tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33120239868452870982024-03-12T19:04:13.589-05:00THE POKER MONKEY...Morphing from 'crazed lunatic' to O.M.R.G!!! (some of you!)Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.comBlogger829125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-23753520144462220572023-07-31T14:26:00.001-05:002023-07-31T14:30:51.744-05:00Yes, I'm a Monkey, NOT a bear. But out of hibernation I am!!! <b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">www.gulfcoastpoker.net</span></b><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">GREETINGS!!!!! </span><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(disclaimer: This particular entry? I wrote it over a month ago. I have since made a 30-day trip to Vegas and have a TON of new content, a LOT of it, actually poker-related...which this first entry is nearly completely void of poker references. If my politics annoy you, or if you simply hate the mere mention of it...you can just scroll on past all of it!!!!) </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Yes! It's me! It's The Monkey! I am not dead! Or in a coma! Or in prison! (not yet anyway!!!) Yikes! More about that last one, later!</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I know I have gone from being a pretty consistent, sometimes entertaining writer...to being one of the biggest disappointments ever. EVER!!!! And for that, I apologize! I've found myself lagging on a handful of things in my life over the past year or two, and I won't lie...I'm not proud of it. Do I have an alibi for it? An excuse? Something I can lean on to let myself off the hook?</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well, I'll be honest...and most of you who know me-REALLY know me, know that I am NOT and have rarely ever BEEN...someone who won't accept accountability for my actions. My ACTUAL actions...not the ones that are alleged or rumored. Those ones? Yeah, I'll fight people to the death on some of those...because there is one thing I can't move out of the way for: my PRIDE. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Which, frankly...has made living in the United States these past 6 years rather difficult. Never in my life have I been called so many hurtful names, or been lumped into a group by people who enjoy categorizing people they don't agree with. I've heard a lot of them. Racist! (who hasn't been called a racist lately!!???) A homophobe! (despite have a gay sister who I have a great, and always have, relationship with! Along with a number of other friends throughout my life) A xenophobe! Huh? Now it's a transphobe! Again...a big HUH? Its just laziness on the side of the name-callers. First, any kind of PHOBIA...means that you fear something. Pardon me...but the day I start fearing sissy boys dressed up to look like ugly girls? I'll just go ahead and take my own life...because clearly, life on Earth in 2023 is just too difficult! Naw...I don't fear those folks. And being constantly told that I and others like me HATE these people? Why, that's just silly! It takes a lot of energy to HATE another person. Why would I HATE those people? If anything, I simply feel sorry for them. As I see it, 95% of them are mixed up, confused, and most likely struggling to find an identity...or acceptance from the people they desperately want to be recognized by. So again, I just feel sorry for them. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">See...this is where the big issues seem to lie. The people on the WRONG side of this whole "grooming" argument, they don't seem to be able to win any debate by relying on any facts. So they muddy the waters, adding in dirt...and usually the dirt is just pure lies. "Don't Say Gay" bill that Florida passed? Said nothing of the sort in it. Nothing. But the people on the wrong side of it? They will throw whatever they need to into that stew, to make Governor DeSantis look like Hitler. Banning books? Oh they've really gotten out of control with THAT one. Yeah...I think the last time I checked the number of books that were removed from libraries of K-12 libraries was 12. Yeah. 12 books. And why were they removed? Well...let me just say this; if a parent brings one of those books to a parent/school board meeting...and reads from THAT book, and has their mic cut, and told that what they are reading is INAPPROPRIATE to be reading in THAT environment? You know...a meeting between ADULT parents and ADULT school administrators...then how in the HELL is it appropriate for children K-12 to be reading? You know the answer: IT ISN'T! And that...is the extent of the "book banning" that these lunatics have been raging about. Last thing, and I will get down off my soapbox....because I know you didn't tune in to listen to me rant about politics...but as a parent? And a "friend of people with children" I think this is immensely important. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">While a young man living in NYC in the early 1990's, I ran around with a bit of an eclectic crowd. After all, I was a wanna-be actor, waiting tables and/or bartending to make ends meet. I went out to clubs, a LOT! While I was, and always have been a proud heterosexual...I never, not once...had a single issue with those who were not. So long as they respected ME? And my lifestyle, and my boundaries, and I respected theirs equally, we had ZERO issues between us. To be honest, I preferred going out with my gay friends. They were usually better dressers, better dancers, had better manners, tipped better, were WAY funnier...and basically were just more interesting to talk to...unless of course they started talking about their sex lives...which they NEVER did! I can recall a couple of fun parties, one at the world famous Copacabana night club in Manhattan...where I attended a drag show. They were always very funny. I wasn't offended by them. I knew what they represented. I say this...because I think there is this mentality with liberals that if someone ISN'T a Democrat or Liberal, then they automatically think that everyone on my side of the fence HATES transexuals...and probably anyone/everyone in the LGBTQ crowd. That's just ignorant. We don't. It's just NOT our chosen lifestyle. