Comment(s) on this article

zyg0tic Apr 3, 2009

first!

naw, wanted to give props for Brunson for standing by an old friend. Gives me yet another reason to like the guy.

fred Apr 3, 2009

I used to think Slim was a creeper. But this article changed my mind. Thanks Nolan for giving strong evidence to believe my poker icon.

icemonkey9 Apr 3, 2009

Tremendous interview Nollan, nice job. It's good to finally hear *both* perspectives from this ordeal.

Bob Apr 3, 2009

Just for the record, I stood up for you, Slim. On 2+2 and elsewhere. I have to admit I was about the only one who said this whole thing was a bunch of horseshit.

I still stick up for you.

You got a bum rap. The poker world owes you a huge apology. See you at the WSOP.

Johnny Hughes Apr 4, 2009

I have known Slim and played poker with him for fifty years. I have to go with Doyle's take on this. I write a lot about the old Texas road gamblers.

Also, Slim should have stated that Amarillo juries and judges are harsh, hanging jurires.

Nolan Dalla is Mr. Integrity in poker. His strong, skilled questions gave Slim the chance to tell his story.

If his family is back with Slim, maybe poker owes Slim an apology.

Slim can't help but lie. He said they were on his ranch twenty miles from his house. His ranchette is what is called a polka dot ranch in Texas, because it wouldn't make a poka dot on the map of a real ranch.

He's told that big ranch lie in Texas Monthly, to the esteemed Anthony Holden, and to any gullible scribe that would listen. Being historically careless with the truth contributed to Slim's problems.

Kudos to Doyle Brunson, as always.

JohnnyHughes.com

will Apr 4, 2009

Can you expand on what you are saying there Johnny about Slims ranch?

I don't really get it.

"Lubbock Lard Ass" Apr 4, 2009

I thought Nolan Dalla's interview was pretty amatuerish and he missed asking a couple of big questions in response to Slim's answers right at the beginning of the article. I'm too lazy to go cut and paste them or look them up. Not my job. But I IMMEDIATELY felt this guy isn't much of a reporter.

Johnny Hughes Apr 5, 2009

Re: Amarillo Slim Breaks His Silence

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I played poker with Amarillo Slim off an on since 1961. I attended the World Series of Poker most years after 1975. As a writer, and press person, I always, always pointed out Amarillo Slim to anyone with a press badge. I told them truthfully that he was the best interveiw there, or anywhere. I did not tell them he would rather climb a Georgia Pine and lie, than stand on the ground and tell the truth, when the truth was more interesting. I wrote an article about gambler's nicknames. In the lead, I said that, "Amarillo Slim is the best known gambler in the world."

Everyone always gossiped about Slim. We heard of his road tricks and tall tales. However, WE DID NOT ever hear he was any kind of sexual weirdo. Sailor Roberts and Doyle Brunson slept in the same room with Slim as they white-lined it crossroading. Doyle says he is innocent and I go with that. His family is back with him. That says they believe his innocence. What Slim will not say is that his Granddaughter lied. But it is there between the lines.

It would have been absolutely CRAZY to go before a Texas jury on any sex charge. Innocence and guilt are weighed in a plea bargain against freedom or the certainty of the Texas pen.

We had a case in Tulia, near Amarillo, where one rogue, lying undercover narc had most of the black people in town arrested for cocaine. A book was written, TV specials were done. The Governor pardoned many. Many of these innocent people were in the penitentary over plea bargains. Five years of your life over the possibility of eighty years was the choice. Sure they were framed. They had to plead guilty. This is Texas. Slim had to plead to the lessor charge once charges were brought against him. THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE. These folks that keep saying why would he plead guilty if he was innocent. The answer is, TO AOID A LONG PRISON SENTENCE. This happens everyday in the Lone Star State.

