A Look at the People and Personalities of Weber Avenue Poker
Player Name- Mimi Sewell 
Nickname- "The Weber Avenue Diva" , "A 10".
Career Highlights- Charter member of the Weber Avenue Poker League (2004). Two first place finishes in each of Weber Avenue’s first three seasons . Giacomo Day High Hand Winner 2006.
Strengths- Willing to play any two cards hard and to the river.
Weaknesses- Willing to play any two cards hard and to the river. And Jagermeister.
Player Quote- "I knew when this league was established that we were in good hands. I mean, just look at the board of directors. Those guys are all strong, handsome, bright men. So the success of the league is no surprise to me. Mike, Brian and Eric could sell sand in the desert and be successful at it." *****
Player Name- Mike Kadlub 
Nickname- "Lubber". And a few that can't be repeated.
Career Highlights- Two year member of Weber Avenue Poker League. 3 time winner in 2006. 3rd place Giacomo Day 2006 finisher. 2006 runaway winner of the Knob of the Year Award, awarded to the person who best symbolizes poker playing donkeys eveywhere. 2 time winner on the tour in 2007. Close friend of fellow league player Dawn "Flash" Walters.
Strengths- Legitimately might be holding any two cards in the deck and playing any pot with them. Clever player who will sometimes bet 35 chips when minimum bet amount is 30 chips.
Weaknesses- Prop bets, Chipotle and kicker problems.
Player Quote- "My life was spiraling out of control before the gentlemen, and I do mean gentlemen in every sense, from Weber Avenue Poker offered me a spot in the league and restored some order to my life. Regardless of what else is going on in my life I know I can go there every Thursday and get my ass handed to me in a quality facility. It gives me a sense of consistency."
*****
Player Name- Roger Sielaff 
Nickname- "The Family Man"- Roger has suffered a few bad breaks and bad beats that have sent him home early in the 1st half.
Career Highlights- Charter Member of Weber Avenue Poker. Took a sabbatical in Season 2 before returning this year. A 2nd and 3rd place finish in 2005.
Strengths- Born with a gamblers soul. The Family Man will often try and take his rags to reap your riches. It may not always work, but it's never comfortable being in that hand and it's even worse when he wins it.
Weaknesses- Face cards.
Player Quote- "I couldn't stay away. Look at this place, these facilities. The guys running this place are visionaries. I may be a gambler but this place is a sure bet. It's like being dealt a King and a Jack down. It doesn't get much better than that."
*****
Player Name- Dawn Walters 
Nickname- "Flash", "Surly Temple"
Career Highlights- Two year member of Weber Avenue Poker. Four 1st place and 2nd place finishes 2006. 2006 1st half champion. One 1st and one 2nd place finish this season. First female dealer in Weber Avenue Poker history.
Strengths- Very Punctual. Always one of the first through the door. Largely due to the fact she lives 40 miles but just 10 minutes away. Extremely eager to learn. Will mix it up and not back down. Occasionally will even do that when playing poker.
Weaknesses- Rarely, if ever, recalls or applies the information she learned. May have a few "tells" in regard to betting/raising hands that need to be worked out. One example is that when raising she will often grab raising chips, gum wrappers, car keys and Lubber's empty Chipotle bag to put in the pot before it is her turn to act. Plus she can be just downright mean.
Hosted a "unique" 45 card Hold 'Em tournament that played to mixed reviews.
Player Quote- "I owe what very limited success I've had and what very little knowledge I've accumulated to the guys on the Weber Avenue board who have tried to teach me a few things. I've actually won a few bucks despite my bad attitude and I have to admit that the Purell dispenser is cute. And before I forget, %$#@ you Lubber."
*****
Player Name- Tim Weidenkopf 
(Scotty Nguyen requested the pic at right)
Nickname- "Tahoe Kid", "Strykher Everhard" (from a walk-on role in a Panamanian she-male/beastiality flick)
Career Highlights- Charter Member of Weber Avenue Poker. A 1st, three 2nds and three 3rd place finishes in inaugural season. Two 2nds and four 3rds in second season. Third Place finished Giacomo Day I. Unanimously voted Mis-Dealer of the Year in Season II.
