James Woods may well have gotten his real ace card. “Miami” John Cernuto has trained the legendary actor and he credits much of his tournament success to Cernuto. “I certainly wouldn’t have sat in front of my 2nd Remington, were it not for Miami John,” said Woods, who wondered why Cernuto wasn’t in the Poker Hall of Fame.
“John is Cal Ripken Poker,” Woods said. “Let’s start with his impressive tournament record – No. 1 in the world with cash competition. Only it has to lock in approval. “He is a very respectable person in this business, no one. The handshake was stronger than the doors in Fort Knox. He was loved by everyone in the poker commune and deserved to be feared at the visiting table of the dewa poker .
“He’s a great father, and a wonderful partner,” Woods continued. “And he also has a good nickname. If Miami John Cernuto isn’t included in the Poker Hall of Fame, then who knows? “
At 75, Cernuto shows no signs of slowing down. At the LA Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino this winter, he’s cashed in seven moments, including reaching three final tables and winning the 2-7 Threefold event.
How did this former highwayman finish for the most successful competition poker player of his life? He could “blame” Ronald Reagan for that.
Just as Cernuto said, “In 1979 I fell in love with Las Vegas at the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) convention at Caesars Palace. I had never had the intention of leaving my ATC profession, but when the 1981 PATCO strike took place, I loved the chance of arriving to Las Vegas in January 1982. “
Reagan’s gonna get all the air traffic controllers out for stopping. For Cernuto, this helps take on a new profession. “Little did I know if all of my home game experience would have been unsuccessful in preparing me for a career poker life.”
He went on to explain: “For an alumnus of Florida State University, I can admit that the best decade for my Seminoles in football was the 90s, so go my poker profession. We both went up that time. Nobody can win three bracelets and two seconds at the WSOP, but there are plenty of other events that are worth mentioning.
