As "Murphy James," Harry Murphy has interviewed and written about the pioneers of poker: Doyle Brunson, Jack Straus, Amarillo Slim, and David Sklansky.

Today he interviews and writes about the new superstars of poker as well as articles on the gaming culture.

He is a Contributing Writer for Strip Las Vegas Magazine.

He is an active lecturer on cruise ships and elsewhere on the "Legends of Poker" and "World's Greatest Gambles and Gamblers."

Murphy began writing and publishing in the early '80's. His interviews with World Series of Poker winners and famous blackjack card counters such as Stanford Wong and Jerry Patterson were published in a number of mainstream and regional magazines, men's magazines, gaming publications, and newspapers.

His articles on Ronald Reagan's 1954 appearance as a Vegas act, "When the Gipper Played Vegas," earned him a personal letter from the President. This letter was selected as one of Reagan's most interesting letters and appeared in the book, "Reagan: A Life in Letters."

He has also published in business journals such as Entrepreneur and Income Opportunities.

Dr. Richard Lederer, co-host of NPR's A Way with Words, on Murphy's work: "What fun to read the stream of perceptive, stylish, spot-on poker articles coming from your pen."

Al Alvarez' book, The Biggest Game in Town, published in 1983, has been a major influence in my freelance writing career. One reviewer called it "the origin of contemporary poker literature."

After I read Al’s book, I no longer wanted to, I had to – I absolutely had to, I had no other choice, my life would not be complete - unless I also wrote about poker.

Al Alvarez Photo by Carl Brown

It was a privilege for me to first meet and interview Al Alvarez at his home in Hampstead Heath (London) in February, 2006. I wrote an article about Al for Poker News, "Al Alvarez: The Poet Laureate of Poker," which appeared in March of 2006.

Al also put me in touch with Anthony Holden, a dear friend of his who wrote the books, Big Deal and Bigger Deal. I had the pleasure of interviewing Tony and wrote an article about him, also for Poker News: "A Bigger Deal is on the Way." I now visit Al and his wife, Anne, on my 2X per year trips to London.

Al's good friend, fellow author David Cornwell, aka John le Carre, says of Al: "He is the most chivalrous and best-mannered man you or I are likely to meet." He adds, "You never part from Al without feeling a couple of degrees jollier." True, true, true.

My interest, like Al's , is in the culture of poker.  While I find the game interesting, I find the people who play it to be fascinating.  Katy Lederer (Poker Face) refers to the head and the heart of poker.  Alvarez wrote about the heart of the game. This is what I wanted to do, too.

The Biggest Game motivated me to wrangle a media pass to the 1983 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino in downtown Las Vegas.

Doyle Brunson Photo courtesy of Sportscrew.com

With knees knocking, I approached the great Doyle Brunson – two time WSOP winner prominently mentioned in Al’s book - and asked for an interview.

“What publication are you with?” he asked.

I said that I was a freelancer, didn’t have an assignment, had no articles published in this field, and had no assurance that anyone would be interested in what I wrote. In other words, I hadn't a clue about what I was doing.

Brunson laughed and said, "Sure, let's talk."

Doyle was kind, patient, and generous with his time. How many rookie journalists get their first interview with one of the world’s best players? With one of the nicest persons in the field?

As a result of this interview, I got my first hit in the area of poker. "Texas' Ace Gamblers" was published by a Dallas newspaper.   Thanks to Doyle, Murphy James was now out of the gate as a poker writer. 

Other interviews and other publications in poker, blackjack, and gambling in general, followed.  Business articles also came along.

I once asked WSOP winner Jack Straus, "When's the last time you bet the rent money?"  He looked at his watch and laughed.  "About 15 minutes ago," he said.  Jack told me a lot of funny stories.  I suspect some of them were true.

I interviewed Amarillo Slim Preston, another WSOP winner, in Lake Tahoe.  With most interviews, the players are pressed for time and the journalists talk fast to get it all in. 

With Slim, I had to say, "Thanks, Slim, but I gotta go now.  Slim, I gotta go.  Slim!"

I interviewed David Sklansky and had him critique my (poor) 7 card stud game.  It cost me breakfast and a modest consulting fee. He gave me good advice. My game improved a little, but I kept my day job.

The Biggest Game detailed the 1981 World Series. The top prize was $375,000.  It went to Stu Ungar.  I saw Stuey play, but never met him, never interviewed him.  I wish I had.  He's gone now.

How things have changed.

The use of the "lipstick camera," pioneered by the World Poker Tour in 2003, has brought intense interest to the game.  It seems like poker is on TV 24 hours a day.  The poker stars have become media celebrities. 

"The Biggest Game" gets bigger and bigger. 

In 2006, Entertainment agent, Jamie Gold, took home the top prize of all time, $12 million dollars, for winning the main event of the World Series of Poker. In contrast, Tiger Woods took home $1.3 million for winning the PGA Open Tournament in the same year.  Maybe Tiger should drop the driver and pick up poker.

We are also witnessing another interesting aspect of the poker culture: the highly deserved visibility of the philanthropic efforts of the top players.  For example:

• Barry Greenstein has donated $3 million dollars (and counting) in tournament winnings to various charities.

• Phil Gordon has raised millions for the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation.

• Jen Harman, who has had two kidney transplants, works on behalf of organ donation organizations.

• Clonie Gowen, whose mother is a survivor, works on behalf of Ovarian Cancer organizations.

• Mike Sexton won a million dollars in a WSOP Tournament of Champions and donated $500,000 of it to five different charities.

And many others have lent their names to tournaments and other special events to raise money for tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita victims.

Could I conclude anything but this: these are not just good poker players, these are good people.

With thanks to Al Alvarez.

Murphy James