Player Wins Tournament After Crazy Raccoon Chase Ended in Shoulder Injury
Summary:
- Michael McQuaid dislocated his shoulder while escaping an aggressive raccoon.
- After receiving emergency treatment, the player entered a $200 tournament at MGM National Harbor and won about $3,000 in a chop.
- McQuaid, who has $75,916 in live tournament earnings, will require surgery for a torn labrum caused by the fall.
US Poker player Michael McQuaid had an unusually painful start to his day before turning the experience into a memorable tournament victory.
How the Chase Went Down
The Washington, D.C. native was walking his dog on Theodore Roosevelt Island last month when two large raccoons appeared in a nearby tree. One of the animals began running toward him, prompting McQuaid to sprint away.
While looking back to see whether the raccoon was still chasing him, McQuaid lost his balance and fell forward, completely dislocating his shoulder.
He was taken to an emergency room, where doctors used anesthesia to put his shoulder back into place. Despite the injury, McQuaid decided he had little else to do that day and headed to MGM National Harbor for a $200 buy-in poker tournament.
The decision proved surprisingly successful.
From Attack to Victory
McQuaid went on to win the tournament in a deal, taking home approximately $3,000. The victory added another remarkable chapter to a poker career that already includes $75,916 in live tournament earnings.
Speaking to PokerNews about the unusual sequence of events, McQuaid described the encounter as an intense experience.
His dog had stopped to bark at a tree when McQuaid noticed two raccoons. One then began coming down the tree, and McQuaid immediately realized that the situation could become problematic.
After running down the boardwalk, he turned around to check whether the animal was still following him. That’s when he lost his balance and suffered the shoulder injury.
The incident wasn’t the end of the day, however. After receiving treatment, McQuaid made his way to MGM National Harbor and entered the tournament.
The result was a win worth around $3,000.
The victory came despite the fact that McQuaid still faces surgery for a torn labrum caused by the accident.
A Story That’s Hard to Forget
The bizarre incident quickly became a source of humor among McQuaid’s friends, particularly because it happened around the same time that social media users were sharing images of “Jimothy” a well-known raccoon in Seattle with short spine syndrome.
Jimothy, the viral short-spined raccoon, was spotted Sunday drinking water in a Seattle backyard. pic.twitter.com/BpzGzMchAS
— ABC News (@ABC) August 4, 2026
One friend even sent McQuaid pictures of Jimothy and jokingly asked whether it was the animal that had chased him.
Michael McQuaid said his friends have treated the incident with good humor despite the seriousness of the injury.