Strengths- The two-handed six-gun check. Rakes large pots with 4 card straights at many Indian casinos. Stamina in cash games often leads to memorable 22 hour sessions and numerous Marine Corps references as The Kid apparently served with that group.
Weaknesses- Super juice and playing a hand without talking. Also finding it difficult to continue domination of the league while residing in Reno, NV.
Player Quote- "Don't worry aboudit. I'll get ya a quote when I get ya a quote. Yo, I was in the Suck. I've played cards in tents, in caves, in creek beds, in fox holes, on the decks of freakin' ships. And there ain't no place like playing at Weber Ave. F%$#in' Berger's a bit sketchy but the rest of that league is solid. Except for the chicks. They flat out suck. And I ain't always sure what the $#@! Rog is doing, but shit, I was in the belly of this transport plane when they were sending us out on some bullshit manuevers and were playing some Tonk with this cat who was a Ranger from Davenport, Iowa hookin' a ride with us and this jagoff was .........................................
*****
Player Name- George Johns 
Nickname- "Goose", "Two-Clips" (And two clips is worth 2 pics)
Career Highlights- Charter Member of Weber Avenue Poker. Two 1st place finishes, two 2nd place finishes in 2005. Five 2nds and one 1st place finish in 2006. The ONLY winner of Giacomo Day Clips. Currently is only 2 time clip winner in Weber Ave history.
Apparently an author of some repute though none of his books have been made available to any other league players.
Strengths- He's the oldest player at the table in a game where experience counts. Big money player. Uses league schedule as a tune up to prime himself for Giacomo Day cashes. Yet to lose in Weber Avenue's biggest event.
Weaknesses- Lack of huge money tournies to play during the week. Has difficulty beating bad players. But only in league play.
Player Quote- "This Texas Hold 'Em Poker is the worst game ever. Not only does the game blow but the people in this league are as dumb as any group of people you can throw together. These mopes playing their bad cards in bad pots against other bad card playing mopes is a spectacle that brings me back each week. It's like a car crash in that way. Peeker, Eric and Pipe are selling themselves short with this league but it's their skills and expertise that bring us back every year. That and Mimi"
*****
Player Name- Amy Berger 
Nickname- "Amy Duke", "Amois"
Career Highlights- Charter Member of Weber Avenue Poker. One 1st place and one 2nd place finish in 2005. Three 1st place, three 2nd place finishes in 2006. Most Improved Player Award winner 2006. High hand winner 2006 (Jack high straight flush).
Strengths- Being the youngest player in the league gives her endurance and more ability to drink and play. Famous for the "fuggit" call and willing to race for big pots.
Weaknesses- Occasionally pushes the boundaries on the first strength outlined above. Occasionally loses when implementing that second strength.
Player Quote- " Look, it's not my fault I came to this league when I did. What choice did I have?? Peeker was married and Pipe was about to be. But there was still a board member available wasn't there? And you're damn right I made my play and raked that pot called Eric. True, it was a smaller pot than I would have liked to have won, but if you can go through life making aggressive stabs at small pots you're gonna win more than you lose. This is a Weber Avenue Board Member after all. Hey, all the Beatles wives made out just fine. Shit...... hold on a second.... ERIC!!!!.... I need some more money for this stupid f'ing 1/2 game......sorry honey-lamb.....what the $%#@ were we talking about?...."
*****
Player Name- Josh White 
Nickname- ummmm...... Josh White..
Career Highlights- Three 2nd place, two 1st place finishes in 2005. 2nd place overall 2005. 4th place Season I Giacamo Day. Five 1st place and two 2nd place finishes in 2006.
Two 1st place and two 2nd place finishes in first half of this season.
Strengths- Rarely calls, often raises. Especially with position. Lives close to Weber Avenue so can gamble and not have long drive staring him in the face if he loses. Works with 2006 Weber Ave Holiday Extravaganza winner Joe Smolic so he's used to dealing with a-holes and idiots. That's big at Weber Ave.
Weaknesses- Not a very good 'Crazy Guts' player at all.