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now, things can get a little hazy around that sentiment. And I will admit, my sister and I have gone around the tree a few times about that in the last 3 decades! But we do it civilly! And respectfully! It's called 'healthy debate,' and there seems to be an overwhelming lack of it these days in America. I've never had to tell, or ask...my sister not to glom all over her partner whenever she is visiting. She just knows NOT to. Ironically, I have never pawed all over my wife, or any girl I dated in the past (before my wife) when I was around HER in HER home. It's just RESPECT. That's all it is. My feelings about all of it? It's a lifestyle that people choose to live. FINE. I don't care. I've never cared. Where I have the problem...is when someone, ANYONE...and that INCLUDES the media, the TV programmers, the advertisers, and anyone in the entertainment industry...decides to make it their agenda to PROMOTE a certain lifestyle. Because by doing that, you are boldly saying, whether you actually say it using words, or just pictures, or videos...that you approve of, and suggest...that a certain lifestyle is preferential over other lifestyles. I don't cry out needing a "White Entertainment Channel!" I don't cry out needing a "White History Month." I don't demand a "Straight Pride Month!" Nope. But to have so many people (most of them-if not ALL) lobbying for (essentially) these alternative lifestyles to be normalized to the point they are trying to normalize them? I'm sorry...but THAT is what I have the problem with. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">An argument I hear liberals making in regards to our kids...and what they see, hear and witness, is this one. It's the job of the parents to TEACH their children whatever it is they want them to know. Well...in some regards, yes..it is. In others? Nope. Sorry. You see, if I turn on the TV at dinner time, and there is a pharmaceutical commercial on for something used for HIV treatment, and my young daughter sees two men kissing? And she reacts to it, and asks "Daddy, why are those boys kissing?" I don't run and hide from it. I address her question. And I answer it as it SHOULD be answered. With a dose of reality in today's world. And she accepts that answer. She knows her aunt is gay, and she doesn't judge her one bit. She knows her uncle has Down's Syndrome, same deal. She treats him like gold. Because she is a great kid, with a great heart. Who isn't judgmental of people. THAT is what me and my wife are proudly raising. So, what's the big deal? I will tell you the big deal. We'll start with these transexuals making trips to schools for whatever reason. Story hour being one of the most talked-about reasons. WHY? Why is this even a thing? What is the GOAL? Is there some kind of END-GAME? Lets be honest....everything in life has some kind of goal. Firemen go to schools. Why? To teach kids what to do in case there is a fire. To tell kids what it takes to become a fireman (fireperson!). Clearly...there is a reason behind their visit, right? Same thing with police! With astronauts! And a lot of other professions. I've heard them proclaim that they aren't trying to indoctrinate kids. Yet, there have been certain events...I can't name them specifically and won't try...but they include parades, festivals, and other 'public events' where, once the decision was made to exclude children from the event...those groups of people denying to have an interest in grooming/indoctrinating/appealing to children? They suddenly cancelled. CANCELLED. Really? WHY? Why on Earth would they do that??? Does it make sense? </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Can anyone tell me the benefit of a grown man, dressed up like a female...going to the school to not just read books to our kids...but to also explain certain sex acts to kids? What I can't believe...truly...is that we are even HAVING to ask this question in 2023. I remember a time when ALL OF US...or at least 98% of us...would hear that something like this was being discussed, and freak out! "OH HELL NO! Don't you even THINK about exposing my child to THIS sick, twisted shit!!!!" But today? There are literally adults, adult parents....who are perfectly FINE with this! How is that even possible? Look, I get it...kids are going to grow up. They are going to be exposed to things. They are going to learn things, or find out about things. But the argument being made to "teach them about it while they are young so they UNDERSTAND more about it?" Um....NO....a BIG NO....to that theory! I don't need my child knowing/learning about HETEROSEXUAL things! I think we all had Sex Education when we were in school, yeah? Do you remember what grade you had it in? I recall having it in 9th grade. NINTH GRADE! You know...about the time when we just started dating people, or fooling around? Hmm...seems to me, that kind of seems, or felt, like an appropriate time to be teaching about that sort of thing. Right??? Why is it so hard for some of these people to comprehend that? </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Furthermore...if my child decides, down the road...that he or she is, or THINKS they are....gay? Fine. But...I don't want their "decision" to have been influenced by a flood of gay (or transsexual) lifestyle stuff being thrown at them everywhere they turn around. A young mind is VERY malleable, like molding clay. It takes very little to indoctrinate a young mind to think on something you WANT them to think. And I won't expound upon this...but this is (and HAS BEEN for years) going on right now on nearly EVERY college campus in America...and it's scary as hell. A bunch of loser professors who have basically been immersed in the academia world their entire lives...have never really been a part of the REAL WORLD...you know, the one where you go work a REAL job every day for 25-30 years, raise a family, then retire and do what those people do? NO...they are constantly in an environment where they have gullible minds...who through society's urging, have come to a place THINKING they are going to be taught something, by these great minds! So they place a value on those people that really isn't as deserved as some might think. What part of what THEY have done with their life should be ANY more respected than anyone else's path? I literally consider the "college experience" to be a trap. A "re-education center" for our young minds. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">You hope that you raise your children in a way that they aren't gullible. That they are of strong moral conviction, and cannot be easily swayed. Cannot be made to feel bad about themselves, or inferior, and are pushed into changing something about themselves to make them appear "better" to a group of people they probably shouldn't even BE trying to appeal to in the first place. I'm not going to lie...of the things that scare me most in life...the challenge of being a parent in this day and age, is the scariest. I would rather go 10 rounds with the Cocaine Bear. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Ha! Kind of went down a really deep rabbit hole there, didn't I? I took a left at Albuquerque...which in this case was "What excuse do I have for not posting more blogs in the last year or two" and ran with it! I got lost in the "Forest of Labels and Name-Calling" and forgot to look back! Okay well, I've resurfaced! Lets get this train back on the tracks...if you are still here. I know some of you poker players ARE dyed in the wool liberals, and after a couple of eyerolls, you may have already left the building. And that's fine. My blog isn't and frankly never HAS...been for everyone! I get that. And between you and I...I always find it particularly ironic that those who for years have claimed to be the party of tolerance, and understanding, and inclusivity...tend to be the most INTOLERANT people you will ever want to meet. Isn't that sort of bonkers? </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">MY EXCUSE for NOT WRITING MUCH: </span><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(this is about where I left off when I wrote everything up til this point. I'll just pick up where I left off) </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(1) I'm just lazy<span> . And the older I get, the lazier I get. For some unknown reason, which surely must be biological or something, every day around 2pm....I get very sleepy and seem to require a nap of about 90 minutes. This really gets in the way of a lot of things I'm trying to get done on any normal day! I recently was encouraged by my wife to get on testosterone. It seems to be all the rage lately, along with the shots to make you lose weight. Well, I did, back about 8 months ago. I really don't notice much in the way of increased energy. </span></span></b></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>(2) Motivation. First off, I don't play anywhere close to how much poker I used to. And with the website that I blog on being a poker-based website, it stands to reason that I SHOULD try to occasionally offer some content that is centered around poker. I'm not stupid enough to think that people just tune in to see what I have to share about my life! </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>(3) General Malaise. This one, if I'm not careful...could also be confused with, or lumped into a category with, depression. Now, mind you...I don't have thoughts of suicide. But, and I think this is 100% having to do with the "Audit From Hell" that the IRS has had me under for 3 years now, and which has expanded beyond just an audit...I think there are at times, feelings of almost hopelessness. Hearing all the possible things that 'might' happen, it paints a pretty bleak image of my near future. And when I allow those thoughts to roll around in my head...and even allow my imagination to run wild on further possibilities, it's hard to regroup, refocus, and just write about something. I'm not sure if that makes sense to any of you. Maybe it does. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>BUT...those are basically the reasons, I think...why I've been so absent when it comes to posting blog posts. My trip out to Vegas this summer, which had lots of ups and downs, numerous peaks and valleys...was enough to kind of re-light my fuse when it came to creative and/or imaginative writing, especially as it pertains to poker. I played a LOT of hands, over a LOT of hours. I saw a LOT. A lot of it, worth writing about. So lets go ahead and get into it!!!</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Rewind to my previous post before this one. I was kind of leading you on a journey...as though it was being told from a 3rd person point of view. I was describing my 10-year absence from the WSOP, and to an extent, the effect that it had on me. Then, I don't know....life (or something) happened, and I got sidetracked, and never got back to it. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>We'll go back to that place, only this time, it WILL be ME telling the story, and I will try to be brief, as a lot of water has flowed under that bridge since early July of 2022. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">One late afternoon in July last year, I was pressure washing my brick shed. When I work outside, I always have on my BOSE headphones, listening to music usually. Occasionally a podcast. I only tell you this, because some might wonder how I heard my phone ring over the loud noise that a pressure washer makes! That's how. It interrupts whatever I'm listening to. And on this day, when my phone rang, I looked down to see the name 'Jack Effel.' (yes, I do have Mr. Effel saved as a contact. We go back close to 20 years now...so....yeah!)</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"Whoaaaa...what the...." I thought to myself. But by the time I got the pressure washer turned off, and had a chance to push the button to answer the call, well, I hit the red button on accident, hanging up on the call. "Oh GREAT!" Well, no big deal, he called right back. I won't get into all the details of the call, that certainly isn't necessary. But basically, it was time to move on from the past, he said. New building (from Rio to Paris/Horseshoe) and a new vibe. A good time to start fresh. It was a pleasant phone call. And I graciously accepted the invite to return to the WSOP after a 10-year absence. