best of luck slim

Very good way of putting it. Slim showed that poker could be "cool" and probably (to this day) defines a generation's vision of a poker player.

Regards, Lee

His book is one of my all time favorites! I've had a few friends read it who know nothing about poker and they loved it too. If only %10 of what he said was true he still had an amazing life. I hope he pulls through.

Where's slim in this? Interesting that games were self dealt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoUs-1jppUk

David Sims didn't hit it down a hill, and if I'm quoting the part correctly: "He hit it down the ****ing road, didn't he?

Enjoyed reading this thread so far with some of the stories. I'm sure more to come. Prayers to Slim and his family one of the greats. Like someone you can't underestimate the will to live so you know he'll battle.

(have made this post several times over the years)

I finished 3rd in the last tourney Slim ever won, $540 O8 at the Reno Hilton in Jan 2002, the late Brian Saltus finished 2nd.

The night before the final table, Slim told Vince Burgio, Brad Daugherty & myself the "eat a quail a day for 30 straight days" story that wound up in the book.

Slim is the product of a very different, long gone, time and place. His flaws are well-known, some are inexcusable, but I do wish the best for him & his family.

This is the classic opening scene...Slim doesn't appear until the very end at the high stakes game IIRC... I'm 25 and I've only seen this film once, but I can easily understand why people call it a classic...

All the Best to Slim and his family... I was in a local mom and pop book store about 2 years ago and the only poker book they carried was Aramarillo Slim's..Even though it wasn't a "strat" book, I'm still very glad I picked it up and spent the time reading it...

Keep fighting Slim!

From Doyles twitter

Doyle Brunson ‏ @TexDolly Reply Retweeted Favorite · Open
What a tough old bird. Amarillo Slim had his horses brought to the hospice today. He's getting stronger each day

Here's 2 tweets from Doyle on April 19

--Amarillo Slim had faults as we all do, but he started the poker boom as we know it. Look him up on google.
19 Apr Doyle Brunson Doyle Brunson ‏ @TexDolly

--Just talked to Amarillo Slim. He is I'n hospice but is fighting hard. Tears came to my eyes as we said bye.

His book was legendary. All the best to him and his family.

Damn.

I've been thinking about Slim, and I can't find anything bad to say and so much good. I believe the notarized, sworn statements from his family.

In these old years, Slim would tell people, very truthfully, that he had done a whole lot for poker. I flew out with him to the World Series in 1975. At that time, and for many years, he was the most famous gambler in America, not just poker player. I'd known Slim since I was 21, and he often played here in Lubbock at the Shop. Gamblers should be entertainers. The light players should be treated as customers, and made to have fun. When Slim was in town the game would fill up, and he would be "on" in the Show Business sense.

At the World Series, all the tourists wanted to see Amarillo Slim. He was most gracious, always laughing, always smiling and coming with the old sayings for everyone. Like Benny Binion, Slim treated the little man like a big man, talking to everyone. In the past days, since Shawn Rice called to tell me that Slim was headed for hospice, I've watched some videos, listened to a good Slim interview on NPR, google Slim and NPR. I've done a couple of interviews. When people saw Slim, they smiled immediately and got ready to laugh, share stories, and have a great time. I'd spend mornings teaching in a University and afternoons at the poker palace, the Shop. We laughed and joked and had a good time, and Slim was better at it than anyone in the world. Fun. That's why Johnny Carson, with the pick of any comedians, would pick Slim. His "act" was fabulous. Minnesota Fats was New York Fats until the movie came out in 1964. He preceded Slim as getting nationally famous saying he was a professional gambler and proud of it.

If I saw anybody with a press badge, I'd point them to Slim at the World Series. Interviewers were never dissapointed, were in fact amazed. Newspaper and magazine stories about the World Seris often included the show biz Slim we all know.

That 1973 World Series final table clip was really unique in that you had many of poker's most colorful, and intelligent gamblers there. Dandy Crandell Addington, my favorite, Puggy Pearson, like Slim, always on. Treetop Staus, a showman, Johnny Moss, not much of a showman. All of these guys were great with the jokes. Slim wasn't even at the final table but he'd wander on camera and wise crack, and steal the show. The Amarillo Slim that I will be remembering was always laughing, always joking, always very interesting, and always "on."

Benny Binion sent Crandell Addington and Treetop Jack Straus to London to promote no limit Texas hold 'em. Slim wasn't the only show business poker player.

Thanks so very much for posting the 1973 final table. It was totally unique in having poker's most colorful gathered around. It is most illustrative of the time and spirit of the early World Series. Thanks again!

The first day I met Slim was at Reverend Pruitt's poker game in 1961. We were sitting around waiting for enough players to start and Slim was "on" entertaining, and bull****ting. He was also going for a tough image. He said some guy pulled a gun at a poker game, and he already had his six-shooter pointed at him under the table. Then he went to his car and brought in this enormous, long-barraled six-shooter that would have been totally impracticle for a gambler.

When the tourists wanted Slim's autograph or to be photographed with him, he was very accessible, friendly, and represented Binion's and poker in a fabulous way everyone would remember. Amarillo Slim is still one of the most famous gamblers in the world.

I've seen big gamblers do what Slim did at Winstar in keeping a young gambler from busting himself. I believe the story for sure. Anybody on TwoPlusTwo has to be ready to be called a liar, because that is all a few folks do. Not most. The wonderful people on this thread are real, genuine, and what I think gamblers should be like.

Let the God help you, Slim. Fight for your life!

Gardena c 1973. Great film, BTW. All those games were filthy lol.

Dealers showed up in Gardena about 1976-77 or so.

Sounds like he is the real deal then and not a Kmart Cowboy.

Best Wishes, Slim.