Player Quote- "Jesus Christ. Poker gets big, I live close, I like to play, no big deal, I'm in. Now suddenly there's gay-ass web sites and blogs about this league and crap hanging on the wall. There's a Purell dispenser over there for chrissakes. What a bunch of mo's. I'm surprised these guys haven't moved the game to that new bath house opening downtown. Gotta admit though. The board has really turned shit to shinola by duping these sheep into believing their hype."
*****
Player Name- Robby Whitehouse 
Nickname- "House"
Career Highlights- Two 1st place and one 2nd place finish in 2005 along with a Season I Giacamo Day cash. Four 1st place finishes and a second place finish in Season II with another Giacamo Day cash. One 3rd place finish thus far in Season III.
Strengths- The guy can mash a softball. In fact, one softball publication named Robby as its "Player of the Year in 2006".
Weaknesses- "The Dirt" was the publication that named Robby its player of the year. If you run out and grab a copy, the circulation increase 25%. Plus they're kind of The National Enquirer of local softball rags. But nonetheless, how many of you were named "Player of the Year" by anyone?
Player Quote- I'm not gonna lie. Robby is known more for hitting a softball and Giacamo Day cashes than for saying a great deal. The fact is he's about the only league member who's content to just shut up and play.
Though I have heard him on occasion tell Lubber to go %$#@ himself.
*****
Player Name- Bob Lawson Jr. 
Player Nickname- "Junior", "Outlaw" (self -given)
Career Highlights- One 1st, two 2nds and a 3rd in Season I. Two 1st place, five 2nd place and two 3rd place finishes in Season II. 2nd place finish in Season II Giacamo Day tournament. Three 1sts, three 2nds and a 3rd place finish at the halfway point of this season.
Strengths- Typically blends aggression with some common sense. Not something you see a lot of at Weber Ave. Also is in the tile business and has consulted on a couple of jobs for Weber Avenue players. It's always good to know guys in the trades.
Weaknesses- I personally need everything in my house except tile at this time and Bob doesn't do roofing or painting or plumbing. He also consumes only non-alcoholic beer and that minimizes your opportunity to take him for large amounts of money in the cash games that go deep into the night.
Player Quote- "Dude, I played ball with Peeker and Pipe for years. These guys were two of the finest players to ever grace the sandlots of Lake and Cuyahoga counties. So I knew the poker league would be run exceptionally well. I can't believe their friends and league members are as incompetent as they turned out to be though. I'd have figured guys like Pipe and Peeker would run with a higher caliber crowd. That still stuns me."
*****
The Weber Avenue Poker Executive Board
The Executive Board- From left to right, Pipe, Peeker and Eric
Player Name- Eric Berger 
Executive Position- Chief Information Officer
Nickname- "Bubble Boy", "KingX", "Bergertime" and, of course, CIO
Did You Know?- Eric overcame all the hardships that come with being a thalydamide baby to rise in the Weber Avenue ranks and was a late round draft choice of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Career Highlights- Charter member and Board Member of the Weber Avenue Poker League (2004). Three 1st place finishes, two 2nd place finishes and two 3rd place finishes in inaugural season. Two 1st place finishes, four 2nd place finishes and four 3rd place finishes in Season II. A 2nd and a 3rd thus far in Season III.
Strengths- Worked his way up from lowly scribe position to full board member status in first season of The League. Lives on the bubble. A God given, if not uncanny ability to hold on just long enough to not cash.
Weaknesses- Will, without hesitation, over-play any two cards, provided that one of them has a K in the corner.
Player Quote- "When the opportunity presented itself, and a Weber Avenue Board position opened up, I knew right then that was my calling. With officers like Pipe and Peeker at the helm, I knew I would be standing shoulder to shoulder with the finest League Directors in Poker today. Let that serve as a lesson to all you kids out there - with hard work and determination, you too can follow your dreams, and reach the pinnacle of poker league achievement. No, not becoming a better player, or cashing every couple of weeks, or even staying in the Giacomo Day year-end event long enough to color up. I'm talking about an unpaid, volunteer, executive position on the Weber Avenue Board of Directors. Truly an honor!"
