Poker Pro's New Year's Resolutions

From Cardplayer

With only a few more days left in 2007, plans for a better 2008 have begun to creep in people’s minds, and New Year’s resolutions are hatched.

The career choice of being a professional poker player can often lead to unhealthy lifestyles. According to USA Today, the most popular New Year’s resolutions are ones that also seem to ring true with the poker community.

Here are few at the top of the list:

* Lose weight
* Save money
* Get fit
* Eat right
* Drink less alcohol
* Reduce stress

Poker pro Dutch Boyd also has a resolution common among Americans, and that is to quit smoking. A less common goal for 2008 comes from the always frisky, David “Devilfish” Ulliot. When asked what his New Year’s resolution was, he said, “Drink more vodka, and (*word censored for content purposes) more women.”

Jennifer Tilly has quieted critics and distanced herself from other celebrity poker player by proving that she has what it takes to compete on a professional level. She has more than $326,000 in tournament winnings as well as a World Series of Poker bracelet. Her passion to improve is reinforced by her New Year’s resolution.

“I’m going to work harder, and play more tournaments. The more you play, the better you get,” said Tilly. “Also, not be so much of a calling station.”

The ambitious Mike “The Mouth” Matusow has more than one resolution.

“Play less Internet poker and have a better 2008 than 2007, which will be hard to do. Also, concentrate on marketing myself and remain one of the top three players in the world,” he said.

Hoyt Corkins wants to improve both his health and concentrate on his game. His goal is to do bikram yoga three times a week and play in more than 30 poker events this year.

A theme common among players when asked what their New Year's resolutions were was inline with Gavin Smith’s answer: “I don’t ever make resolutions, because I don’t keep them anyway.”