Got to work with him a few times back in the poker book days...he was always kind and gracious and polite and just an all around good guy.

Arguably poker's greatest ambassador, was a pleasure to watch his broadcasts. Hope he's resting easy.

Mike’s enthusiasm for the game we love was obvious and contagious. I can’t think of anyone who’s done more to elevate poker than Mike Sexton.

I remember reading the Stu Unger biography and being blown away by how far Mike went to help his friend. I’m sure he is as kind in real life as he comes across on television. I hope he’s comfortable, and surrounded by loved ones.

Sad to hear he's in hospice.

His voice and accent is imprinted in my mind forever. He's had an impact on the entire poker community and even those who just watch it on TV.

f cancer

His commentary and passion during the early days of televised poker definitely helped grow my interest in the game. He's an absolute poker legend and an even better man by all accounts.

Mike is one of the best people of all time in the poker community. Pure class and loved by all.

That's not treatment.

I don't think we need to be speculating on what Mike's treatment plan and situation is. Yes, hospice is considered patient palliative care, or pain management. But I've known people that have been in hospice while still taking a low-grade chemotherapy pill by mouth, they aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.

Mike is one of the best there is in poker, has contributed so much. Not many OG super good guys like him left out there anymore. It's encouraging to read that Rob Yong spoke to him, and hear about his good disposition, and that he is getting our messages of gratitude and well wishes.

My bad. In my defense, I wasn't speculating so much as I was simply trying to clarify what appeared to be some confusion about hospice care. Your statement (bolded) better stated what I was attempting to say with my own post.

Mike Sexton reminds me of an article Esquire did about Mister Rogers a long time ago. I think it might have been the same one that inspired the recent Tom Hanks film. It was as if most people cynically assumed the good-guy persona was merely a put-on for the show, and that the author (Tom Junod) would finally reveal the proverbial skeletons in the closet. The overwhelming reaction to the piece – or more accurately, to Fred Rogers – was some version of "Wow, I never realized the guy is truly as good as the character he played all those years."

Sexton strikes me as having a similar reputation. His on-air persona is that of a true gentleman. Then the lights turn off and the camera stops rolling, and we see his true colors: also that of a true gentleman. You never hear someone say, "Dude, you got snowed, that guy is a total prick." Universal respect.

So yeah, I'm going with that... Mike Sexton is the Mister Rogers of poker. Only a much better dancer.

His enthusiastic and knowledgeable tv commentary was outstanding, drawing the viewer into the play. He has $6.7M career poker earnings, so is not just able to talk the game but play it at the top levels too. The help he gave Stu Unger was very impressive, and he is by far the best ambassador ever for poker.

I first "met" Mike Sexton via e-mail, (to my regret, never in RL), when I started playing at PartyPoker in 2002.

He must have thought of me as a "riggie", (because of a few complaints about bad beats, odd run-outs and the like), but he was always most polite, friendly and helpful in his replies.

I've kept them ever since. Here's one, from February 2002, for example:

"Hi Mike,

No, I did this research on my own because I wanted to see for myself. (You've got me doing research now. ) I did see your data and I was/am concerned about it.

As for the guy's post on Two Plus Two, we are aware of it. His account was blocked and payment was delayed because of suspicion and an ongoing investigation. (For your info, and please keep this to yourself until we respond - if we decide to - this player had multiple accounts from the same ISP - looks like a dorm in Illinois. He and another user name were playing in the same games at the same time for over a month - over 3000 hands together - on two computers. It doesn't mean "collusion" during a hand took place, but it does look to us like he/they were aware of the others whole cards. A review board is currently looking into all the hand histories. In the meantime, we did block paying him at this time.)

Talk to you later.

Mike".

I wish him all the best, and thank him for all the years that he gave to making the poker community and environment so much the better by his generous and continuous presence.

He is the golf equivalent of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer combined.

I don’t even believe how he transverses different eras with such ease. From print to newsgroups to Internet poker and then tv. Always stood out.

It is like he is born to promote poker. Programmed perfectly. And continues to operate on the same level for decade after decade after decade.

He is one of a kind. Voice stuck in my head forever.

Mr. Sexton,
I want to thank you for your passion and dedication to the game. It has inspired a lot of us over the years, and I hope to see you on the tables again.

The poker boom wasn't because of Moneymaker.

The poker boom was a combination of Party Poker & WPT. Mike Sexton was both of those things. Thank you, Mike. Poker would never have been what it is without you.

I’d say story checks out! (though I think even Mike has publicly said Moneymaker was also a huge draw for online poker growth)

I really hope someone who is close to Mike Sexton can read all the posts from this thread to him while he is in hospice. Mike needs to know how important he is to us and poker.

Can someone with Twitter link this thread in the comments of the original Twitter post.

Mike is probably the most approachable pro in the industry. I was at the WPT Jax a few years ago, eating lunch by myself, and Mike walked by. I said hello, he saw my UNC sweatshirt, pulled up a chair and we spoke for 20 mins about everything from UNC hoops, Ohio St football, living in Fayetteville/Ft Bragg, to beach music. Rest easy my friend.

We are talking to Mike and giving him our love right now now on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpM-s4Fq_hU

Mike is a Legend.

Thanks for the link Jonathan. The tribute stream is about an hour in from what I can tell. Here's the embedded video.

Great guy. I've never heard a bad thing about him, which is saying a lot in the poker world. I enjoyed his upbeat WPT commentary back in the day.

I played with Mike several times back in the day and I remember him busting me in a limit hold 'em tournament in the WSOP in '97 or '98. Good times.