*****
Player Name- Brian McPeek 
Executive Position- Weber Avenue Poker Co-Founder & Executive VP- Marketing & Public Relations
Nickname- "Peeker", "Trey" (in reference to usual finishing position, see "Career Highlights" below), "Golden Boy of Poker (G-Bop)", "The Poker Poet", "Tight Balls", "Zeus", "Mc Pot-raker", "Mc Clip-winner", etc., etc.
Did You Know?- Peeker graduated cum laude from Bowling Green State University and is a concert quality pianist.
Career Highlights- Three 3rd place finishes in Season I. Five 1st place, four 2nd place and two 3rd place finishes in Season II. Season II overall champion and Clip winner. A 2nd place and seven 3rd place finishes in the first half of season III.
Strengths- Regarded as the finest short stack player ever to grace the felt in the Weber Avenue garage. Without fail, gets his chips in the pot as a heavy favorite. Shows grace and class when mercilessly screwed by a bad play from a mediocre to poor player. Rarely, if ever, judges the play of others. Is highly regarded, along with Eric and Pipe, as the area's preeminent league executive.
Weaknesses- Occasionally his brutally honest recountings of hands and player errors is mistaken as mean spirited and condescending. But those who mistake those accounts as such are usually fools and losers. Truly, you can spend a long time looking for weaknesses and you're more likely to find a $3 bill.
Player Quote- "I remember late summer of 2004 when Pipe called me with this easy money making opportunity. He said he had some extra garage space and a poker table if I could find a bunch of dorks and goofballs from work to donate to our cause. Well, I couldn't fall out of my chair at work without hitting a dork or a goofball so I grabbed up a few of them and the rest is history. Eric turned out to be a little bit brighter than we would have liked so Pipe and I just cut him into the deal but aside from that glitch things are going according to plan. I figure if we can keep this thing of ours rolling for another 40-50 years then I'm going to eventually make enough to get a new microwave or maybe one of those sweet Rascal Scooters for my later years. Shit, Pipe has already renovated his entire garage and half his basement on his take."
*****
Name- Mike Piper 
Executive Position- Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Weber Avenue Poker (2004)
Nickname- Pipe, Lead Pipe, The Pipe Bomb (to female fans), Pipe-a-licious, Pipe the Great, The ATM, The Cash Drawer, Cheeseman, The Fiddler in the Garage (as in, "Pipe played you like a fiddle.")
Did You Know? In addition to his skills on the felt, Pipe is an accomplished bowler and a former child model who was seen in Gerber Baby Food and Osh Kosh clothing commercials.
Career Highlights- Five 1st place, three second place and two 3rd place finishes in Season I. 2nd place Giacamo Day finish Season I. Season I points and Clip Winner.
One 1st place, one 2nd place and five 3rd place finishes in Season II. 4th place Season II Giacamo Day.
Two first place and seven 2nd place finishes thus far in Season III.
Strengths- Filling out a bank deposit ticket; Always on the right side of "The Number" when sports betting; Showing one card; Keeping a fridge filled; His CD collection; Power over the opposite sex; His overall importance to the league and to all people in general inspired the famous phrase (in times of disaster) "Save the women, children and Lead Pipe first."; Humility.
Weaknesses- Finds it nearly impossible to get his money in bad; Almost too nice of a guy; Was once check-raised by a one armed man in a big game at the Aladdin; Spiced rum; Belinda Carlisle; Lack of institutional control at annual Christmas party; Most of his friends are dill-holes.
Player Quote- "Allow me to quote the noted poker author Lou Krieger who said, 'Most of the money you'll win at poker comes not from the brilliance of your own play, but from the ineptitude of your opponents.' And then allow me to introduce you to Lubber and the rest of the gang. But seriously, my exceptional brilliance is neither here nor there. Like Jack Binion before me, my goal was to give my friends and fellow poker players the safest, nicest, friendliest garage in all of Northeastern Ohio in which to gamble. And we've done that here at Weber Ave. Unlike Jack Binion we've done it without killing people. The fact that the majority of Weber Avenue players gamble poorly and that I personally benefit isn't at all important. What's important is that we continue to build Weber Ave with their money in the hopes of getting higher rollers in here to take us to the next level. Which in the short term means some new hanging lights and maybe a wet bar."