I think that a lot of peoples comments here aren't necessary, though I agree it is frustrating to watch someone that you supported and signed the petition to get on The Big Game, play the way he did, but it shouldn't be relevant. In my eyes the petition was signed and Huggins was supported because people wanted to see him get his life on track and see him do well while representing the community. We didn't sign the petition because we thought hes a monster in the game and expected him to crush the game.

Though his plays were disappointing I don't think its relevant to why people supported him and people shouldn't be bashing on the guy because of it. Theres no need to kick someone while hes down, Huggins is aware of what his mistakes were, and in his defense im sure there was more pressure than anyone can imagine, especially when the money is as life changing as it was for him.

All I got to say is good luck with the rest of your life Huggins, know that there's at-least 1,000 people here supporting you and hopefully you can continue to work on your game and progress in everything you do, including your ambition to help out charities.

Ignore all the haters. You didn't get on the show because of your play, it was because of your story/support from the 2plus2 community.

I've only watched 2 weeks so far and will watch the rest. I just wanted to say I would of busted a nut playing against Prahlad Friedman. You realize that was the king of UB. He killed online poker back in the day. That's def one of my goals, play a cash game session vs him. You gotta take him up on the offer to do a rap video/recording. Get an autograph for me, and send it to me. I'll pay for the shipping and handling. I'm serious too.

Good luck with life and poker. Your story is truly an inspiration.

Fwiw I was a little bewildered by the tightness of play just as with most loose cannons and not necessarily Jared in particular.
It seems just about none of those understood that even if you get $100,000 in with 1% equity, you still make $1k. If you get it in flipping you're making $50k, so I don't really see the point of playing weak-tight in a freeroll where even complete spewage is more profitable.
Yeah, I can understand this "once in a lifetime opportunity" stuff but I'd be mad at myself if that would stop me from playing my EV and waiting for the right end of a cooler for 150 hands...

id rather be a full blown chest thumping tard than someone whos life is so sad that sitting on the internet putting strangers down makes me feel better about myself

Yes, my petulance signifies my life's worth while yours is okay. Keep up with the hypocrisy brainiac.

I wake up past noon everyday and sometime stroll into the casino at midnight for 4/5 hrs, sometimes not. Man, what a horrible life.

First off mad support and love for you Jared. I wish you the best and I know you'll get there.

That said.. your actual poker play on the show was atrocious. Maybe it's the TV thing or being somewhat new to poker, but on purely technical level and being absolutely 100% objective that play had no chance of showing any profit even if you dragged it out far beyond the allotted 150 hands. There were so many spots where you would raise pre, hit the board only to check / fold on a flop to a bet it was almost sickening to watch. It tilted me just to watch you fold your way out of nearly 99% of your flopped hands.

I'm only disappointed because I really wanted you to go out there and punish the pros, take their money and do well for yourself with it. Instead it felt like you'd squandered that golden chance ;(

Jared , I did not watch much of the show at all ,but honestly. I don't like the haters itt on your play. We don't know what you were thinking in the spot light ,sitting with these big time pros. People here are honestly nit picking everything you did. It is very easy to play Monday morning quaterback when you are not under pressure your self. I'm sure what ever play you made it would get nitpicked anyways ,you can't win with these people .
Gl

Well said. And whereas I also dislike the blind haters and think most of their criticism is ill-placed, you still need to be able to look at your game critically at all times if you hope to improve. No one's game is ever perfect.

I wish the best for Jarod and was rooting for him right from the get go. I wanted him to punish Selbst especially It's always better the Cannon get away with money than a rich man get richer, especially considering what this Cannon had gone through to get to that stage.

That 99 hand vs Prahlad was pretty awfull though ^^

by far the best post on jared's play i've seen

[ ] No money HU4rollz, JH is solid.

After the show filmed I was really hard on myself about some mistakes I made for a few months. Overly hard on myself. Then over time, that slowly went away, and I felt great about the whole experience.

Then when the show aired, some things happened, that left a sour taste in my mouth. I don't mention negativity on 2+2, because I don't want to come across as unappreciative, or feed the negativity. In certain ways, I was naive about the whole experience, and let some people take advantage of me in various ways, and it cost me a lot. Trying to be a positive person, a sensitive guy, can sometimes be, totally soul crushing. But that's sometimes how life's lessons are learned. Better now than later. I'll be back stronger and wiser.

Are you still playing?

Just tonight i basically read up on your entire story Jared, and it makes me sick to see the hate messages you are receiving. Worse still the guys that trash talk about your game and then put a little GL at the end like they're trying to say "I'm not an *******".

NONE of these guys would have played any better than you, you were nervous to begin with, that's easy to see and there is no shame in that. Considering where you came from and your road to be on the big game of course the money means more to you than these chumps commenting on this thing. I want to say thanks to all the players that supported you and got you to that point in your life. I for one think you played absolutely excellent given your path to getting there. Further into the game you opened up, 4 betting Barry G and 3 betting your big draws. If it had not been for that cooler i really feel like you would have turned a profit. As for those who criticize your decision to run that hand twice i can only laugh in their faces. You were a 4 to 1 dog and if you catch a queen 20+ hands is more than enough to ship it again and make what im sure would have been a welcome 40k profit. Know how i know? Because ANTONIO ESFANDIARI said it, a ****ing PROFESSIONAL POKER PLAYER! He know's more than any of these trolls. You were unlucky, but you had an amazing life experience, these guys are just jealous that their little fantasy of 5betting Phil Hellmuth with 7 2 preflop and showing him a bluff and leaving the game with a 500k profit is just that, a fantasy.

