MY Mom is a life master, has worked a a tournament director, and drug me to tournaments all over the place as a kid. Heck the home town trophy for top player in the club was name after a paternal grandfather.

I learned to play backgammon at age 5, ustling at age 6 :-). And poker at the tournaments, but never bridge, just couldn't stand it.

It amazed me how the top players could discuss in detail hands played the day before, how they were bid, what order the cards came down in, and how some guy in europe played them last month.

I did meet a few world champion players, heck I grew up with Eric Rodwell.