How a blackjack player who was a master at card counting became an organizer and activist in the Bay Area
How a brilliant card-counting blackjack player turned into a Bay Area activist, and organizer
Massar, 65, was telling me his life story at an Indian restaurant in Berkeley on a cold December afternoon. Although it's a story that's been repeated many times, Massar is not known by his full name. Massar also co-founded the world's most renowned team of blackjack players. Massar taught students at MIT and other prestigious universities how count cards, beat the games and make lots of cash. His exploits were filmed by the History Channel. Massar's face was blurred and he was called "Mr. M" and exaggerated in a best seller ("Bringing Down the House"), which was turned into a movie ("21") starring a now canceled actor (Kevin Spacey).
Massar is now done card-counting and has quit playing blackjack. He enjoys playing poker but only for entertainment. His casino-hound colleagues are unaware that he is primarily an activist. Many of his left-leaning activists who have seen him at many protests and city council meetings don't realize that he illegally swindled large sums from casinos in Las Vegas and New Jersey.
If your story is distorted with fictionalization, it's a strange thing that happens: You get notoriety while remaining anonymous. Massar doesn't hide his past. He will tell you if you ask. It's just...
The 'nervous, nutty Professor' Massar was described by former partners as caring, honest, passionate, honest and geeky on the History Channel's 2004 show, "Breaking Vegas." Andy Anderson, a former casino detective, observed Massar's life from afar and said that "Mr. M reminded me a nervous, crazy professor."
Massar was wearing a simple, plain brown jacket and underneath it was an unassuming, olive green Henley. His glasses are made for substance and not style. However, they look great with his soft smile.
Massar was patient and open throughout Massar's nearly full day together. Massar doesn't like eye contact, but it's not a problem. When I ask him questions, he takes the time to think it through. He will ask me to rephrase a question when I stumble upon it to make sure he understands it. His frequent gesticulations with his hands echo his habits of messing around with cards and chips. Blackjack Series - Blackjack Card Counting
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