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My little (not-SO-little) pet project that I've been doing since 2013, where I send a deserving group of players who typically wouldn't be able to fund themselves, or who lack the network of people to draw from for selling pieces of their action such as the one I have...had kind of hit a snag when COVID stopped everything cold in it's tracks. "The Two-Year Scam" that the world's leaders orchestrated on all of us lowly peasants to exact the absolute MOST amount of power and control over us that they possibly could, the effects of which are still being felt far and wide. You'll forgive me if I can't remember EXACTLY what transpired during those two years. I want to say that the first year (was that 2019?) EVERYTHING was cancelled, and the following year (2020?) I think they moved the WSOP to the fall and played a smaller schedule. Is that correct? Then did things return to normal in 2021? I don't know, I probably have part of that wrong. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">At any rate...right around September of 2020, I got hit with a tax audit. Now, I've always kept pristine records where my poker is involved. The issue, it turns/turned out, was the pools that I run. That I've been running, for close to 25 years now. I've never been able to get an accurate answer from my CPA as to what (if anything) I am expected to pay in taxes for my pools. Since I take such a low commission for running them, and almost always roll that commission that I DO make, into the pools in the form of entries...I really only thought that the lone thing I could ever have to pay taxes on, was if I happened to win a pool, which frankly...doesn't happen THAT often. I don't think anyone out there is making a living from winning sports pools, or fantasy leagues! Well, the IRS sent a guy who had no idea how poker works, or poker staking...which I've gotten into quite a bit the last ten years...and he certainly had no idea how pools, especially MY POOLS...work. So, essentially, I'm like an escrow account. All the people send me their money...and say it's football season, and it's for a Survivor Pool? I hold that money for pretty much the entire football season. Then, when someone wins...they get paid out. Well, the IRS seems to want to count that money...when it is sent to me, as income! Taxable income! Add to that...say I put together a staking package for a player? The total package for, say, a circuit event, is $50k. Maybe I get 20 investors for that package, including myself. So maybe $40k gets sent to me, right? I give that player the $50k, and off he or she goes to try and make some good scores. Suppose they brick everything!?? Which, yeah....totally sucks! Well, our friends at the IRS? They are calling that $40k that was sent to me by all various forms of payment....as INCOME! Again...TAXABLE income! Which it certainly wasn't. There are other elements to this mess, but those are, for the most part...the biggest elements. So yeah, three years in and it's still going. I've moved from one lousy lawyer who only managed to make things worse, to one of the best in the south. And have added a forensic accountant, and an expert CPA to handle the RE-filing of my taxes from 2015-2022! Doesn't that sound like a great time????</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So...yeah, how does that relate to poker? Well, because with all of that going on...I wasn't certain (things are a LOT clearer now) what kind of risks it might be presenting for me to collect a bunch of money from people to send players off to Vegas. Would they come swooping in, in the middle of the night, in their all-black, whisper-jet helicopters, kicking in doors and taking everything they could get their hands on? You know...like the FBI did at Mar-A-Lago!??? Yeah, no...not EVEN going THERE! But the responsible side of me, said that it was probably best that I NOT put myself, my reputation, and other people's hard-earned money in a precarious spot. So I backed away from doing the WSOP Grinders aka 'Minions' thing last summer (2022). But that's when Bill "Wild Bill" Phillips took the initiative to keep it alive, and make it happen. I put my two cents in, did a little promoting, and let all of MY people know that Bill was/is one of the only people I would EVER trust to pick up the baton...or whatever they call that stick in the relay race...OMG...what IS that called? Whatever...you get the picture. Bill is someone I would trust with my life. So it was very easy to get behind his efforts, and support him and what he was doing. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Because Bill runs this website that I post this blog on, and because him and Gene have gotten into having GCP start sponsoring poker tournaments throughout the south, most notably up at Pearl River in Philadelphia, Mississippi, he also has his finger on the pulse of poker MUCH more than I do. Having a better idea of who the potential "Grinders" are for the team was extremely vital. And since I've really cut back on my poker playing, I didn't consider myself to be at ALL qualified to make those kind of decisions. So last year's team, he did a marvelous job of assembling a talented cast. He dealt with all the payments and the headaches that come with that sometimes-ordeal. On a couple of occasions, he would text me...expressing an appreciation for what I had endured over the better part of a decade putting that team together. It's always nice when someone can walk a mile in your shoes and then come talk to you about it. