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Posted by on Jul 26, 2013 in Blog, Facing the Firing Squad, General Poker, World Series of Poker | 9 comments

Facing the Firing Squad: Kara Scott

 

kara-scott

 

Kara Scott is best known to many as the stunning face and radiant smile on ESPN’s World Series of Poker coverage.

 

Canadian-born Kara Scott is best known to many as the stunning face and radiant smile on ESPN’s World Series of Poker coverage.  Her natural empathy and grace shine through to the audience, even while conducting interviews no one wants to do or give, which are the dreaded on-camera exchanges moments after players bust out — dreams shattered.  It takes just the right tone to pull this off, and Kara does it like no one else.

Kara was born on the frigid plains of northern Alberta — well not actually on the plains, but in a hospital where it really gets cold.  In 1999, she moved to the U.K. where she lived for ten years.  During that time, Kara established herself as a television personality and journalist.  She became an associate producer and the on-air host for a martial arts show.  She later co-anchored the world backgammon championships.  A longtime poker player, Kara also began working on poker shows, most notable Poker Night Live, High Stakes Poker, and multiple events on the European Poker Tour.  In 2010, she joined ESPN and Poker Productions as the primary reporter for both live and taped coverage on the tournament floor for the WSOP.

Too often seen as just a pretty face, her results as a player often get overlooked.  Kara plays in relatively few events because of her busy work schedule.  However, she was the only female to cash in both the 2008 and 2009 WSOP Main Events (finishing in 104th place out of 6,844 entrants, and 238th out of 6,494 entrants, respectively).  She also finished second in 2009 Irish Open, earning her best tournament score ever — about $500,000 in prize money.

Earlier this year, Kara moved to Northern Italy where she currently resides.  She also recently became engaged.

A fierce advocate for things she believes in, Kara was eager to meet the latest challenge of facing the firing squad:

 

What are some of the things you stand for?

Rooting for the underdog and a general lack of dickish behaviour.

What are some of the things you stand against?

Dickish behaviour.  Spinach Florentine (don’t ask).  Wine coolers.

 

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

Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela.  They seem almost superhuman to me.  Their courage and commitment are mind-blowing.

 

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

Mahatma Gandhi.  Was there ever a better advocate for the underdog or the vulnerable?

 

What living person do you despise?

I find it hard to ‘despise’ but I often reach high levels of strongly annoyed.  Irked even, sometimes.  If I am irked with you, you will know it.

 

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

Cheese-taster.  I would be exceptionally good at this.  I have the required experience if anyone knows of a position going.

 

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

My friends.  They’re a really weird but totally awesome group of people and they like me.

 

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

I’d like to be less reticent.  I am too often the stereotypically quiet, polite, apologetic Canadian.

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

Move to a new country and start all over.  And then do it again.  And again.

 

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

I was at Prince Albert of Monaco’s coronation in 2007, by accident.

 

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

Space.

 

Favorite book, favorite movie, and favorite musician.

Book:  The End of Mr Y
Movie:  Shaun of the Dead

 

What upsets you the most?

This prevailing idea that we’re not all connected and therefore not responsible for our fellow humans.  That is bullshit.

 

What bores you?

The period of time at take-off and landing when I’m not allowed to read my kindle.  Eff you, airline regulations.

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

I don’t think the answer to this question actually matters.  The question itself is universally human, even if the answers vary pretty widely.   It’s all good as long as we don’t use our own answer as a weapon against those who disagree with us.  That is also bullshit.

 

kara-scott-pokerdk

 

9 Comments

  1. NOLAN COMMENTS:

    I’m not in the habit of editing or censoring posts. In fact, I’ve only disallowed a handful of comments which threatened violence and were potentially libelous.

    That said, I generally will not censor any comments directed at me. All you must do is look over the many posts here at my site which I have allowed to know I have pretty thick skin.

    However, when someone agrees to be featured in my space at my personal website, they effectively become my “guest.” Accordingly, I wish to protect my guests from unnecessary attack.

    Persons who agree to be featured in the firing squad series are doing this on their own free time. They graciously agree to show something of themselves that we might not otherwise see. I won’t have people intimidated away from this because of the potential for negative comments.

    And so — I simply will not have this space used as a forum for attack or questioning. Anyone who wants to ask their own questions or make rude comments can start their own site or take it somewhere else.

    That’s my rules.

    — Nolan

  2. I love, love, love Kara Scott! Smart, witty, funny, caring, charming, gorgeous! What’s not to love??

  3. It does not get much better than this woman, does it? Not only does she take your breath away with her beauty, she has a personality that will instantly win you over. Brains, spirit, integrity, fun, and the milk of human kindness. I’ve never met her, but if I could, say on I don’t know, Greenland, I would swim there.

  4. I would think Kara has the most proud parents in the world having nurtured such a extraordinarily balanced human being. In short, even having her on the edge of ‘my’ world through encounters like this and twitter and TV make my life that bit more of a positive journey. Thanks Kara!

    • L’invidia corrode gli animi di chi la prova e scaturisce quando vediamo negli altri qualcosa che noi non abbiamo.

  5. Kara is a beautiful soul in an amazing package. She’s hardworking and deserves every single good thing happening to her.

  6. I like.

  7. While I am a huge Kara fan, this reply is directed more towards the upcoming PNIA. (For some reason I was unable to post a comment there? If you could move it that would be great)

    I’m excited you are doing this Nolan and would like to know if there are any plans to hit the smaller venues across the country in hopes to generate a more wide spread appreciation all over the US? Places like Cherokee NC or West Virginia, and so on. I know Cherokee had an inaugural WSOP circuit series event this year, but that’s pretty much it.

    I’ve spoken with personel at the W Va poker rooms and they say that the costs of having an association with the HPT, WSOP, or WPT are so high they can not afford to do so. Hopefully the PNIA might take a different approach to visiting various casinos all over and help out these smaller casinos as well as locals.

  8. God bless her. A person that doesn’t despise. We could use a lot more of them.

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  1. 2015 American Poker Awards Draws a Full House - Nolan Dalla - […] awards were given out, plus a special recognition for “Lifetime Achievement.”  Kara Scott did a terrific job as the host,…

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