Name: Chad Woodrick
Nickname (how'd you get it): Ah, the ever-evolving nickname...
First it was "two chip,"
because in one of the early games in the tour's history, I got down to
two red chips, yet rebounded to a final table finish (not so impressive
anymore since it is a feat that several others have since accomplished
on the tour). Then came "two trick" when, after C-Mint knocked me out
of a tournament by crushing my full house with quad queens, I made some
comment about not being beaten by queens like that since my days of
turning tricks on Santa Monica Blvd. Next came "II-Pod," when I
listened to my mp3 player all the way to the finals of a tourney at the
Box Office.
I see that the nickname has made a sharp turn to IISweet (Cheeks) after the most recent tournament. I can only thank my wife for that one. At the final table, in any hand in which I was involved (and she was NOT involved), she would kindly say, "good luck, sweet cheeks." After each one of these well-wishes, I would get some outrageous luck in the hand, including back-to-back A-K's that were BOTH pleasantly accompanied by a Q-J-10 flops (!). I guess I can be more thankful that "IISweet (Cheeks)" stuck more than the other term of endearment that the Mrs. bestowed upon me after I knocked her out in third place: "....motherf***er."
I must comment on the
creativity in the nickname process. Complex Slim and the First Lady
have raised the nickname selection to an art-form for everyone
throughout the tour. I may not remember the names of the players that
I see week after week, but the colorful and descriptive nicknames are
unforgettable. Its a layer of the tour that makes it that much more
fun.
Age: 36 (yet just a wide-eyed child at the poker tables)
Location: Playa Vista...more specifically, the Feif
Favorite hand to play:
I don't have cards that are
near-and-dear to my heart. As the old adage goes, "any two cards can
lose," so I try not to get emotionally attached to any of them. I'm a
simple guy who "believes in" math, so I can't say I mind seeing A-A or
K-K in my pocket. Yes, that is lame and a big "duh," but I like to
look around the table with those cards in front of me knowing that I
most likely have everyone beat at the moment, waiting for Richie Rich
to make a move with his 2-3 (fully aware that I may get beat by them).
I know that the monsters get beat frequently, but hell, I'll take that
chance, ready to toss them when I am sure they're beat.
Favorite pro player:
Probably Evelyn Ng. Let's face
it, the pros, as a whole, are a bunch of whiny social misfits with
faces for radio and all play their cards with the same baffling
inconsistency. At least Evelyn Ng is one of the few worth looking at.
How did you learn about the 4SPT:
I got a call from Dino one day
letting me know of a weekly tournament in which he had become involved.
Since Dino, Susan and I had played together at King Richard's
occasional poker games, he thought I might be interested (he was right).
When did you join the 4SPT:
Around summer of 2004, I believe. Back when the tour only stretched between 4th and Oak Streets.
Best thing about winning the 4SPT:
Knowing that I am obviously the
best player on the tour (otherwise how else could I have won?). Okay,
that's not exactly true. It's really so I can stop being that guy who
has played for years, but never won. I'm no Susan Lucci, damn it!
Plus, I was always jealous of Susie getting to play in the TOC, now I
get to too.
Most
exciting/best hand you've had on the 4SPT:
he aforementioned quad-queens by
C-Mint killing my full house (I thought for sure it was a chopped pot
between he and I until he turned over his pocket pair of queens to
match the ladies on the board). Also, watching my A-A lose to Slim's
K-K, when a third K rolled out on the river...what can you do, I just
had to smile and shrug. More recently, on a positive side, I loved
watching two A-K's flop nut straights (also mentioned above).
4SPT player you don't want sitting next to you
(why):
I love my wife, but she always
has too much stuff at the poker table (food, candy, drinks, toys, mp3
players and usually a whole lotta chips spread all over). I would much
rather have her ACROSS the table from me, encroaching on someone else's
space.
Where/how did you learn to play poker:
Playing at King Richard's early
home games gave me a taste for it, but it is my wife's family that
sealed the deal. Susan's grandfather, grandmother, father, mother,
uncles and aunts have all been playing for many, many years. So being
around them, it is hard NOT to play. Susie and I have been going to
the local casinos for several years now, honing our skills at losing
money (we can be found most Friday and/or Saturday nights at Hustler -
Susie at no-limit, me at limit).
Anyother interesting stories or whatever else you want people to know:
I think I can speak for Susie on
this as well, we are very honored to be a part of the 4th Street Tour.
It is such a great way to do what we enjoy doing (playing poker) with
enjoyable people. I enjoy playing at the casinos too, but most of the
people there are scum. On 4th Street, I get the best of both worlds!
Thank you Jeff and Jennifer!! (the "thanks" here are cliche, but
sincere)
One of the best Player Profiles ever!
Posted by: JennChantal | Sunday, January 08, 2006 at 23:09