its been a while since i've done any real blogging so i think i might rattle off a few hundred words since i can't seem to get myself to pick up the phone and start working the lines here in the office.
so this past weekend was spent in las vegas meeting up with a bunch of the homies. benson the crooklyn boombaclot along with jimmy the mook, greg the suit and yak had either bought in or won a seat at the grande dame of the world series of poker, the no limit poker tournament. i, on the other hand, lack the stake and the skill (not necessarily in that order) to play in the event so i was there for the spectacle, cheer the fellas on, and to take down a few scores from the plethora of suckas that vegas attracts.
thanks to generous television coverage on espn and the travel channel, no limit texas hold em has reached levels of unprecedented popularity. rich fucks and suckas alike have all flocked to the game to donate their hard earned cash to people like my friends. the world series of poker hold em tournament has attracted nearly 2,600 players who each have bought in for $10,000 apiece or won satellite tournaments for their seats. this year's prize pool is over $25 million, with first place getting $5 million.
unlike years past, the first round was split into two days because of the sheer number of participants. jimmy the mook, yak, and greg the suit all played on the first day. unfortunately yak had the distinction of being one of the first players bounced from the tournament, calling an all in bet after he flopped a set of threes. even more unfortunate is the fact that he went in against the nut flush. of course, last year's winner chris moneymaker was also bounced early on the first day as well as a number of very good professional players.
greg the suit and jimmy the mook (named, one because his choice of attire, and the other based on his use of an alias for a ny times article on poker players) fared better, surviving the first day, both sporting slightly more chips than what they started with.
the crooklyn boombaclot seems to thrive under these types of situations and finds himself in a very favorable position. i managed to see him flop t t j with pocket jacks. the turn and the river were q and a so the other guy felt good when he made his straight. of course it didn't stand up against the boat and benson took down a nice score, raking in more than a few of those yellow $1,000 chips. starting with $10,000 in chips on an ass pucker tight table, benson ended up over $60k, in something like 30th position of the field. when they start playing the second round today just a few minutes from now, he'll be the chip leader of his table and sitting with notable pros like jason lester (made it to the final table last year) and kath liebert.
shady seems to have caught the fever (he was already pretty warm after making the final table at last weeks $9k guaranteed no limit tournament) for the flava and has been on IM with me all morning trying to convince me to take an all-nighter and drive back out to vegas tonite to play and then come back the following morning. despite the fact that i did manage to double up in the brief moment that i sat down at a low limit table, it looks like it'll have to be a no can do, kemosabe. well, at least not until the weekend. i ain't making no mid-week trek to vegas.
with all the massive attendance of the event, there was no shortage of freebies and chochkes such as tee shirts and other assorted crap. i gotta tell ya that of all the giveaways, degree or right guard should be handing out samples because the hard core poker fan, someone who's been going to these things for 5 or 10 years, has some serious fuckin BO issues.
for the casual poker fan, don't bother making a trip to vegas from anywhere farther out than LA to watch the world series. the games are slow and the BO factor his high. especially if you don't have a good friend playing the tournament and you aren't looking to pick up information to pass along, do yourself--and your nose--a favor and watch the faster, edited versions of the world series from the comforts of your own home.
unless you actually want to sit down and play. then my friends and i will gladly take your money.
so this past weekend was spent in las vegas meeting up with a bunch of the homies. benson the crooklyn boombaclot along with jimmy the mook, greg the suit and yak had either bought in or won a seat at the grande dame of the world series of poker, the no limit poker tournament. i, on the other hand, lack the stake and the skill (not necessarily in that order) to play in the event so i was there for the spectacle, cheer the fellas on, and to take down a few scores from the plethora of suckas that vegas attracts.
thanks to generous television coverage on espn and the travel channel, no limit texas hold em has reached levels of unprecedented popularity. rich fucks and suckas alike have all flocked to the game to donate their hard earned cash to people like my friends. the world series of poker hold em tournament has attracted nearly 2,600 players who each have bought in for $10,000 apiece or won satellite tournaments for their seats. this year's prize pool is over $25 million, with first place getting $5 million.
unlike years past, the first round was split into two days because of the sheer number of participants. jimmy the mook, yak, and greg the suit all played on the first day. unfortunately yak had the distinction of being one of the first players bounced from the tournament, calling an all in bet after he flopped a set of threes. even more unfortunate is the fact that he went in against the nut flush. of course, last year's winner chris moneymaker was also bounced early on the first day as well as a number of very good professional players.
greg the suit and jimmy the mook (named, one because his choice of attire, and the other based on his use of an alias for a ny times article on poker players) fared better, surviving the first day, both sporting slightly more chips than what they started with.
the crooklyn boombaclot seems to thrive under these types of situations and finds himself in a very favorable position. i managed to see him flop t t j with pocket jacks. the turn and the river were q and a so the other guy felt good when he made his straight. of course it didn't stand up against the boat and benson took down a nice score, raking in more than a few of those yellow $1,000 chips. starting with $10,000 in chips on an ass pucker tight table, benson ended up over $60k, in something like 30th position of the field. when they start playing the second round today just a few minutes from now, he'll be the chip leader of his table and sitting with notable pros like jason lester (made it to the final table last year) and kath liebert.
shady seems to have caught the fever (he was already pretty warm after making the final table at last weeks $9k guaranteed no limit tournament) for the flava and has been on IM with me all morning trying to convince me to take an all-nighter and drive back out to vegas tonite to play and then come back the following morning. despite the fact that i did manage to double up in the brief moment that i sat down at a low limit table, it looks like it'll have to be a no can do, kemosabe. well, at least not until the weekend. i ain't making no mid-week trek to vegas.
with all the massive attendance of the event, there was no shortage of freebies and chochkes such as tee shirts and other assorted crap. i gotta tell ya that of all the giveaways, degree or right guard should be handing out samples because the hard core poker fan, someone who's been going to these things for 5 or 10 years, has some serious fuckin BO issues.
for the casual poker fan, don't bother making a trip to vegas from anywhere farther out than LA to watch the world series. the games are slow and the BO factor his high. especially if you don't have a good friend playing the tournament and you aren't looking to pick up information to pass along, do yourself--and your nose--a favor and watch the faster, edited versions of the world series from the comforts of your own home.
unless you actually want to sit down and play. then my friends and i will gladly take your money.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
when there's money on the line
and the outcome is unknowable
its gambling!
(admitting it is the first step!)
how you doing? gonna try to make the mt. hamilton drive? I know it's a bit of a drive to begin with but it's pretty cool, in a dorky gear head kinda way...