady career as a bookkeeper for the World Poker Tour to pursue more degenerate pastures writing for various poker magazines, PokerWorks, and serving as the online columnist at Poker Player Newspaper. She also dabbles in Onion-esque fiction at PokerScoopOnline.
Jen’s online column / All posts by Cali Jen / Email Jen / Myspace
Fresh Princess
mother, business belle, weekend semi-pro
Michele Lewis (aka “The Fresh Princess of Bellaire”) serves as Pokerati’s Houston correspondent, but keeps jetting off to Las Vegas and California trying to make it on the professional tournament trail. She’s currently ranked 36th on the all-time ladies money list, and is a contributing author to Women’s Poker Night, an anthology of perspectives from the feminine side of the felt.
MicheleLewis.com / Women’s Poker Night / All posts by Fresh P / Email Michele / Mamanoggin
Karridy
poker radio pioneer, low-stakes bureau chief, suburban g
Karridy Askenasy is a Microsoft-trained programmer and now the CPO (Chief Poker Officer) of a private technology firm. He previously put together what was set to be the biggest tournament in Texas history … only to find himself going heads-up with the law. Upon finishing second in that match-up, Karridy continues to plot his revenge, sometimes semi-live on internet radio as executive producer of Beyond the Table.
Beyond the Table / All posts by Karridy / Email Karridy / Myspace
Donkey Bomber
retired finance captain, author, cruiserweight pro
Tom Schneider was once a powerful corporate executive who played a lot of golf. Then he decided to ditch it all to write a book and turn pro. He now plays regularly in $400/$800 game at Bellagio while maintaining a 6-handicap on the links. In addition to winning the 2006 Pokerati Invitational, Donkey Bomber has three WSOP and one WPT final tables under his ever-expanding belt. As the 102nd ranked tournament player in the world last year, his signature move at the table was being nice to dealers.UPDATE: He has since gone on to win two WSOP bracelets and was named the 2007 WSOP Player of the Year.
Beyond the Table / Tom’s Winning Wisdom / Oops, I Won Too Much Money / All posts by Donkey Bomber / Email Tom
Lavigne in Austin
government, media, poker relations
Mike Lavigne is founder and treasurer of the Texas Poker PAC – the only political action committee chartered exclusively in the interests of poker. As a recovering Democrat/out-of-the-closet bipartisan, he also sits on the board of the Texas Card Players Association, and has played an instrumental role in spearheading the movement to legalize poker in the Lone Star State. When not running the halls of the capitol, Lavigne can be found playing (like a rock) for quarters while drinking cheap beer.
Texas Poker PAC / Texas Card Players Assoc. / Poker Players Alliance / All posts by Lavigne in Austin / Email Mike
The Big Randy
high-stakes attorney, mid-stakes gunner
TBR plays a big game with big skills, and he’s tasted cash in the Big One at the WSOP. When he’s not reading every inane poker article on the internet, he’s teaching three daughters to love the game.
