One of the things that struck me when I first interviewed Mike Matusow – besides the fact that, as I waited for him, in his living room, the perpetually cranky Sam Grizzle (now deceased) bounded down the steps, wearing pajamas, and zipped out the door – was how open Matusow was about psychological challenges that plagued him. Considering that he was having a first-time meeting with a journalist, the share was particularly generous.
As we got to chatting, Matusow reeled off a list of the medicines he took at the time (Zoloft, Depakote, and Ritalin), explained a past misunderstanding with the law, and informed me about positive results that came from the pills.
Successful Summer
Like all of us, he has had his ups and downs over the years. Considering that “The Mouth” is a poker player I like and always root for, a recent conversation with him felt especially gratifying.
“I struggle with mental illness,” he told me, candid as ever, even though I called to discuss a whole other topic. “But I fixed myself. I have a great psychiatrist, and she changed my life. Now I’m never depressed. And the sad thing is that people struggle with mental illness and can’t get it right.”
Having now gotten it right, Matusow said that he is playing incredibly focused poker, reading opponents clearly and initiating the right moves in response. During this summer’s World Series of Poker, he made the money in 10 tournaments, including deep runs in the $10,000 Stud Championship and $50,000 Poker Players Championship. That’s pretty impressive for the senior pro who does not play a lot of tournaments outside of the WSOP each summer.
Getting Help
Matusow attributes the current state of his game to the solid state of his mind.
“There were 10 poker players during the WSOP who told me that they have never seen me so focused, so mentally calm,” he said. “I had a full-time assistant who stretched me out – and that helped with my brain. I had a refrigerator in my room and three meals per day were delivered. So, I ate well, And I slept well,”
“Everybody should have a psychiatrist.” He added that it can be life changing and life enhancing “once you get one who cares about you, who will listen and get you on the right medicine.”
He explained that even if a tournament session went until 2:00 in the morning, “I would take my sleep meds at 1:00 and then, no matter what, I would be knocked out by 3:00 and sleep until 11:30. So I got my eight-and-a-half hours of sleep. I’ve learned that it’s all about eating well and sleeping well. Then, once a week, I would get an IV.”
Actually, it was four different IVs, including one that focused on inflammation. Among Matusow’s IVs of choice is the Meyers’ cocktail. Delivered right into his bloodstream, so it does not get messed with by the digestive system, the mix includes high doses of vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium. Without an FTC opinion, it is said to reduce stress and fatigue while cutting down on migraine symptoms.
While Matusow admits that the IVs have dropped off a bit after the tournament season wound down, his mental health remains as strong as ever – you get a sense of that every week on the sports-betting podcast Fade Us Sports, which he co-hosts with pals Phil Hellmuth, Brandon Cantu, and David Woodley.
As for the IVs, they seem unlikely to go anywhere in the long run.
“I need to get another one,” Matusow said. “It’s been a little while, and I should still be getting them once a week.”
Michael Kaplan is a journalist based in New York City. He is the author of six books including Advantage Players, and has worked for publications that include Wired, GQ and the New York Post. He has written extensively on technology, gambling, and business — with a particular interest in spots where all three intersect. His article on Kelly “Baccarat Machine” Sun and Phil Ivey is currently in development as a feature film.
