(Spoiler alert: The National Heads-Up Poker Championship airs on NBC starting on April 13th. If you don't want to know how far Orel Hershiser went, or who won, then you should step away from your computer. Better yet, click this link right away to see one of Orel's other talents.)You may be surprised to find out that former Dodger Orel Hershiser is an ace poker player. But when you think about it, it kind of makes sense. This was a man nicknamed "Bulldog", in part because of that nasty look he sported on the mound. If he flashed that look at the National Heads-Up poker tournament this past weekend, then it's no wonder he went all the way to the final four.
Former NL Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershiser did extraordinarily well at the National Heads-Up Poker Championship at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas over the weekend, beating three name pros on his way to the final four. But Hershiser fell in the semis to Andy Bloch, a poker pro and also a member of the famed MIT blackjack team featured in the book, Bringing Down the House. Bloch was beaten at the final table by Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, perhaps the most recognizable poker player in the world. (...)Who needs the rigors of being a pitching coach or traveling around doing games for ESPN when you could pick up six figures playing poker? It's too bad he didn't win ... but considering how much of a devout Christian he is, at least he can take solace in the fact that somebody named "Jesus" won the whole thing.
Hershiser, who received $125,000 for his finish according to a reported prize schedule, knocked off Ted Forrest, who won the heads-up championship two years ago, as well as Allen Cunningham and Freddy Deeb, who both have World Series of Poker championship bracelets. At the final table, Bloch won the first match but Ferguson (right) came from behind to win the next two matches and the $500,000 first prize.