Nolan Dalla is Mr. Integrity in the poker writing world. This interview persuades me Slim was innocent. Here in West Texas, gamblers don't get a fair shake at the courthouse on other charges. I have to take off my shoes to count all the professional gamblers who went to the Texas penitentary that were wrongly convicted.

Johnny Hughes

Larry Apr 5, 2009

Why doesn't Nolan interview the grand daughter and family,? This would clear up any doubt.

gary Apr 5, 2009

What a friggin snow job. poor old
sob plead guilty, but really did not
do anything wrong.
a sexually frustrated older man is a classic
fit of a sexual predator.
He got away light.

the "family" bonding around him now
is also common behavior......years after
inappropiate sexual contact.

gary

NotSoSlim Apr 5, 2009

People have gone to the pen in Texas on very, very little in the way of "evidence" on family related molestation charges. Once the State gets the ball rolling it's hard to stop.

Slim is many things: gambler, braggart, and teller of tall tales. He's never been perfect but as far as I know he has always been crazy about his grandkids. I've know him all my life and I've never seen or heard of anything like this before this all happened.

I am extended family and I haven't asked my cousins for details about how the charges got started in the first place, but I knew that there was more to the story. They would never let the kids around him again if they thought the charges were warranted. If they are reconciled then you can believe what Slim says is true. (and this comes from someone who grew up hearing all the stories he's ever told... and the truth behind them...when it was known.)

To me he has always just been Uncle Austin and one of a dying breed of Texas characters.

I hope the poker community can welcome him back as well.

Johnny Hughes Apr 6, 2009

Here in Lubbock, there are folks who know Slim and do not like him. However, they know him and they know Texas justice. They believe he is innocent. If his family had been really strongly behind this, no slap on the wrist probation would have been offered.

Amarillo Slim is an outlaw. However, he was always pretty careful around his own home town. If he had not been a well-known gambler, this would not have happened. The fact that he pled guilty to a vastly reduced charge is the Texas way things are done. It has no bearing on his guilt or innocence.

JohnnyHughes.com

Bernie Madoff Apr 7, 2009

"We were in the cab of a one-ton pickup. I said, we've got to put this thing in four-wheel drive or we are going to be out here all day [and get stuck]. I reached down there like this to shift and put it in four-wheel drive. My grandbaby was there and she had one leg [near the gear shift]. I reached over and patted her on the leg and said, "I'll bet that feels good."

She said "Yeah," and giggled.".....sounds a little creepy, no ?

Martin Apr 9, 2009

The interview was well done and and covered the essentials.

SLIM's family is back with him (believe me, that would not have happened if THEY had ANY doubt). The "holier than thou" hipocrits in Texas would not do that!! All it would take down there is for some OLD BITTY to over hear the child talking and off she'd go (without the slightest idea WHAT actually happened).

Prosecuters ONLY care about ONE thing. The win! They only offer deals when they KNOW there is no case. The last thing they will do is drop all charges and admit they made a mistake!

SLIM plead "NO CONTEST"! That means he agrees not to fight the charges! Hell down there ANYONE would be foolish to appear before a jury!

The Poker World should be ashamed of themselves for not showing SLIM the support and respect he deserves!

I believe SLIM and would be PROUD to meet him some day!

shamanalix Apr 9, 2009

Thank you Slim and Della for telling us what happened. The sad thing is that "humans" are so quick to turn on each other and expect the worst. To use power to put down others (as government and the legal system too often do). To "rat" on neighbors out of jealousy and their own worthlessness and shortcomings. To try to control others, and/or stick their noses in others affairs where they do not belong. Anyone can be accused or blamed for anything, and truths like "innocent until PROVEN guilty" carry little power against rumor and jealous busybodies. Hang in there Mr. Preston and keep your head up; the weasels who tear you down do not matter.

Gutito21 Apr 11, 2009

You know, i read the whole article, and, nowhere in the article does it say what he allegedly did, or, even what assault means? Patting her leg? Come on, how can we decide whether pleading no contest is an issue if we don't know what that means he said he did.

