Chris Moneymaker Can Ride

In My Taxi Anytime

by Vegas Taxi Driver
July 12, 2007

One of the most common questions I am asked by passengers in my cab is, "Have you ever had anyone famous in your cab?" My answer is always that truly famous people have limousines lined up and go in and out of security entrances.
So last night, which was a miserably slow night for taxicabs in Las Vegas, I took a guy from the airport to the Rio around midnight. I thought that was a good thing because the World Series of Poker is at the Rio and there would be lots of people coming out. I got in line behind some cabs at the back door of the Rio where the WSOP is going on and proceeded to sit there and wait and wait and wait. About 40 minutes later I finally got a ride. 
This guy was trying to get in my cab while I was pulling up to where the line is supposed to be. I pulled up to where it was safe for him to get in before letting him in. I apologized to him and explained to him that I needed to pull up before I could let him in. He said he understood and told me he just wanted to "get out of here". I laughed and started driving him to Treasure Island. I asked him how the tournament was going, and he said he got knocked out of the main event. As I do with all my rides, I asked him about how many tournaments he plays a year. He told me about 15 or so. I said that he must be pretty good to play that much. He said it was all he did. I asked him what was the biggest tournament he had ever won, and he said he won the main event of the WSOP in 2003. At that point I didn't know what to ask this guy, so I said, "What's your name?" He answered, "Chris Moneymaker." I was still in the parking lot of the Rio, so I slowed down and turned around to look at him, and there was Chris Moneymaker sitting in the back seat of my cab. 
Most of the time I couldn't tell you what the people look like in my cab. I would never be a good expert witness or detective when it comes to identifying or describing people. I can work with somebody for a year and not remember what color their eyes are. If I didn't asked him about his poker career I probably would not have known that Chris Moneymaker was in my cab until he paid me. 
I really wanted to know what happened in his recent participation in the CNBC Trading With The Stars contest. He was one of the top contenders until near the end of the contest, and then he finished last. I watch CNBC every day and I was pulling for him. He explained to me that he went fishing for a few days and his trades unraveled. He still raised $5000 for his favorite charity. Wounded Warriors.

Now I have had some wanna-be poker players in my cab that I have seen on TV and on the Internet, but they have all been jerks, and they weren't Chris Moneymaker. I was impressed with the fact that he has good manners (even toward a lowly cabbie who doesn't know who he is) and wasn't tweaked out or pretentious. At the end of the ride I told him I was big fan and told him I would rather have his autograph than the fare. I got his autograph and he handed me the fare which he already had in his hand. That autograph will be worth a lot more after he wins several more big ones, which I know he will. 
Thanks Chris. You made my night.
I read online today that Chris Moneymaker had an amazing day of play throughout most of yesterday, but like he told me, the cards just didn't go his way, and he ended up getting knocked out. 
Chris Ferguson and Gus Hansen are still in it. Maybe one of them will get in my cab tonight.

by Vegas Taxi Driver
July 12, 2007

For more info about Chris Moneymaker, go to ChrisMoneymaker.com.

DAY 2B REFINES MAIN EVENT LIST FURTHER-
459 survivors from a starter field of 1303 7/12/07
http://www.online-casinos.com/news/news4954.asp

2007 World Series: ESPN Feature Table with Chris Moneymaker 7/12/07
http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/blogs/article/1543

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