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Unfortunately, none of last year's team managed to make the money. Now, don't take this the wrong way...but as the organizer of this beast? And I'm saying this as someone who myself always buys 10 to 15 shares, personally. And since I (nor Bill, of course) ever take any kind of fee/commission for putting all this together, if the players don't make the money...I LOSE money, just like all the investors. Now, what I was going to say will sound weird, maybe. Unless your the person who has had to do what I'm about to tell you about. When doing this team? I would rather we either make a LOT of money, or at LEAST as much as we invested....or NO MONEY. Why no money? Am I nuts? Here's why! Most years, especially the last 5...when it was at it's most popular, and we got anywhere from 7 to 10 players...you're talking about the sale of a LOT of $200 shares! I almost always have between 150-200 individual investors. Yeah. No kidding. And it's hard enough collecting from all of them, and documenting all of it on one spreadsheet. But now, try to imagine...say we have two players that min-cash, or maybe a min-plus cash (like, 3 pay levels in)? Let's say the total amount won was...ballpark....$75,000. Well, the buy-ins of $10k come right out of that. So there is $20k into the prize pool. Next the investors get 65% of the remaining $55,000. So, another $35,750. Total investor pool of $55,750. Lets say we sold a total of 400 shares. That means that the per share return on investment (ROI) would be $139.37. But in the interest of making things 'clean' I just round it up to $140 per share. So if you bought ONE share for $200? You are getting back $140. You lost $60. If you bought TEN shares? For $2000? You are getting back $1400. You lost $600! Everyone lost money. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now is it always a good thing, for people to get SOMETHING back? OF course it is. And yes, it definitely helps when it comes time to do it again. But for me? The "payer-outer-guy?" It suuuuucks. Because it means sending out a TON of checks to people. And that is usually VERY time-consuming. Just getting everyone to send me their mailing address is sometimes a herculean task. You wouldn't think so...but it is. Three months could pass, and an investor might email me, saying "Hey Monkey...I still haven't gotten a check from you for the poker thing." To which I'm forced to respond, "Yeah, well...that's because I didn't send you one yet...because I have no idea where to send it, because you didn't respond to the email where I ask everyone that wants to get a payout...to send me their CURRENT mailing address. No idea how that always manages to slip through the cracks for so many people...but it does. <br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">SO then...if NO ONE makes the money? Guess what that means for Mr. Monkey? ZERO of that aforementioned ordeal. Basically...I'm DONE...with EVERYTHING...until football season comes back around! Which is where I am right now...because this year's team...which...by the time the dust settled, and with me back into the full swing of things, again WITH Bill's assistance, we managed to sell another 400 shares. Our 8th player...literally came in on a plane the night before the start of DAY 2! Yeah! for real. Players could enter on Day 2. Pay their $10k. Get a 60k starting stack...which at 400/800 was basically 75 big blinds. That topic? Was one of great discussion at this year's event. There was a LOT of people talking about sparing themselves the 12 hours of potential land mines of Day 1, not to mention the mental toll it takes on you, and just coming in on Day 2 and starting with that stack. Granted, you miss out on the opportunity to chip up big on day 1. But as most of us realize...it really doesn't matter HOW many chips you manage to accumulate on Day 1..or even Day 2 for that matter. Because once you get into Level 12 and beyond...those big stacks that you spent ALL that time putting together, can be decimated SO fast. Sometimes, literally...in one or two hands! There is definitely a very specific way to play that tournament, with it's big starting stack, and it's 2-hour blinds. Barring a plethora of horrible cooler hands, or just brutal situations...you really SHOULDN'T ever go bust on Day 1 of the Main Event. But, I say that...and every year, roughly 20-25% of the field DOES lose on Day 1. So again, the argument to just skip Day 1, and come in on Day 2...it's extremely tempting. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">HEY! Here's an idea! Since I don't want to hit you all with ONE RIDICULOUSLY LONG ("TLDR") entry on my first time back in over a year....lets just click on the PUBLISH button now. I'll write the rest...and there IS a lot for me to talk about....from BOTH last year's Main Event...which (spoiler alert) had a pretty decent end result for me in my first time back in 10 years, to the poker I played right AFTER that (Choctaw in Oklahoma, then the Million Dollar Heater in Biloxi) and how I fared in those. Then I will get into the this summer, and the 100's of hours I played in the month I spent out in Vegas. The close calls. The numerous deep runs, that mostly ended in disappointment, sometimes to gut-wrenching cooler beats. To the BIG discovery, and gut-hunch that I took a gamble on, and how it paid off for me. It's been an exciting summer...and as I get ready to embark on my very first trip to Cherokee Casino up in North Carolina, a place I've always been wanting to play, on Friday...there will be plenty more to add to what is already a LOT to write about. But lets just let y'all get your feet wet first with all of this! Then just check back every 2 or 3 days for updates, or 'new content' as the social influencers call it!!! I promise I won't make you wait over a year again!!!</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Monkey</span></b></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-69061642517497821362022-08-15T11:09:00.007-05:002022-08-15T11:10:50.048-05:00PART 2...What Became of Monkey...And Will We Ever See Him Again???www.gulfcoastpoker.net<div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>(continued, Part 2)</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Shortly after collecting his $44k for finishing 175th in the 2012 WSOP Main Event, "Monkey" made his way back home, to his newborn child, Carley and his wife, Squirrel...and little was heard from him until he showed up that fall in Hammond, Indiana (Chicago, basically) for a circuit event. Refreshed and seemingly riding a cloud of jubilation at having become a father..."Monkey" made the money in one of the early events and was in the midst of another good start when suddenly he was surrounded by security, escorted from the property...and not seen or heard from again. No one, including "Monkey" himself knew why he had been ushered off the property. