Written by :
Published on :
Professional poker player Chris "Jesus" Ferguson is a major celebrity.
The TV show "TMZ" says so.
"TMZ," a nightly, half-hour, syndicated American television program, usually features on-the-street interviews (or non-interviews) with major Hollywood celebrities such as movie and TV stars (the show is based in Los Angeles).
On yesterday's episode of "TMZ" was--shockingly, or maybe not--a segment on Ferguson.
Ferguson and a surprisingly unattractive female companion were caught by a "TMZ" camerman outside Madeo, a popular and expensive Los Angeles restaurant frequented by Hollywood stars.
A brief Q-and-A between Ferguson and the cameraman that was broadcast on the show went, more or less, as follows:
CAMERAMAN: Do they call you Jesus?
FERGUSON: Sometimes.
CAMERAMAN: Why do they call you Jesus?
FERGUSON: Because of the (long) hair, I guess.
CAMERAMAN: And the beard?
FERGUSON: Yeah, and the beard.
CAMERAMAN: Is it true you once turned $1 into $20,000 playing (online) poker?
FERGUSON: Yeah, but I also turned $0 into $120,000.
After the interview, "TMZ" staffers were shown discussing what was just shown.
"How do you turn $0 into $120,000?" one staffer wondered, and no one knew (the answer, of course, is by entering a free online tourney and winning money for more expensive tourneys).
Also shown in the "TMZ" segment was video, from a past TV appearance, of "Jesus" and his hobby of throwing cards at pieces of fruit to cut them in half.
One generally has to be a major celebrity to be featured on "TMZ."
It's usually major movie and TV stars that are shown, but occasionally a well-known pro athlete or politician are also featured.
The fact that top poker players--Ferguson won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2000--are now considered major celebrities by tabloid television programs shows the cultural impact poker, especially poker on TV, has had.
Is Ferguson a celebrity, and if he is, is he on the level of a Brad Pitt or a Simon Cowell?
He must be.
"TMZ" says so.
By Tom Somach
Gambling 911 Staff Writer
