The Godfather of Poker Audiobook is Doyle Brunson’s Last Gift; Where is His “Casper” Card Protector?

On Might 14, 2023, poker legend Doyle Brunson handed away on the age of 89. His loss was immeasurable and was the largest poker story of the yr. Whereas the neighborhood mourned the lack of the 10-time bracelet winner simply weeks earlier than the beginning of the 2023 World Sequence of Poker (WSOP), that they had the chance to have a good time his legacy months afterward October 2, referred to as Doyle Brunson Day in honor of the 10x2x hand that noticed him win two WSOP Important Occasion titles.

What many individuals don’t know is that within the yr earlier than he handed, Brunson, who wrote the game-changing 1978 e book Tremendous/System, set about on one final poker mission – to adapt his autobiography, The Godfather of Poker printed in 2012, into an audiobook.

The audiobook, which is on the market now on Audible, was inspired by Brunson’s longtime agent Brian Balsbaugh of Poker Royalty. It proved a prolonged and time-consuming affair with the completed product clocking in at 12 hours and 27 minutes.

Doyle Brunson Book — The Godfather of Poker (Picture: WPT)

Whereas I learn The Godfather of Poker upon its launch, I just lately had the chance to revisit it by listening to the audiobook. What I can say is that the poker world is extraordinarily lucky to have had this mission accomplished earlier than Brunson’s passing, as listening to him learn his life story in his signature Texas drawl is a transcendental expertise for these with an recognize for poker historical past and for the person who was just about there for all of it.

For me, it’s akin to the oral historical past interview William Hernstadt performed on February 8, 1976, with Benny Binion, who didn’t grant many interviews. Binion was illiterate however shared his knowledge for the Las Vegas, Nevada KVVU Channel 5 tv program “Highlight.” The gathering is now housed at UNLV and isn’t solely an oral report for a poker patriarch but additionally town of Las Vegas.

Audiobooks weren’t a factor 50 years in the past, so if you wish to hear Binion it’s a must to go to the school campus. Nonetheless, in terms of Brunson, poker followers can take heed to Texas Dolly proper at their fingertips due to The Godfather of Poker audiobook. What’s extra, clips from the audiobook have already been used, and can proceed to be, in persevering with Brunson’s legacy. PokerGO’s World Poker Award-winning ‘Doyle Brunson Celebration of Life’ is a major instance.

How the Audiobook Got here About

Poker Royalty’s Jesse Fullen, former PokerNews Neighborhood Supervisor, really attended one of many audiobook recording periods and have become instrumental in its launch. He was sort sufficient to reply some questions relating to how the mission took place, how Doyle took to it, and extra.

PokerNews: When and why did the concept for Doyle to do an audiobook come about?

Jesse Fullen: Doyle Brunson had essentially the most superb and recognizable voice. Whenever you assume again to these traditional episodes of Poker After Darkish the place Doyle narrated the introduction, it was magical. Doyle’s autobiography and story have been made to be shared and if you happen to’re going to take heed to an audiobook of it, you couldn’t have anybody apart from Doyle narrate it. It’s an concept that had been round for some time, simply needed to discover the correct second to fireplace on it.

How did Doyle really feel in regards to the mission? What did the mission entail?

Doyle was a giant fan of the mission. He put in lengthy hours to get that recording accomplished. We arrange a recording studio in his residence workplace and had 2-3 audio technicians and a producer within the room with Doyle. We might deliver that staff out for 3-4 hours twice per week and over just a few months we have been capable of get the entire e book recorded.

“Doyle might wish to preserve going after just a few hours however the sound of his voice instructed a special story.”

What have been the largest challenges whereas bringing the audiobook to life?

It isn’t onerous to learn a e book. Studying a e book slowly right into a microphone with a number of individuals analyzing every phrase you say and the rhythm and pace as properly is a complete totally different factor. There have been challenges, after all, and one of many greatest ones was understanding when to cease. Doyle might wish to preserve going after just a few hours however the sound of his voice instructed a special story.

Are there every other e book or audiobook initiatives coming down the pipeline that you could both share or tease?

There could also be one other audiobook mission popping out this summer time however you received’t hear any particulars about that at this time. Hold your ears open and it’s possible you’ll hear about one other actually thrilling mission releasing in just some weeks.

Can poker followers anticipate one other “Doyle Brunson Day” on 10/2/24?

We’re onerous at work planning one other celebration of Doyle Brunson in 2024. 10/2/23 was a really thrilling day and the experiences we heard about from poker rooms all around the nation have been so thrilling. Our aim is to continue to grow and hopefully have a giant celebration for Doyle right here in Las Vegas. Extra info will probably be coming quickly on this for certain.

“He Performed At An Elite Stage For Seven A long time”: Doyle Brunson Remembered Throughout WSOP By His Friends

Standing of Doyle’s Fortunate Attraction Casper

Pam Brunson with Casper (Picture: italiapokerclub)

Poker followers who used to look at the ESPN episodes of the WSOP would possibly recall a well-known section by which Brunson talked about his fortunate appeal, a Zippo lighter bearing the Ghostbusters brand and affectionately referred to as “Casper.”

Brunson talked about it extensively in his autobiography, and the way Casper grew to become such a fortunate appeal that different gamers would pay him to lease it out for an hour at a time. The speed various relying on the sport and gamers, however by his estimate, Brunson said Casper made him greater than $25,000 in rental charges alone.

It was such a fortunate appeal that the notorious Howard Lederer as soon as tried to purchase it.

“I acquired so fortunate every time I used my Casper protector that my playing good friend Howard Lederer provided me $3,500 to go away it to him in my will,” Brunson wrote. “I wasn’t certain he was severe till he plunked down his cash. So, I bequeathed Casper to him. Casper was already gaining fame as a result of poker gamers had gotten wind of our deal. ESPN even picked up on the story.”

Brunson then shared that his daughter, Pam Brunson, used Casper within the 2006 WSOP Important Occasion and outlasted each her father and brother, Todd Brunson. In 2007, she used it once more and completed in 364th place out of 6,358 gamers for $35,000, outlasting her relations for a second yr in a row.

Casper continued to show a fortunate appeal for Pam, and he or she as soon as pleaded on nationwide tv for Lederer to offer again the rights.

“Howard, please let my dad have Casper again. I do know that he offered him to you, however he means a lot to me, and he wants to remain within the household.”

Lederer did promote Casper again to Brunson, albeit for $7,500, greater than twice what he paid for it. So the place is Casper now? PokerNews reached out to Pam Brunson by way of an middleman, and it was confirmed that “it’s packed up someplace however she has it.”

Who is aware of, Casper would possibly in the future assist Pam seize a bracelet of her personal.

“And if that occurs,” Brunson wrote of the likelihood, “they’d absolutely induct Casper the Pleasant Ghost into the Poker Corridor of Fame.”