Playing with Purpose
Last year, Roger and Mary, residents of Sierra Vista, Arizona, promised each other that they would play in the 2008 Main Event. They worked on their game throughout the course of the year, mainly playing with the Sierra Vista Poker Group in their hometown. Everything was proceeding according to plan, but then tragedy struck -- Mary passed away in March.
Roger, with the support of his two grown sons John and Tom, decided to honor his promise to his wife and play in the Main Event anyway. He is seated today at Blue #9, dressed (appropriately enough) in a bright blue hat and t-shirt. A photo of Roger and Mary, taken when they visited Florida last year, is standing on the rail behind his chips, a visible reminder to everyone at the table that there are many things in life that are far more important than some poker tournament that takes place every summer in the middle of the desert.
Roger currently has about 16,500 chips.