Alan Foster Apr 14, 2009

From what I read Slim accepted a plea to a charge that was not child molestation and the judge accepted that. Why jump to a conclusion that is so negative geez the guy is a legend and has earnt respect. Too many negative minds around . Look for the good in people and you wont go far wrong. Hats off to Doyle too and I hope all you folk who could have supported and didnt learn that maybe a kind word would have gone a long way. For what its worth Slim I believe all you said and thanks for being there for all the pokerworld.

Justin Apr 22, 2009

We were all sitting in the same room, eating the same food, swimming in the same pool. Everybody did a complete 360.

So everyone still thought he was a child molester?

dpg Apr 23, 2009

I'm nearly speechless at the comments in this thread.

I know Preston from some prior business dealings, and there is one thing I can say for certain - if these allegations were false, he would have fought to the death to refute them. He knew that pleading 'no contest' would be interpreted as guilty, but he also knew that depositions and a trial would have brought out the facts, including a likely-credible 12 year old girl.

Preston is a self-described cheat and accomplished liar (read his books for details). He has pulled off some of the most nefarious scams in gambling history. There's nothing he can say that should convince a reasonable listener to believe him - the only thing that would have done that is a trial, which he forestalled by pleading out.

One last note - he complains that the grand jury never got to hear his side. That's the way the system works - the grand jury's job is to assess whether sufficient evidence exists to go to trial. The DA is under no obligation to allow him to testify - that's what a trial is for.

Rick Charles Apr 23, 2009

I know both Nolan and Slim. I applaud Nolan for doing this interview and I know he is one talented S.O.B. who I'm proud to call a friend.

I Used to call "Slim" a friend, actually, the quote in the LVRJ calling Preston "Amarillo Slime" was coined by ME on my poker talk show at the time, and I STILL stand by that and will until my dying day.

Slim is a bitter, vitriolic, cheating scumbag who I thoroughly believe did something inappropriate with his granddaughter.

Slim is such a fixture in Amarillo, and as we knew then, and he freely admitted in Nolan's interview, HE AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ARE FRIENDS. What part of that don't people get?

If I were still doing investigative journalism, which I did for a time in my career, I would have immediately started investigating the D.A. for taking a bribe. This is not an innocent grandfather who would ever plead "no contest" to an assault on his own grandchild if he weren't guilty of more.

For those of you who have worshiped SLIME from afar for oh these many years, I can tell you that I thought he was a "hero" when I met him, then I got to know him, and he's a SNAKE. I've spent many hours with Preston (before the charges) and learned a lot about him, especially that he ALWAYS plays any angle he can.

I will go on record right now and say I believe he molested Hannah, and he can go ahead and "sue me with his baseball bat".

I also was interviewing SLIME one time when the first controversy was started by Russ Georgiev, John Martino, Bill Nirdlinger and Mike and Phyllis Caro when the "infamous cheating tape" was released to the public by Russ Georgiev.

I interviewed SLIME about his role in the stories that the 3 told about him, and he said flat out (when he didn't realize that my recorder was still on, since the camera being shot by Darryl Phillips had just been turned off) and SLIME SAID "That fucking Seattle Russ better shut his fucking mouth or he's gonna wake up dead"

That's the kinda guy your "HERO" is.

He's an old man who doesn't have any family left (he's living alone in an apartment at last report) doesn't have any friends left to "vouch" for him , and wants to die a LEGEND. Pathetic.

As for Nolan, great interview, as always my good friend.

Rick Charles

Hammers11 Apr 23, 2009

I think Nolan did a great job and didn't let Slim off the hook on the key questions or issues.

Not sure that there's enough 'evidence' in the article to get to the truth about what Slim did... BUT if he pled guilty to 3 counts of assault then surely he's technically guilty of assault not molestation?

However, I doubt if he had pedophile leanings it would take 77 years for them to manifest themselves... so I guess I believe Doyle - cant be may who know him better.

