On Monday night at 10:00pm PT, Darvin Moon and Joe Cada will take to the felts of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table for a heads-up duel. Poker News Daily caught up with PokerRoad’s Joe Stapleton, who has been coaching Cada on his media presence, to learn how the youngster is preparing for his big day.
Poker News Daily: Tell us what Joe Cada has been doing today and how he’s been preparing for Monday’s heads-up play in the 2009 WSOP Main Event.
Stapleton: Joe is being pulled in a lot of different directions today. Play ended at 6:00 in the morning. There was press that had to happen right afterward. I walked Joe to his room at 7:00 in the morning. He didn’t party or anything and went directly to his room. He apparently has not slept. I don’t know if it’s nerves or excitement or what, but he has been up all night. He’s started to get tired now.
The way that they have the schedule worked out is kind of brutal. There is no way to do it. Now, everyone is going to be off. If he sleeps now, it’s not like they’re playing in the morning. They’re playing at 10:00 tomorrow night. I think what Joe is really trying to do right now is get his head straight and get on some kind of schedule. 150 of his friends and family are here, so he’s getting a lot of phone calls and not answering any. He has a girlfriend here who is handling his things.
PND: Do you think that Joe Cada is handling the situation well, then?
Stapleton: Yesterday on his way out, for the questions that he answered, he was a complete class act. As someone who is trying to help him with media, I could not have been happier at the answers he was giving. He was humble and very polite and respectful. He was saying all of the right things. As far as what’s going on right now, it’s weird because I would like to tell him not to listen to anyone, except for me. I’ve been around poker for a while and would tell him to do every interview you possibly can and do nothing else. However, if I were a 21 year-old who was guaranteed to win at least $5 million tomorrow and possibly $8 million, that’s not what I would be doing.
PND: Is his girlfriend a good influence on him?
Stapleton: She seems to be genuinely concerned with his comfort. Also, she’s working with Joe’s agent to wrangle him. She is there in the room with him. If he chooses not to answer his phone, we can get to her. She’s been extremely helpful.
PND: Is this a make or break point for Joe Cada’s career?
Stapleton: I don’t think that there’s any way for this not to be the biggest event. It’s so obvious that it is. I think he’s going to be around for a long time either way somewhat by virtue of the fact that Darvin Moon, more than likely, is not going to have a huge presence. People will look to Joe to be the face of the 2009 WSOP. As far as his birthday, it will become a difficult record to break. Only things that are equally as big can happen to him.
PND: Talk about Cada’s lively fan base at the Rio yesterday.
Stapleton: They were the loudest and craziest fans and part of that is where they’re from. He’s from Detroit. People who are from New York or L.A. have that attitude that we’ve seen it all and done it all. That part of the country is still very enamored by the lifestyle and the money. They are unbelievably excited.
PND: It has to be a huge achievement for the city of Detroit too.
Stapleton: From what I understand, the local Detroit media is losing their minds right now. They’re flying out here. I believe some of the local news stations are ready to get him on.
With the drv set to record the final table coverage I returned to enjoy a thrilling night of poker. The game was still playing at the two hour mark when the recording stopped. Another WSOP on ESPN disappointment. Again I know who won without seeing the coverage on TV.