Mike actually was a very good poker player.
I think that gets overlooked a lot, given what he meant to everything else in the Pokersphere.

He was a class act, he was a gentleman, he was a nice guy, he was easy to talk to and he had a particular talent for making everyone he talked to feel part of the loop- and none of it was a lie or an act, he truly was 'that guy' - but he would also figure out whatever way was best to take your chips and if you read his kindness for weakness, you were going to pay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ocEbQUiYuw

I don't think you could find a single player who doesn't respect him for everything he was.

As so many have done, I'd like to share a Mike Sexton story. It is the 2011 WSOP, and the $10K buyin no-limit 2-7 single draw event is coming up. I've decided to sell some action at face value, hopefully about 30-50%. I text several friends, including Mike. He replies that he would love to buy a piece, but the tournament runs from June 9-11, he is out of town, and won't be back until the 13th. I tell him that's fine, I don't need the cash up front, he can pay me when he gets back, or I will pay him if I make the money.

On the 13th, I see Mike at the Rio, walk up, and thank him for buying a piece. As he's starting to reach into his pocket, assuming he owes me $1000, I hand him his $1800 profit, since I finished 9th. He gave that big smile he's famous for, laughed out loud, and exclaimed "That's the easiest money I ever made. All I had to do was send a text."

While selling him that piece ended up costing me money, it was worth it to see his smile. And also to know he had enough confidence in me to want to buy my action. We will miss you Mike, and I will think about you every time I play the game we love.

I'd always thought that no one could approach Isai Scheinberg for contributions to the poker community since the turn of the century, but in thinking back on the last two decades, Mike Sexton, via his involvement in organizing, PartyPoker, and WPT is every bit his equal. That is not something I would ever say lightly. His place on the Mount Rushmore of modern poker is one of the easiest ones to confirm.

The poker world is worse off for having Mike Sexton not it. So is the world as a whole; I met him only a few times but there was nothing phony or put on about the persona he displayed on camera. Just one of those great people.

RIP.

Just to add, it says so much that he is getting a lot of national news coverage.

Just watched a WPT without Sexton. Sure ain’t the same.

I heard the news a few hours ago, very sad, I never met Mike in person but from what I saw and read in the past and now, he is an absolute legend of the game we all love to play.

Such an awesome tale Greg!

Such a cool story, Greg. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Really good to hear that. I was about to ask if there had been any mention in national news in the US. I wasn’t expecting anything here in the UK, but it’s great to know his passing was deemed national news.

Made the front page of ESPN.com, Deadline and CNN.com:

https://www.espn.com/poker/story?id=...on-dies-age-72
https://deadline.com/2020/09/mike-se...tor-1234572087
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/07/us/mi...rnd/index.html

Thank you madlex

Pre WPT and the poker boom Mike was a full time grinder right? It says on his wiki page he quit his sales job in 1977 to paly poker. I'm curious about those years '77-Party poker era. What games did he primarily play to earn his living? Anyone have any stories or info for that time period?

Check out his book, Life's a Gamble for these stories.

Well said. I couldn't have said it any better. Mike and I go back to our youth in Dayton, Ohio when Danny Robison ruled the roost. Mike was always a stand-up guy who had the respect of other gamblers. He was a winner at everything he tried in life and was one of the best poker commentators there was. He and Vince made a great team!

I was fortunate to have sat across the table from him both in Dayton days and at the WSOP and Bike tourneys years later. He was a class act, win or lose. I put a beat on him at the Bike one time and he just smiled and said "nice hand Jay." He bought back into that tournament and made the final table (5th or 6th I think). Naturally I missed the money.

RIP Mike,

I got to meat him for this charity poker tournament in Bel Air every year for a few years. Always super gracious. One year he made it to the final table playing for a me event seat. After he was knocked out, he took over the mic and did live commentary for the final players. He even helped the company clean up and took pictures. We lost a legend.

This is how you spot a mensch. Mike was one and we're going to miss him a lot.

Just saw the news today on of all sources a youtube recommendation.

One of those players and personalities that you don't have to meet to know he is a good man. To leave an impact on so many people through a card game is astonishing. He's more well known than 99% of the top poker pros and always exuded a humble and thankful presence.

R.I.P Mike.

Really great story! I can imagine exactly how he reacted.
Also very cool he didn't even track your results, all he wanted was to help out a friend.

Great to see you, Greg!

RIP Mike.

Not that I have had any long conversations with Mike Sexton, but from all my interactions with him, he has always a pure class act. And that its rare in the world of poker, or anywhere really. Just last February at the partypoker event in South America, Sexton was just so kind and welcoming to everyone. He spoke at the party and made the true grinders, professionals, and qualifiers feel welcome. A living legend, but not unapproachable. He will be missed.

**** you cancer

His WPT commentating sounds very nostalgic to my ears.

There was an advert on tv in the uk recently for wpt on partypoker with a great clip of Mike's voice where he says "every once in a while you get one of those final tables where you just go wow. Tonight is one of those". Does anyone know which series/event this was from because i would like to watch it again?

I enjoyed that hand someone posted from an old wsop against Matusow. Can anyone post anymore great hands of Mike playing or commentating, would be a nice tribute and enjoyable for those of us following the thread.

Mike truly meant something to poker in a truly well rounded trifecta manner. He could play at a high level... he knew all the characters of the game dating generations well and he could commentate the game that truly engaged the audience.
Poker will really miss Mike.