Stu was a savant. Not wise and learnt as a scholar, but unconsciously brillant and wise in mathamatical odds and statistics, card sense and reading 'vibes' from others. When right his memory was photographic and instant and his mental ability to access an over all situation and use this recall to act appropriately and creatively was done in the same instant and in parallel. He had a fraction of a second brain, on any thing. Before you finished explaining a card or hand problem he cut you off, told you the answer and if you looked like you didn't grasp it in one second he would walk away already bored. All in one second! It was almost frightening to be with him, frightening in the sense that it made me feel that there is something eerie around and I am apart of it. (which I know is true). His brain was wired differently then 99.9999....% of the rest of us. In my opnion it was similar to the brains of Mozarts' or Leonhard Euler the 18th century Swiss mathematician, who both did calculations instantly, with ease and without apparent thought.Stu applied his phenomenal mental ability from an early age to what later became his expertise, and no one to my knowledge has been close to his ability in gin and combined abilities in gin, back gammond, black jack and no-limit tournament poker. This early 'setting' or 'seeding' of his brain is what happens to the brain of gifted child chess players who have gone on to be brillant chess masters like bobby fischer. To miss the fertile imprinting years from around 5 to 12 is,in general,to preclude that individual from being a world class master! (I don't mean to offend chess players, but you know the point Im making).Stu could be impatient, selfish and volatile yet by far this was out weighed by hiscompassion,kindness, trust and generosity. He like 99% of the rest of us had a self, and self always has contradictions, emotions and conflicts. The back ground and building of that self starts as a child, at an age when imprinting is beyound our control and may, in many cases, leave a disruptive and conflicting self to handle our future. Stu was unreal, and to think he would want to share his life's story with you, his mystifying brillance and accomplishments and self destructive tragedy is an act of the highest unselfishness.Imagine a Prince whos image to the world is that he has every thing, fame, beauty, wealth, controle and power of himself but then confesses to the world that it is not true, knowing he would be throwing it all away!To me this is a supreme act of truth in a moment of compassion to help others who may have the same demons as he. Some nay sayers stress his faults and criticize him, thats your right, but none of the ones who do can ever say he didn't honestly recognize and admitt his weakness and faults to himself and then share it with the WORLD. I think the book 'One of a knid: The Rise and Fall of Stuey "the kid" Ungar, the worlds gretest poker plyer.', will be for millions one of the greatest, most interesting stories of our era. You'll see.Well done stu, even though your gone your still going to bedazzle us all. Well done cous'. Doc Earle