Hammers11

Rick Charles Apr 23, 2009

Hammers. Nolan did a good job with a very sticky subject matter, I agree.

I also know and happen to really like Doyle, although I believe he let his loyalty to an old friend say something that he may not have had his whole heart into.

I will not go into naming names, but there WERE (contrary to Prestons assertion) more than a handful of VERY well known and highly respected poker industry people who DID talk to him about mounting a defense, one in fact, who offered to FUND it, and after learning more and more, they slowly one by one slunk away due to not believing him. I was told this by at least 3 different impeccable sources who are good friends. All three told me that if I wanted to keep my credibility I would walk away from Slim and not champion his cause.

'nuff said for the moment

Rick "DaVoice" Charles
http://www.voiceofpoker.com

Adam Smithee Apr 28, 2009

"However, I doubt if he had pedophile leanings it would take 77 years for them to manifest themselves... so I guess I believe Doyle - cant be may who know him better."

Unless it's a case of mental illness, you're correct.

I don't know what happened in this case. I do know that very often, molesters get away with their crime(s) for years. In many cases, they're never caught, and when they do get caught, typically have molested multiple victims.

As for Doyle and Sailor sleeping in the same room with Slim, it's proof of absolutely nothing.

1) It's HIGHLY unlikely that they would wake up to find a child in bed with Slim. Molesters go to great lengths to hide their crime(s).

2) Child molesters like to molest CHILDREN. Thirty year old men sleeping in the same room and not being molested is totally meaningless.

kls834 May 23, 2009

He may or may not be a pedophile - we have no reason to believe anything he says in this interview.

He's definitely a scumbag. I'm not exactly well connected in the poker community, and even I have heard enough stories about him to know that. He should be no one's hero or icon.

My only personal encounter with Slim was at last year's WSOP, in a $1500 HORSE event. In a small pot in the first stud/8 round, he tried to claim half the pot with a 9 low, then when his inexperienced opponent nodded, quickly flipped over his cards and buried them deep in the muck. Angle-shooting bastard.

The dealer started chopping the pot, but not everyone at the table was asleep. Eventually the floor sorted it out despite not being able to retrieve Slim's cards, and despite Slim's loud protests. Such a pain in the ass.

Junebug1234 May 23, 2009

Living in Texas and working in a courthouse for years, I know what can happen in these situations. When the word Pedo... even starts to be mention, it's guilty as charged. Doesn't matter what the final verdit is, you're guilty.

I had a cousin that was sent to jail for this and 12 years later, his grandchild admitted that her mother hated him and made her say the things that put him in jail for all those years. Even though he was released, he is still seen as a molester.

I can see how Slim would want to save his family and himself the court case.

I am sure that when he said, "Feel good..." he was more than likely making a comment about them all being wet and piled into a single cab truck with a gearshift crammed against your leg. I guess not many have had to feel that wonderful feeling of a small cab crunch.

Good luck Slim and I hope to see you in the WSOP.

kevin May 23, 2009

Innocent.

PLANETROCK May 24, 2009

You go Slim, Just a shame that no one in the poker community showed support or even tried to get the truth out(Except for Doyle). I think that makes the poker community look bad not to do so. Unlike others in the sports, entertainment,music industry who support each other.

Gary (hog)Haubelt May 25, 2009

Slim has been a friend for 20 or so years.
played poker with him at least that long.Sounds like he is stupid when it comes to lawyers and the court system.
I will always consider him as a friend.

Joe May 25, 2009

Just another sorry a$$ D.A. trying to "make a name" for himself and doesn't care who he hurts doing it!!!

Most older people don't understand the system and listen to their lawyers advice, but I believe Slim was right to take the deal and that he's INNOCENT!!!

