In this edition of 15 Outs, LA Mike took the time to visit with David “The Dragon Fly” Singer. Prior to becoming a professional poker player, Singer was an environmental lawyer. He began his poker career clear back in 1996 in New York. He started by playing almost exclusively 7-Card Stud, which is still considered his best game. He ventured into no limit hold ‘em tournament play as the prize pools swelled to incredible heights. “The Dragon Fly” has made numerous no limit final tables including a win at the Caesars Palace Classic in October for a cool $1 million. He’s also the only player to make the final table of the $50k HORSE event both years. Let’s get to know Mr. Singer off the feltLAMike: David, what’s more important to you at this point in your career? Goal-wise, is it about winning titles and the associated prestige or all about the cash baby?
DavidSinger: The money is most important. However, I would really like to win a bracelet this year.
LA: You won $1 million for the Caesars Palace Classic victory, what did you do with the money? Anything fun or exciting to treat yourself?
DS: Actually, what I did with the money was both fun and exciting: I put it in the bank in a CD. (LA: LA wants to be invited to your next big bash, huge party!)
LA: If you could select any super power, what would you select?
DS: The ability to get everyday nuisance chores and things done by just thinking about them. (LA: Like winning millions in poker tournaments?)
LA: I know you’ve told me in the past, you’ve considered “retiring” from poker and doing something else. Are you still thinking about that?
DS: Still thinking about it. I am playing less poker than I ever have before and definitely planning on getting involved in “other things”. (LA: LA has an offer; you could be my typist, like my secretary.)
LA: What would you do just sit home and count all your cash or perhaps the Environmental Czar for the next President?
DS: I would like to be the EPA administrator or Secretary of the Interior. I could do many good things for our country with respect to the environment from these positions. (LA: LA is curious, what does Interior Design have to do with the environment? Seems odd to LA!)
LA: Why not the next President of the United States, David?
DS: I would like to be President so I could change our energy policies and take a serious approach to combating global warming. But, I have to say I’m a big dog to be elected President in 2008. (LA: A Dragon Fly/LA ticket would sweep the nation, I’m in!)
LA: What’s something really easy that everyone can do to make a difference and improve our current environmental situation?
DS: It’s really easy to find everyday things to do, just search the net. If it’s economically feasible, one of the best things a person can do is drive a car that gets very good gas mileage, as many hybrids do. (LA: So are you saying I should ditch my Hummer?)
LA: You’re a man of many ideas, other thoughts David?
DS: On the other end of the spectrum, there are easy things to do that take very little time and money. One of the best is to join an environmental organization such as the World Wildlife Fund or the Natural Resources Defense Council. A positive step you can take that is free is to vote for candidates who will take environmental issues seriously. I believe we are facing an environmental crisis due to global warming and other issues. It is paramount that our next President act quickly to reduce the country’s output of carbon dioxide.
LA: The $50k Horse event is thought of as having the toughest overall field in poker. You’re the only player to make the final table in both years. In my uneducated opinion, that tells me you’re the best HORSE player in the world. Am I correct?
DS: Unfortunately, I am definitely not the best overall player in the world. I feel like I did play well overall in both years of the HORSE tournament, but there’s a great deal of fluctuation in tournaments. For the same reason that making the final table both years doesn’t mean I’m the best player, I think it’s foolish to consider every new player who has a good World Series or a good year in tournaments as the next poker genius. In general, I think the poker media and the public give far too much credence to a player’s performance in the short run.
LA: Moving on, have you ever considered why you’re a fan of the Evil Empire, the Yankees?
DS: I grew up in New York and have been a lifelong fan of the Yankees. I think it’s silly to refer to them as the Evil Empire. The term was coined by Red Sox President Larry Lucchino around 2003. Most of the reason Red Sox management and fans think of the Yankees this way is because the Yankees have the largest payroll in baseball. Red Sox fans, and I guess you are one of them Mike, love to paint the Yankees as the rich team that is successful mostly due to being rich. The truth of the matter is the Sox usually have the second biggest payroll in the league.
Sox proponents love to paint the team as the poor little team going up against the rich next door neighbor. That view is just fiction. The bottom line is that I root for the Yankees and always will. I have no problem with people liking or rooting for the Red Sox, but I think they should do it with their eyes open. The Red Sox are far from being one of the small market teams which spend less than $20 million on payroll. (LA: LA wants to set the record straight. He is a fan of America’s Team, the Chicago White Sox. He has no feelings toward the Yankees or Red Sox.)
LA: Where’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited whether vacationing or poker-related?
DS: Northern Saskatchewan was the coolest. I was there last December and the temperature was -30 degrees Celsius for part of my trip. Probably my favorite place I’ve visited on a trip was New Zealand. I also love Cape Cod. Also, I have spent a good amount of time on the ocean and consider any trip offshore that involves seeing wildlife to be pretty cool! (LA: David, I think you misunderstood the question. LA asked the coolest place, not the coldest!)
LA: If you were named commissioner of the WSOP, what changes would you make immediately?
DS: I would apologize to myself for the unfair ruling I received from Jack Effel and his floor staff during last year’s Main Event. Then I would proceed to refund myself the $10,000 entry fee. (LA: If players thought they were too many rules currently, with you as commissioner I can only imagine the “new” rules you’d have in place.)
LA: You were a Full Tilt “red” pro very early on, recently FTP has added like 500 new “pros”. Does that diminish the status or prestige of the honor? Does it matter to you?
DS: It doesn’t matter to me how many “red” pros they add. Full Tilt management is just doing what they think is best for business on the site.
LA: Wrapping things up, will we see you at both Commerce and Bay 101?
DS: I will probably only play the main event at Commerce and I won’t be going to Bay 101 at all. (LA: Good deal, LA takes 5% of all profits at Commerce. It’s a great deal for you; consider it a very inexpensive way to get good karma!)
LA: Thanks David, we’ll see you at a final table very soon!
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