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>He would eventually learn what had transpired, and with it being a mere misunderstanding between something he said, and what a dealer from Belarus thought she heard...had led to a complaint being made against him, and it being followed through on. He had been 86'd. Banned from all WSOP properties. He returned to his hometown. Numerous attempts to clear his name, and remove the ban against him were met with resistance from the other side. Eventually, "Monkey" came to terms with the realization that he was never going to be allowed back in. He would spend the next ten years playing at events that were held at non-WSOP properties, having some mixed results. His life with his family, and businesses that he had become more involved in seemed to take over as the top priority in his life. Poker became a bit of an after-thought. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Poker on its faced continued to evolve in the following years. The names began to change. The "vets" or "TV pros" as they'd come to be known as...were becoming fewer and farther between appearances. Monkey himself started a "team" of players...who would allow him to live vicariously through them at the WSOP Main Event, since he was unable to compete himself. He sold shares to friends, family and poker acquaintances; the price being $200 per share, with every 50 shares sending a player to the Main Event. Monkey didn't make anything off of this venture. As an investor himself, he only made money, if THEY made money. The first year he did it, 2014, he had 4 players. As each year came, the team increased by one player, until in 2018, it had a record 10 players. The results were mixed. While numerous players made deep runs, with some even making the money, there was never enough won to earn everyone an actual profit on their investment. But the experience was a positive for just about everyone involved. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Sadly, the arrival of the Wuhan Corona Virus, a gift from China, wrapped our world in a state of hysteria...cancelling just about everything important on our planet. Sporting events. Concerts. Theatrical productions. And of course, poker tournaments. Hell it even closed down casinos. Businesses were forced to close, which caused many of them to go completely OUT of business. Basically, two or three years of pure incompetence at the highest levels wreaked havoc on the entire planet. Economies were destroyed. Mental health was taken over the edge to places never visited before. And yeah, lots of people died, from a virus that still hasn't been proven to have been either created or having naturally occurred. That is, and will likely always BE...up for debate. A lot probably has do with which side of the political fence you live on. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>With everything being cancelled or forced into schedule changes, Monkey was forced to shelve his poker team...which has come to be known by many as "Monkey's Minions." But all things being equal, and with the amount of "stuff" on his "To-Do-List" piling up seemingly more by the day, having a break from the annual summer project came as a bit of a relief. The smoke from Covid-19, which it had somehow taken on the newer, more politically-correct name sometime around the time Joe Biden was "elected" the 46th President in November of 2020...had finally lifted for the most part by the spring of 2022. People were finally returning to work, under the guise of "new job creation" by the new administration. And after a year where the World Series of Poker was moved to the fall in 2021...which just felt kind of weird, it was announced that everything would return to normal for the summer of 2022. In one exciting new twist, the yearly event would be moved...from it's old stomping grounds at the RIO Resort and Casino, where it had resided since the "poker boom" arrived in the early 2000's...to Caesar's-owned properties Bally's and Paris Casinos, which were side-by-side and offered plenty of convention space to stage the event. The move also provide the players with a lot more dining options, as well as hotel options that were within walking distance of the venue. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>When it came time to decide on what to do about the "Monkey's Minions" for the upcoming summer...Monkey made a tough-to-make decision. About two years ago, Monkey received a notice that he was being audited by the IRS. This came as a bit of irritating news, but having kept perfect poker records over the entirety of his career...he was more or less prepared to be audited. Where things turned tricky, and annoying...was when the sports pools that he has run for close to 25 years came under the microscope. Lots of money coming IN....and lots of money going OUT. Shocker! People join a pool. Then people WIN those pools. People pay to play! Then they get PAID when/if they win! But to the IRS...there has/had to be something nefarious going on there...something the US Government felt like he owed them a chunk of change for! And so, the audit got more and more detailed, finally graduating to an actual criminal investigation. Able to see where he thought this might lead, and having read a lot of books lately that detailed just HOW the US Government intended to start going after tax "evaders" due to the onset of crypto-currency and other "work arounds" to avoid forking over all their hard-earned money to a bunch of bureaucrats who seem to lack ANY ability whatsoever to spend taxpayers money responsibly...yes, I am aware this is a really long run-on sentence....Monkey made the smart move and hired a highly-reputable tax attorney to represent his interests and hopefully prevent him from getting railroaded to a federal facility where everyone wears the same outfits and eats the same meals a few times a day. