Norman Chad is Looking to Step Out of the Booth into WSOP History
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The 2014 World Series of Poker marks the 10th anniversary of the annual event taking place at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. One man that has been there all that time — and even a year before — is WSOP commentator and funny man Norman Chad, who is among the final 13 in this event.
Since 2003, Chad has served as co-commentator alongside Lon McEachern. But how much do you know about him aside from that? We’re guessing not a whole lot, which is why we’ve decided to delve into the past of the man who uttered the memorable line "This is beyond fairy tale — it's inconceivable."
Born in 1958 to Seymour and Perla Chad, little Norman grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended Northwood High School and eventually graduated in 1976, but not before serving as the sports editor for the school paper.
He would continue writing sports-related material while at the University of Maryland, College Park, the institute where he would earn a degree in American Studies. After stints in stand-up comedy, writing for Sports Illustrated, penning two scripts for ABC's Coach and three more for HBO's Arliss, all of that lead to one place: the World Series of Poker.
"The first time I walked into Binion's [Horseshoe Casino] in 2003, I took one look around the room at the cast of characters and realized this job was going to be everything I'd ever dreamt of,” Chad has said in an interview with ESPN. “I swear, I asked myself, 'Where has this been all my life?' Then, after I watched the first show before it aired, I was so impressed at the gritty, real-life gambling feel these new producers had given it, it was just unbelievable."
It’s well known that Chad, who is a nationally-syndicated sports columnist with his Couch Slouch column, loves to play Omaha/stud hi-low, even making the final table of a mixed event back in 2012 where he ultimately finished in sixth place for $36,093. Chad will have to finish eighth or better here today to top that score.