Like everything else about the poker "community!"The thing is this; I truly don't know a single person in poker or the gambling industry that knows Mason, that has anything positive to say about him.
I played many many many sessions of 30/60 and 40/80 lhe with him back during the boom. His regular game is 2-5 NL and he'll play limit games if there is a waiting list. He doesn't smile. He won't talk to anyone. He shows no enjoyment. It's almost like he is robotic. He announces like a machine "raise, call, fold" in the same monotone voice.
I never met his wife Salamander but I imagine she is a peach.
Funny story: For all the bashing I did back in the day about Micon, we truly did have a lot of good memories. 2008-2009ish we were leaving the Bellagio poker room to go eat and MM is playing in some game. Micon throws from about 20 feet a dollar chip right at MM and it hits him after it bounces on the felt right on his mutt head. He looks around but has no idea who threw it. Everyone at the table just goes about their business.
Micon and I ended up eating and as we were pulling out of valet, MM was standing waiting for his car. Micon starts yelling at MM "Niki Manaj morherfucker!!!!!" at the top of his lungs and throws a water bottle filled with cigarette butts at him. Lol. I know it sounds juvenile but it was pretty funny at the time.
Oh another time Sklansky offered me $25,000 to console his ex-wife who he gave my phone number to with out my consent and had claimed was depressed and lethargic.
Jesus what crazy times.
GS
ZoD