Don't Question the Tomato King

His name may be Larry Lipman, but around the poker tournament circuit, players know him by a different name: The Tomato King.  It is relatively easy to remember, as Lipman always wears a hat with an embroidered tomato along with the words "Tomato King."

One player at his table asks Lipman, "Have you ever had an Indiana Tomato? Those are the best."

Lipman starts to explain why they aren’t his favorites and the player stops him.  "No, trust me."

At this point, Dave Baker feels compelled to interject on Lipman’s behalf. "Wait, wait wait.  You’re trying to tell the Tomato King what kind of tomato he should be eating?  I am sorry but if it is a choice between you and the Tomato King, I’m taking the Tomato King every time."

Lipman waits for the laughter at the table to subside, then expalins why you can’t categorically describe Indiana as the best tomato-producing state.

"You see, there are winter tomatoes and there are summer tomatoes," Lipman explains.  He then proceeds to name every month and the corresponding state which he believes produce the best tomatoes.  South Carolina is good in the winter months, but when it comes to July and August, California is where you want to be.