Amarillo Slim Passes Away
Slim was better known for his proposition bets than he was his poker playing despite the fact he won four World Series of Poker bracelets in his career
The colourful and often controversial poker player and hustler known to the masses as "Amarillo Slim" has died aged 83. He passed away in the early hours of Sunday 29 April after a long battle with cancer and heart problems.
Slim, whose full name was Thomas Austin Preston, Jr. was born on December 31, 1928 in Johnson, Arkansas. He grew up in the state of Texas and before becoming a renowned poker tournament player he used to tour the United States of America with Sailor Roberts and Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson looking for gambling action. In fact Slim was better known for his proposition bets than he was his poker playing despite the fact he won four World Series of Poker bracelets in his career.
The first of these bracelets found its way to Slim's wrist in 1972 when he took down the WSOP Main Event. After winning the Main Event he appeared on a number of television shows and even had a bit-part in a gambling related movie and was always trying to promote Texas Hold'em and the World Series of Poker. His other three bracelets were won in 1974 (a $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event), 1985 (a $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha event) and 1990 (again a $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha event.)
As mentioned, Slim was one of the best in the world at making prop bets with unsuspecting people though he denied he was a hustler. In his autobiography, Amarillo Slim: In A World Full Of Fat People, he said, "If there's anything I'll argue about, I'll either bet on it or shut up. And since it's not very becoming for a cowboy to be arguing, I've made a few wagers in my day. But in my humble opinion, I'm no ordinary hustler. You see, neighbor, I never go looking for a sucker. I look for a champion and make a sucker out of him."
Hustling At Its Best
Some of his most famous bets include taking on and beating former Wimbledon champion Bobby Riggs at table tennis but in no ordinary match. Slim bet he could beat Riggs at the game even if Riggs was allowed to use table tennis paddles and Slim used cast iron cooking skillets! Unknown to Riggs, Slim had been practising with the implements for several months before placing the wager!
Another famous bet also revolves around table tennis. According to the legend, a man named Lefty thought he would try and take on Slim at his own game and challenged him to a game of pingpong. Lefty asked if he could choose a player to take on Slim and he agreed as long as Slim could choose the paddles. Having heard of the bet with Bobby Riggs, Lefty made a Taiwanese table tennis champion train with cooking skillets thinking Slim would choose them in the match. But when the match came around Slim walked over to a vending machine, bought two bottles of Coke, emptied out the liquid and handed on to his opponent! Slim had again been practising for months with Coke bottles for an occasion like this!
Slim's latter years did have some controversy attached to them but his family asked in a statement to remember his for what he was best known for. They released a statement saying, "We hope everyone will remember our beloved Amarillo Slim for all the positive things he did for poker and to popularise his favourite game - Texas Hold'em."
We hope that too. Amarillo Slim, December 31, 1928 - April 29, 2012
Prices quoted in copy are correct at time of publication but liable to change.
