Poker Runs America
John Haggin is one of the wealthiest members of the offshore racing fraternity and most definitely the most well known thanks to the small village he brings to every event. He has seemingly boundless energy that emerges in an endless monologue about how to improve the sport. Yet there is one word you never hear come from his mouth: Me.
In a sport that’s been known for ego’s that run amuck through the decades, Haggin, who celebrated his 50th birthday – in a big way – last March, seems devoid of self-interest. “The whole concept of this is United We Race,” Haggin said, “I’m living a little kid’s dream right now, hanging out with the Dave Scotts and Tom Abrams and John Tomlinson’s of the world.”
In addition to his unlimited energy reserves, Haggin is armed with something equally valuable when it comes to navigating the waters of offshore racing, a disarming charisma. He shoots straight, but does so in such a positive way that you can’t imagine anyone getting mad at him.