Bret Rosser May 28, 2009

I grew up in Amarillo and lived across the street from Slim and his family. We spent time togerther and my parents are still friends with Slim and his family. From my experience with Slim I know that he would hurt anyone that tried to hurt his family or anyone close to him. This is completly outside of his nature. He may be a "Character" but child molester he is NOT. I would trust my children and grand children with Slim. I think the entire Poker World owes men like Slim and Doyle a big Thank You for establishing the ground work for what we all enjoy now.

THANK YOU Slim

Michael May 29, 2009

I think the one who should be investigated is Rick Charles (see above comments). I am sick of people in the media with some obvious axe to grind...use their position to accuse and oppress others who don't have a voice. Who is the Rick Charles, and why should anyone listen to him. Is he another one of 'those' who can't be famous, so instead leeches off of the the ones who are? PATHETIC. I would like to see a survey taken of how many are sick of the media, and these so-called 'commentators'. Believe me the % would be very high...in the 90's perhaps. I see those types in poitics on TV, so I stop watching their networks. Maybe people should stop listening to Rick Charles, or watching his programs (I never heard of him myself)....until he stops his yellow journalism....

willie beamen Jun 3, 2009

After reading the interview to be honest he may have done it and he may not have done it.And without seeing all ALL the evidence thats all we railbirds can do is simply specualte on limited information..But hell isnt that we do playing poker?But this aint poker its life its a mans life..and thank god ive never been accused of a crime however it doesnt blind me to the fact that the american judical system is "GARBAGE" fail to acknowledge that and your blind or just stupid.Just is not blind its become the master of small minds and ignorant remote flippers where a man is truly guilty until proven innocent in 2009.So slim if you do read this i would not mind you at my poker table at ALL!Am not an ignorant wretch i dont run with mob mentailtys like i may have in the "PAST" ON 2+2.God will judge you one day on what really happen but withought guilt without a shadow of a doubt i will not be one one to stand in judge of you.Take care slim

Michael Bauers Jun 8, 2009

Wow, some people are harsh in spite of not having access to the facts.

I don't know what did happen, but didn't they say there were more people in the truck then just him and the grand daughter, or more of his grandkids around?

And it does not make sense for a man of that age to suddenly show signs of being a pedophile.

What I have noticed though, is that people are so emotional about that word, that anytime someone is accused of it, they immediately attack the person even when they are not in the possession of all the facts.

Also, kids have been known to misconstrue adults actions as sexual in some way incorrectly. Possibly because some kids are educated about good touch / bad touch or what they call it now, and may not have the wisdom to fully understand situations.

MInd you, I am not saying he's innocent. But I would err on the side of innocent until proven guilty, and it does not sound like the court proved him guilty - many people plead no contest when innocent for various reasons.

bubba Jun 10, 2009

You morons...!
This guy has made a living as a poker player,,,TELLING LIES!!!!
People are WAY to forgiving.
He knows what he did was wrong.
But you FOOLs beleive his lies,,,LOL

Eric Jul 16, 2009

I don't care what the charge is. If I am given the oppurtunity to walk free or risk 25 years in prison to clear my name then you can bet your life I am pleading to whatever they tell me.
Also, juries want to believe the 12 year old girl rather than the 80 year old man. If the guy was innocent he might still get convicted because a jury would rather risk putting an innocent man away than letting a guilty predator walk free.
He has to take the deal.

From Texas Too Nov 10, 2009

"When a person is charged with commiting a crime, he or she is given the opportunity to respond. There are three possible responses: a guilty plea, not guilty plea, and no contest plea. If a defendant does not enter a plea, a plea of not guilty will be entered for him or her. From the Latin, nolo contendre, no contest means the person does not refute the charges, but also does not claim guilt for the charges. This can save time if a person convicted of a crime must stipulate to each of the charges.
(wisegeek.com)

Mr. Slim pleaded "No Contest," to assault charges; not "Guilty." Big difference. Big mistake by the reporter, Nolan Dalla, getting the terms of the plea bargain WRONG. It really changes the entire second half of the article.