If you’ve seen someone “Whamboozled”, or you watched as somebody pushed all in with “Squadoosh,” chances are you’ve been watching ESPN’s coverage of the World Series of Poker.
For the last five years, writer-commentator-comedian Norman Chad has added some colorful words to the lexicon of poker, and made himself as big a name in the world of poker as the players he covers.
Looking like the lost Marx brother, “Ex-Wife-o,” Chad has a face for voice-over commentary.
He looks as if he not only dressed in the dark, but bought his clothes in the dark as well. He claims to be a terrible poker player and no one has yet come forward to dispute that claim.
He, however, brings some humor and fun to a game that can be frustrating and bewildering.
His failed romantic overtures to poker vixens Kara Scott and Vanessa Rousso, his perennial backing of Phil Ivey to go all the way, his repeated references to his alma mater (the University of Maryland) and his frequent claims that every other obscure college is known as the “Demon Deacons” give a comforting consistency to his color commentary.
Chad’s theory seems to be that, if a joke is marginally funny once, it’s hilarious the 50th time. This may not be a position held by others, but I find myself giggling every time he lets loose a familiar Chad-ism. I say, the more, the merrier.
We could debate whether he’s there as a poker expert or as an announcer who knows poker, but it doesn’t matter. Howard Cossell couldn’t go ten rounds with a girl scout and yet he was as indispensable to boxing as Chad is to poker.
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