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Monkey decided that holding a bunch of other people's money; albeit in escrow (essentially) and being tasked with potentially have to sort out a bunch of prize money and tax forms AFTER the event concluded...combined with a "to-do-list" at home that never seemed to get any shorter, he made the difficult decision to turn over the entire endeavor to really the ONLY person he could ever foresee having the ability, the patience, the motivation, and the trustworthiness to handle. Bill "Wild Bill" Phillips was offered the chance to "take the reigns" from Monkey and essentially run the team for the Summer of 2022. He accepted, and quite frankly did a great job with what ended up being 7 players. When one of the players was a late scratch, Bill himself stepped in to take his place, and wound up being the only player to make the money. It was the 2nd or 3rd time that Bill had made the money in the Main Event...all as a member of Monkey's team. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Lost in all the lead up to the Main Event...was a phone call that was received by Monkey on the evening of June 7th at 6:36pm. While outside pressure washing his shed...he heard his cell phone ringing through his headphones. But by the time he got the washer turned off, and his phone out of his pocket...he had missed the call. When he looked and saw who the call was from...he was basically in shock. "Jack Effel" was what the screen was telling him. "Huh?" he thought. Then his phone rang again. Once again, Mr. Effel calling. To summarize, Effel was calling to bury a 10-year hatchet between him and "Monkey." In a very positive, upbeat fashion, he offered to allow "Monkey" to return to play the WSOP, not just the Main Event...but all the properties. "Monkey" was really mainly interested, however, in just ONE tournament...the BIG ONE...the one he's had to watch for the last ten years with a mixture of emotions. Having had that obstacle lifted, and the green light to return being illuminated, left "Monkey" feeling overwhelmed. When he went inside to share the news with his wife, the news was received with a cautionary level of happiness. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>For "Squirrel," his wife...Vegas has been the site of a lot of marital angst over the past two decades. True, there have been many happy times enjoyed there together, including their marriage to one another. But it also had come with a lot of frustrating moments, not the least of which extended to the poker table. A lot of sleepless nights had been encountered while her husband was out in Vegas grinding at the tables at all hours of the day and night. "Monkey" had come to realize that this lifestyle of a poker pro was one that placed a lot of stress on a marriage. That a lot of what he had put her through in the previous years was unfair to her. He had no interest in subjecting her to more of that. And with a baby girl who was now a 10-year old girl...a lot has changed in their lives. So its safe to say he wasn't expecting his wife to do cartwheels when hearing the news that he was now allowed to return to Vegas to play the WSOP Main Event. She feigned happiness, but the true emotion was clear to see for "Monkey." When he went back outside to finish the pressure washing, she met him out there to apologize for not "acting happier" at the news. Apology not necessary, he told her. He fully understood, completely. And it was most likely that understanding, that moment of honesty, that made his upcoming trip west easier for her to stomach. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Monkey was out of "jail" and ready to return to the site of some of his greatest AND most disappointing moments in his poker career. The team of 7 was fully funded and assembled in place. His business partner in his bars was en route to Vegas to take a swing at the Main and some other events as well. His long time pal, Joe Cutler from the East Coast (South Jersey area) was also headed out to play the Main, and was looking forward to reuniting after 10 years of not having hung out together. Like "Monkey," Joe had settled down and got married, worked in the family business while backing down from the full-time poker grind...and even banged out a couple of whippersnappers...who are easily the center of his universe! Not just Joe...but several of Monkey's other "poker buddies" had taken the same course in their own personal lives. You know...becoming ADULTS!!!! :) </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>In the next part of this series...Will "Monkey" Souther will take over himself, and share his World Series Main Event experience with all of you! </b></span></div>Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-8413329628336864902022-07-03T13:04:00.002-05:002022-07-03T13:05:31.863-05:00"There's This Player Everyone Used to Call Monkey"www.gulfcoastpoker.net<div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">[I went back and forth in my head, debating with myself, on which approach I would take in writing this post. First person account? Third person? Past tense, present tense? I don't know. If you've never known me, heard of me...anything? Or whether you've known me quite well over the past 10-15 years or longer...you'll hopefully comprehend what you are about to read]</span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Once upon a time, there was this poker player the people called "The Poker Monkey." He was brash, loud, extremely opinionated, controversial, often obnoxious...especially if he didn't like you. He was also incredibly sarcastic...so much so, that if you didn't possess the ability to sufficiently interpret sarcasm, you might think he was directly and intentionally trying to offend you. It made for some very spicy encounters at the poker table. But on top of all of that, "Monkey" was a guy who LOVED the excitement of playing poker tournaments. He came fired up. He quickly made it his mission to chat up his table, getting to know everyone while introducing himself. Some thought this was ploy, that he was essentially throwing out a "dragnet" to gather information on his table mates. Others thought it was just "Monkey being Monkey." Somewhere in between those two, lies the actual truth. </span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">For close to a decade, "Monkey" was a regular on the poker