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Posted by on Jun 11, 2013 in Blog, Facing the Firing Squad | 2 comments

Facing the Firing Squad: Padraig Parkinson

 

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Meet Padraig Parkinson

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Padraig Parkinson once thought of himself seriously as a professional poker player, until he started running badly.

He was born in Dublin, Ireland, and comes with all the stereotypical Irish baggage, including a magical talent for making the contents of any bottle disappear.  A few years ago, he got fed up with Dublin’s incessantly depressing weather and took a permanent residential sabbatical in France, much to the chagrin of his French neighbors who won’t bother to learn Padraig’s native language.  Other than natural wit and occasional charm, Parkinson is best known for his occasional success, even flashes of brilliance, as a poker tournament player.  He finished third to fellow countryman Noel Furlong in the 1999 world poker championship.  He won the U.K.’s Late Night Poker and has made many deep runs in European Poker Tour and World Poker Tour events.  He’s won nearly $2 million in tournament poker, all of which has already been blown (and then some), he says.

Padraig can be followed at Blog: my.888poker.com or Twitter: @padraig888

 

What are some of the things you stand for?

Old ladies and pregnant people of either sex on the bus.  Especially if they look like they’re just about to get off.

What are some of the things you stand against?

Bar counters usually.  Sometimes, walls in a serious crisis.

What living person do you admire the most, and why?

Brother Kevin, who feeds the homeless in Dublin every day because he practices what others preach.

What historical figure do you admire the most, and why?

Robin Hood.  Any guy that can make a career out of moving chips from big stacks to small stacks without having to answer any awkward questions about the rake deserves the utmost respect.

What living person do you despise?

That waiter in the Wynn who says “Excellent choice, Sir” — no matter what you order.  I’m also not too keen on that asshole in the 7 seat.

If money were not an object, what profession would you choose?

I’d love to be (U-2) Bono’s dentist.  HE gives ME pain every time he opens his mouth.

What is it about yourself that you are most proud of?

I’m definitely the glass is half full kind of guy.  Unfortunately, it’s usually half full of whiskey.

What is about yourself that you’d like to change?

I’m not sure, but there must be something I neglected to fuck up.

What’s the most exciting thing you’ve ever done?

I drank buckets of vodka whilst railing my friends Scott Gray and Julian Gardner at the final table of the 2002 WSOP main event.  I was probably going to win a lot of money.  If I didn’t it was going to be someone else’s fault.

What the most unusual time and place you’ve ever visited?

I was in heaven once.  At least I assume that’s where I was because Phil Hellmuth was being interviewed and there was no sound.

Name a place you’ve never visited where you still want to go?

I’d like to be the first Irish guy to walk on the moon.  Especially if I could do it like the Americans in that desert in Arizona.  I hate heights.

Favorite book, favorite music, and favorite musician?

Jesse May’s next poker novel.

What upsets you the most?

Having to do something.

What bores you?

Not having to do something.

Do you believe in an afterlife and why do you believe it so?

If the length of time it takes a guy to make a decision about nothing at the poker table these days is anything to go by the concept of eternity is something Id prefer not to think about.

 

padraig-parkinson

2 Comments

  1. Paidraig is smart, sensitive, highly intelligent.

    He is pretty much the oposite of hellmuth.
    I wish him a strong DNA, why not, why could he not live a other 30 years, drinking , smoking, re-doing the world with friends,passing the time, being able to continually observing without being a simple spectator like most.

    That guy is brutally honest, he is like a sponge, no pun intended, that’s why he drinks.
    I specifly remember years ago , having to suffered hellmuth at the table for hours, I had to go take a Valium, finish it up with a entire bottle of a good red , he was suddenly half pleasant.
    Unfortunately, I had to stop drinking , I see idiots everywhere now.

    Padraik, the poem ” IF ” by Rudyard kipling defines you well, at least , i think .

  2. Padraig , not Paidrak or Paidraig, got to say, unusual .

    Padraig, when you come to The States, tell Nolan to ring me.

    On me, a 30 year old whisky When I join you with Nolan.

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