Norman Chad
Encyclopedia
Norman Chad is an American sportswriter and syndicated
columnist who is seen on the sports channel ESPN
. He also was an occasional guest host on the ESPN show Pardon the Interruption
and has appeared as both host and movie critic on the ESPN Classic
series Reel Classics.
He writes a weekly sports-based column called Couch Slouch. Each column closes with the feature "Ask the Slouch"; if a reader's question is selected, the reader wins $1.25 in cash. "Pay the man, Shirley," is frequently cited as a response to readers who have fulfilled the comedy quotient for their particular question.
His biggest shtick in both sportswriting and poker
commentary is his frequent references to his 'failed marriages'. In his weekly syndicated column on July 29, 2007, Chad announced that he has married for a third time and has started a new 'perilous life'. He is also noted for his strong dislike of what he terms "showboating in poker", especially by people such as Phil Hellmuth
, Josh Arieh
, Mike Matusow
, and many others. He regularly made numerous (presumably unpaid) references to his preference for Pabst Blue Ribbon
beer
. His poker commentary often includes terms such as "squadoosh" (zero/nothing, e.g., a weak hand) and "whamboozled" (to be knocked out of a tournament). He also utters various humorous phrases whenever he mentions a player's alma mater
. The phrase is almost always, "I believe they are the..." finished with an ACC
mascot other than the Terrapins
.
Since 2003, Chad has appeared on most of ESPN's poker broadcasts, including the World Series of Poker
and The United States Poker Championship
, among other events. Since becoming ESPN's poker analyst Chad has also participated in 19 World Series of Poker events himself. In both 2009 and 2011 he finished in the money of the $1,500 Stud 8 or better event.
For 11 years, Chad made NFL predictions against the spread in his syndicated column; Chad now claims that he picked the winners merely by flipping a coin, and most years ended up with a winning record.
In addition to his work on ESPN and on his Couch Slouch column, Chad wrote a book, published in 1993 by the Atlantic Monthly Press, called Hold On, Honey, I'll Take You to the Hospital at Halftime (Confessions of a TV Sports Junkie). The book is a compilation of Chad's thoughts on ESPN
as a sports network, as well as criticism of different sports programs, including Monday Night Football
.
Chad is of Cuban
descent on his mother's side. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park
. Prior to attending the University of Maryland, he attended Northwood High School
in Silver Spring, Maryland
, graduating in 1976.
Print syndication
Print syndication distributes news articles, columns, comic strips and other features to newspapers, magazines and websites. They offer reprint rights and grant permissions to other parties for republishing content of which they own/represent copyrights....
columnist who is seen on the sports channel ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. He also was an occasional guest host on the ESPN show Pardon the Interruption
Pardon the Interruption
Pardon the Interruption is a sports television show that airs weekdays on various ESPN TV channels, TSN, ESPN America, XM, and Sirius satellite radio services, and as a downloadable podcast. It is hosted by Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, who discuss, and frequently argue over, the top stories...
and has appeared as both host and movie critic on the ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic is a sports channel that features reruns of famous sporting events, sports documentaries, and sports themed movies. Such programs includes biographies of famous sports figures or a rerun of a famous World Series or Super Bowl, often with added commentary on the event...
series Reel Classics.
He writes a weekly sports-based column called Couch Slouch. Each column closes with the feature "Ask the Slouch"; if a reader's question is selected, the reader wins $1.25 in cash. "Pay the man, Shirley," is frequently cited as a response to readers who have fulfilled the comedy quotient for their particular question.
His biggest shtick in both sportswriting and poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
commentary is his frequent references to his 'failed marriages'. In his weekly syndicated column on July 29, 2007, Chad announced that he has married for a third time and has started a new 'perilous life'. He is also noted for his strong dislike of what he terms "showboating in poker", especially by people such as Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth is an American professional poker player. He is best known for holding a record 11 World Series of Poker bracelets, for winning the Main Event of the 1989 World Series of Poker and for his temperamental, "poker brat" personality...
, Josh Arieh
Josh Arieh
Joshua Arieh is an American professional poker player. Arieh has been competing in poker competitions since 1999...
, Mike Matusow
Mike Matusow
Michael Matusow is an American professional poker player, residing in Henderson, Nevada. Matusow's nickname of "The Mouth" reflects his reputation for trash-talking at the poker table...
, and many others. He regularly made numerous (presumably unpaid) references to his preference for Pabst Blue Ribbon
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Pabst Blue Ribbon is a brand of beer sold by Pabst Brewing Company, originally established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but now based in Los Angeles. Pabst Blue Ribbon is contract-brewed in six different breweries around the U.S...
beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
. His poker commentary often includes terms such as "squadoosh" (zero/nothing, e.g., a weak hand) and "whamboozled" (to be knocked out of a tournament). He also utters various humorous phrases whenever he mentions a player's alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
. The phrase is almost always, "I believe they are the..." finished with an ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
mascot other than the Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
.
Since 2003, Chad has appeared on most of ESPN's poker broadcasts, including the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
and The United States Poker Championship
The United States Poker Championship
The United States Poker Championship is a major annual stop on the poker tournament tour. This event is held at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey...
, among other events. Since becoming ESPN's poker analyst Chad has also participated in 19 World Series of Poker events himself. In both 2009 and 2011 he finished in the money of the $1,500 Stud 8 or better event.
For 11 years, Chad made NFL predictions against the spread in his syndicated column; Chad now claims that he picked the winners merely by flipping a coin, and most years ended up with a winning record.
In addition to his work on ESPN and on his Couch Slouch column, Chad wrote a book, published in 1993 by the Atlantic Monthly Press, called Hold On, Honey, I'll Take You to the Hospital at Halftime (Confessions of a TV Sports Junkie). The book is a compilation of Chad's thoughts on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
as a sports network, as well as criticism of different sports programs, including Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
.
Chad is of Cuban
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
descent on his mother's side. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. Prior to attending the University of Maryland, he attended Northwood High School
Northwood High School (Silver Spring, Maryland)
Northwood High School is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, and is part of Montgomery County Public Schools. Northwood originally opened in 1956. In 1985 it was closed in a contested decision by the Montgomery County School Board in an effort to alleviate the concentration of minorities enrolling...
in Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, graduating in 1976.