Paul "Cigar" McKinney World's Oldest WSOP Winner Arrested in Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport, Tennessee Police Chief Gale Osborne has the dubious distinctions of having arrested the World Record Holder for 'oldest player to win a World Series of Poker event'. Paul "Cigar" McKinney was 80 years young when he won the No-Limit Hold'em Seniors event at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas during the 2005 WSOP. McKinney outlasted a field of 825 players in the $1,000 buy-in tournament to take down the $202,725 winner's purse and the coveted WSOP gold bracelet. He played mistake free poker during the 2 day event then survived a 3 hour heads-up dual with runner up Bob Hume. Quite a feat of poker for any player, an extraordinay performance for an octogenarian.
Unfortunately, William Paul McKinney's luck ran out Friday when the Kingsport police acted on a "concerned" citizen's tip and raided a poker game in progress where they found 16 poker players playing poker. "Cigar" McKinney, now 82, could be facing felony charges as one of the organizers and promoters of the game.
Chief Wiggins Osborne was apparently quite proud of cuffing the 16 poker players and making Kingsport a safe community once again. He used the opportunity to solicit more "tips" from concerned residents by stating the importance of the public to spy and report on their neighbors with the following quote, "It takes all of us, it's not just (police). It's vital that we have the eyes and the ears of the community to partnership with us." Of particular interest is another quote from the Chief, "Whether it's drug activity or gambling or domestic abuse..." In Kingsport poker players are grouped with drug dealers, wife beaters and child molesters.
I wonder if the Chief's neighbor spy ideas came from reading Mien Kauf?
Sample the public-at-large comments for this bust at PocketFives.com.
[Flipchip sent a comment to "Kingsport Times News" for the article, Hog Wild co-owner, World Series of Poker winner, among 16 people arrested in Kingsport gambling raid. Flipchip's musings apparently didn't meet editorial standards and were rejected so read them here in their entirety after the jump...
Flipchip Comment sent to "Kingsport Times News" for article, Hog Wild co-owner, World Series of Poker winner, among 16 people arrested in Kingsport gambling raid. Flipchip's musings apparently didn't pass their editorial standars...
I agree with most of the comments and am especially in sync with John Hays' analysis of this incidence being justified by the complacent social herd because "it's the law!" Extrapolating this flawed line of logic leads to war criminals claiming they did unthinkable acts because they were "just following orders." There comes a point when each of us must shoulder the responsibility and overturn an unjust law that penalizes otherwise good citizens. Again, Mr. Hays got it right, Jury Nullification is your opportunity and duty to right this wrong.
FYI, I am Flipchip, Editor of the Prof's Poker Blog at www.LasVegasVegas.com. We are the website that is linked from this article. I shot the photos of Paul McKinney at the 2005 WSOP ( and the 2006 & 2007) and can say he is one of the most cordial poker champions I've had the pleasure of knowing. Here in Las Vegas we embrace poker champions like Paul McKinney and give thanks for having an elder poker spokesperson with such professionalism, charm, and wit. The good people of the Tri-City area should consider welcoming octogenarian Paul McKinney and being proud of his extraordinary accomplishments.
Now, about those pills in his pocket that were alleged to be Schedule IV narcotics...knowing "Cigar" McKinney it's much more likely to be Viagra.
Ronald Simmons is right on, too. This Great Nation is already reaping the seeds of complacency.
And finally, I find the practice of publishing personal information appalling and an incredible disregard for personal and family security. This practice is not newsworthy and has no editorial justification for inclusion in a public news forum. Maybe in Kingsport it's done because it's easy filler and "it's the law!"
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