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Published on: 6/30/2008
Last Visited: 6/30/2009
You are about to read the remarkable story of Mike "The Foot" Wilson!
He
has had no arms since birth, has a left leg two feet shorter than his right, as his left leg has
no femur bone, and plays poker with his right foot using his big toe like a thumb, with the
next toe like an index finger!
...
As we began the interview, the first thing I noticed was Mike's
smile throughout the session.
His positive disposition about life in general stunned me.
I thought to myself, "What kind of man would it take to deal
with all of this adversity?
I don't think I've ever interviewed anyone who had a more overwhelming impact on my personal outlook on life, as to what
is really important in terms of life's priorities.
Before we began our interview, as I reminded him of how intrigued I was watching him play
poker earlier in the day, Mike said, "In the first event I played there was a couple standing
behind me. After about 45 minutes, the wife approached me and introduced herself as Sandy.
She explained that her sister's daughter had a baby, who had no arms.
She had a flipper on
one side and a stub on the other side.
She was so inspired watching me play poker with no arms at all, that she called her sister to
tell her about me, as she was watching me play.
I gave her my cell number for her or anyone
in the family that wanted any help or advice.
It was sort of funny, as her husband kept telling
her, 'Come on, Sandy, he is trying to play in the tournament.' I was touched that I was giving
her such hope in the way I was dealing with my own situation.
...
I went on to point out: "Mike, instead of one star there will be nine stars that ESPN will be following around with a two-hour special in
...
Before we began our interview, as I reminded him of how intrigued I was watching him play poker earlier in the day, Mike said, "In the first event I
...
I went on to point out: "Mike, instead of one star there will be nine stars that ESPN will be following around with a two-hour special in
...
Mike "The Foot" Wilson is 57 today, and was a successful stockbroker for over 30 years.
...
One can certainly see why Mike felt a connection here, as the force of the human spirit can will itself to accomplish
just about anything in life, once someone puts their mind into doing something!
After hearing of those rejections, I asked, "So how did you get your first break to become a stockbroker?"
Mike said, "I had met a lady friend from my high school days in a tavern who asked me what I wanted to do in life, and I told her I wanted to be a
stockbroker.
She said her friend was near by and introduced me." It seems it was the first chance Mike got to interact and converse with someone
in a position to hire him as a stockbroker; he was able to demonstrate his quick mind and abilities.
During my interview with Mike for this article, I
sensed his charm and intellect immediately, and with the combination of his positive attitude about life as a whole made it inspirational to be
around him.
The talents of Mike Wilson are many: He is an expert bridge player and backgammon player.
He has represented Canada and his Province of
British Columbia in many big bridge tournaments.
He used to be quite the dancer when he would go clubbing, who has since had to slow down
there, as he has broken his left leg three times.
He graduated from British Columbia University with a degree in math, which certainly helps him
play well at the poker tables.
He loves sports, where he has been a high school football statistician, as well as a basketball, baseball and wrestling
announcer.
He loves Canadian football, and particularly college basketball.
One year he traveled to the Final Four NCAA basketball tournament
held in Seattle, Washington.
In Hawaii he played backgammon with Wilt Chamberlain.
As you can see, Mike "The Foot" Wilson knows how to enjoy
life to its fullest.
His passion for poker has brought him to the internationally acclaimed World Series of Poker.
I said to Mike, "You mentioned earlier about trying to make the right decisions in life with the package you have."
Mike interrupted here to point out, "What I meant to say was I took a self-awareness course once, and they asked me to think about the concept
...
Mike Wilson has, as he seems to have this philosophy of going with the cards he is dealt in life, and then making the most positive choices he can
after that.
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Cam has been friends with Wilson for 20 years
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Cam said, "The next thing I knew Mike was on his way to the WSOP,
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Tom Kinakin has been Mike's close friend for 30 years, and like Cam, met Mike through bridge.
...
Wait a minute... I've got it pretty good.' I just think about Mike and everything he has overcome, as he just keeps plugging along and doing real
well. Recently, I've been talking to some of our mutual friends and they say the same thing.
He is such an inspiration to us, that we could never
say, 'Oh, damn, the world hates me,' because we've got it reall,y really good.
Mike has helped me a lot, not by what he has done, but just who he
is."
After the interview, the four of us went to the All-American Steak House at the Rio.
I sat directly across from Mike, and was astonished how he
was able to handle his fork eating his salad and main course dinner with his right foot.
He tasted two wines and told the waiter which one was
...
One last thought: The next day I saw Mike "The Foot" Wilson playing in a WSOP
cash game, and we were able to get some nice photos for the story.
He told me
...
with Mike "The Foot" Wilson.
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