LAS VEGAS — The poker X community was rocked to its felt-covered core this past week when self-described poker author Sara O’Connor publicly accused an unnamed “pathetic guy” of relentless harassment, only for legendary WSOP commentator Norman Chad to step forward and reveal the shocking truth: he was the stalker—and his entire crime spree consisted of a few mildly critical messages.
Sources close to the situation confirm that Chad, 67, whose voice has narrated countless final tables and whose couch commentary has become a national treasure, sent the first DM in August gently suggesting O’Connor’s writing read like “AI-generated slop.”
Two months later, apparently unable to contain his maniacal impulses, he followed up with a second message urging her to “develop real skills” instead of relying on shortcuts.
The incident and an unrelated post in which Chad discussed his thoughts on poker headlines were characterized by Sara as obsession, accompanied by a Mean Girls GIF and an explanation that repeated attempts at engagement required muting as a protective measure.
Meanwhile, James Cloutier threatened to leak the DMs..
If you’d rather keep bringing up old news, I’m sure we can dig up the DMs you sent Sara about the AI subject and put everything on the table. Let your full protest be known. Wouldn’t want your opinion to be left out in there cold.
Chad, in a bold act of self-defense that poker X is calling “the most transparent fold in history,” posted literal photos of the exchange—complete with a screen so smudged and fingerprint-coated that experts now believe it may qualify as a biohazard.
“Jesus Christ, Norman, clean your screen,” wrote one top reply, garnering more likes than the original drama. “Delete, wash screen, repost,” advised another, in what has quickly become the poker community’s unified battle cry. Several users zoomed in on the grime, noting what appeared to be a dog hair and enough residue to qualify as a biological exhibit.
To be fair, the private messages themselves were notably calmer than the public framing. In the exchanges Chad posted, O’Connor thanked him for his thoughts, acknowledged prior help he’d given when she asked for it, and framed the disagreement largely around tone and unsolicited advice rather than intent.
Doubling down on AI slop
That civility, however, hasn’t stopped a familiar pattern. O’Connor has been publicly called out multiple times for using AI in both her book and paid poker articles, and each time has responded by doubling down.
When challenged again this past week, O’Connor dismissed the criticism outright, writing, “I put the pathetic guy on mute awhile ago, but he can’t seem to help himself. All he wants is my attention, it’s so cringe.”
Norman, if pressed for a comment while wiping his screen with a losing ticket stub, may have shrugged. “I’ve been calling poker hands for decades, I know slop when I see it.”
Poker X remains divided: roughly 0.2% are furious at Chad for his “obsessive” behavior, 67% are furious at O’Connor for “lowering the literary bar of a game already dominated by drunk gamblers,” and 100% are united in demanding Norman invest in a microfiber cloth.
Editor’s Note: VIVA AI BABY.
Gif: Poker Yoda
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