You did it, you lived it, you deserved it.

Run good champ, you are one of the most genuine guys I've ever had the fortune to hear about.

LuckyFish

Thanks a lot Lucky Fish!

Earlier this year I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. It's a serious immune disorder, that causes joint inflammation, and subsequent break down. The symptoms are chronic skin and joint pain, and difficulty doing basic tasks, like standing for a prolonged period of time. For the record, dealing with this condition has been harder than being homeless or anything else I've ever dealt with.

In the lead up to the Big Game, I decided not to talk too much about any health issues I might have. Trying to raise money for charity was the bigger goal that had the potential to help a lot more people. Plus psoriatic arthritis is really complex. There is no cure, it takes a long time to lock down a diagnosis, and both the severity and patients' response to treatment vary dramatically. Lastly I didn't want to put extra pressure on myself. That part of it, was something happening on my side that I did not discuss much for those reasons.

Yes I still play poker! I'm a student at StackEmCoaching! It's a cool website, I'd highly recommend you check it out!

Havent read this thread or really followed much of this story at all since reading the orignal BBV thread last year some time, but i just saw this thread on the front page of the forums and wanted to drop in. Things are clearly still far from perfect but you have provided a very inspirational story and i admire your attitude and positivity.

It's quite disgusting that these mouth breathing drool bags who likely don't have the cells to create any kind of constructive thought feel the need to spew their opinions on something or other.

Especially topical crap like his performance in poker, or more specifically on the big game. LOL. are you ****ing real? Do you have any idea what it is like to be such an outlier in society, and then be put in front of the bright spot lights with huge amounts of constant pressure from every angle.

Don't worry about these lowlifes though, as they are nothing but ignorant and likely have trouble opening a tin of beans, and their biggest health scare is probably chafing and aches from googling melanie iglesias too much from their grandmothers basement.

You have already proved and continue to prove more than enough about yourself for many reasons far and beyond the heights that anything to do with poker could ever reach.

I'm sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis, and hope that the treatment goes well and provides you with the relief that you deserve.

Jared ftw

Ignore the haters. Seriously don't even respond to a bunch of 15 year old fat kids that act tough on an anonymous message board. You put yourself out there and I commend you for that. I wish you good luck with all your future endeavors.

i can't believe all the hate he gets here

I Jared!

Thank you very much. I don't remember the last time I was able to walk without pain, I'm having a hard time standing for more than 30 minutes. Fortunately there are treatments available, a family of drugs calls biologics, and my doctor is knowledgable and informed. I need to be careful because psoriatic arthritis is degenerative and I'm only 29. I'm kind of hoping the diagnosis is some sort of misunderstanding, but in the mean time I'm taking the steps I need to take, in order to get the proper treatment.

Hey Jared,

Been so busy since it happened, but my vacation starts in 8 days. A highlight will be watching The Big Game, and seeing your appearance. I'm grunting the thread, but hope life is going better.

Any updates on his condition? Randomly thought of this the other day decided to bump

Sitting 1/3 NL in Isle of Capri Lake Charles last night, and this familiar face sits to my left. Thought it was him, but suspicions were confirmed when he handed his players card to the dealer. For the next minute the only word I could muster was "unbelievable". As you can see I don't talk much at tables. However, having read his story, and watching his Big Game shot I had to break my code of silence. He looks good!!! Didnt ask about his medical condition just his general well being. He moved to Houston, TX after receiving a job offer, and is still playing poker. Apparently a regular at the Isle, as the dealers knew him on site. Cool dude. No investigative journalism here.

His game:

Nitty, and received little to no action on bring in or his reraise to open raiser.

Hi Jared,

Before I actually start commenting on any poker, I'd just like to say I genuinely think that you have a massive heart, and are a really great person. Good luck with all of your future endeavours.

I'd just like to comment on the poker side of the Big Game appearance. You mention the hand where Greenstein raises with 75s and Vanessa 3-bets. I don't think calling with ATs is lighting money on fire here, as you say. First of all, we can assume that Barry's range is pretty strong, big aces, KQ, high suited cards and some suited connectors and small pairs. Most of these are going to call Selbst's 3-bet, creating a multiway pot, if we assume you call with ATs. Vanessa doesn't have to have a hand as strong as JJ, as she is an incredibly aggressive player. ATs is also a hand that flops very well. Calling here is the optimal play in my opinion, because chances are you'll see a multiway flop with a hand that has the potential to flop monsters, and in general flops very well.

I think Stapes had justification for the criticism he was levelling at you in the first 60 hands, I really wanted you to do well, but was screaming at my laptop at times! I appreciate that you didn't pick up many cards, but the pro's, Esfandiari in particular, were betting at every flop, knowing you would fold without at least top pair. Multiple times, you folded a strong middle pair to a single bet on the flop in a Heads-Up pot.

As I said before, whatever my angle on your play, I really do wish you all the best.