tournament circuit. Initially, when he started out...he was a quintessential "grinder" on the circuit, playing in whatever tournaments he was able to get himself into by winning Sit-N-Go's. Rumor has it, there has never been a player who has registered more SNG's played than "Monkey." And in a place he himself coined "Sit N Go Land" there is a diminished popularity in the current tournament landscape in these single-table satellites utilized to help players get into tournaments by spending a little to gain a lot. I'm not sure WHY this happened...but it definitely did. Poker went through a transition from a game that virtually anyone could get involved in...to a game where you either needed deep pockets, an investor with deep pockets, or a vast network of friends, family or poker acquaintances who were willing to buy a "piece of your action." Anyone who has played poker long enough, knows that the variance in poker makes it extremely difficult to play full time and be profitable. </span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">This guy, "Monkey," he was lucky. He'd been running sports pools for quite awhile and had developed a pretty big network of people who trusted him enough with their money to get involved with his poker-backing packages. It enabled him to keep playing on a regular basis. Eventually, one person decided that they wanted ALL the action, and became Monkey's full time backer...from approximately 2007-2010. This would prove to be the most successful period of his poker career...where he would win a couple 6-figure scores, and close to 10 5-figure ones. It was a great 5-year run for "Monkey."</span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Then 2012 came along. "Monkey and his wife "Squirrel" had a baby...Carley Grace. She remains their one and only child. Carley took center stage in their lives. Monkey's full time backer decided to retire from backing semi-crazy poker players. "Monkey" became more of a stay-at-home Daddy...and less of a Poker Monkey. When he did find time to venture out and play...it was done by selling shares to his network of followers. The results were mixed. Poker suddenly wasn't as fun for him as it used to be. The players didn't talk as much, or like being talked to as much. The rules had tightened up significantly. SNG's were almost non-existent. Nightly tournaments that had been so much fun in the "hey day" of poker...were not as prevalent. It was...just different. <br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">In the 2012 WSOP Main Event...after 4 failed attempts to ever cash in the Big One...despite making it to at LEAST Day 3 in every one that he played, he finally broke through and made the money. As a matter of act, he made it to Day 5...with a real shot at making life-changing money. With "Squirrel" sending him photos of Carley Grace to remind him what he was playing for...he patiently picked up one more pay spot after another...while sitting on a comfortable chip stack of about 40 big blinds. Then...with just 175 players remaining...acting UTG+2..."Monkey" peeled back his cards to see KK for the first time in the entire tournament. He had wondered where they had been. He'd had AA a bunch of times. But KINGS? Not once. He put in a 2.5x raise. The action folded around to Elisabeth Hille, who had just won a massive pot against a young kid who admittedly had grown infatuated with the prospect of having his hands shown on ESPN. Those cameras were all over the floor..as we were down to just 18 tables. He made a horrible, just ridiculous play with AK...when all of us KNEW 99.9% that Elisabeth had AA. The kid couldn't get away from it, and Ms. Hille inherited his entire stack. </span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Her inheriting his stack, is what made it possible for her to play the hand the way she did against "Monkey." She admitted that she'd grown aware of his tight play all day. That when he raised in early position, she wasn't sure how good her 10-10 was. But now that she had chips...she could afford to play around a little. Once Monkey's raise made it to her...she bumped it up even more. It folded back around to "Monkey" and upon inspection of his stack size, relevant to the money now in the pot...it was obvious that he had two moves; fold and live to pick up more spots, and question the fold for the rest of his life probably...or shove all in and see what happens. He chose the right option, option B. It was a relief when he saw that she didn't have AA, or for that matter...even AK. All of that relief went down the drain however when the dealer put a 10 on the flop. It did, however, come with 3 hearts...and with Monkey holding two red Kings...he was not out of it yet. He WAS out of it on the turn however...as Hille made quad tens. "Monkey's" 2012 WSOP Main Event was over...busting in 175th place. Hille would finish just shy of the final table...in 10th place. Little did "Monkey" know...but this would be his final appearance in the WSOP Main Event for awhile. Maybe ever. </span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">....TO BE CONTINUED!</span></div>Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-26048081723419969382021-07-19T15:13:00.001-05:002021-07-19T15:13:56.808-05:00A TRIP TO VEGAS, AND ONE TO CHOCTAW COMING UP! SUMMER, 2021<span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>www.gulfcoastpoker.net</b></span><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Hi everybody! Hope you're all having a wonderful, safe summer. If you happen to be a kid still in school (unlikely-and if so WHY are you reading MY blog!!!??) or a parent (more likely) of a kid about to be going BACK to school, the summer is quickly coming to an end. Which as far as I'm concerned, is perfectly fine...because that means one thing! FOOTBALL SEASON! It's going to be a pretty exciting season in Tuscaloosa with a handful of unknowns at several positions to find answers to. As for the NFL, well, I'll always be a Seahawks fan until the day they put me in the ground...but without Drew Brees around, it's going to be a little bit harder for me to root for the Saints. He was the one shiny object that kept me interested in them. I certainly won't be rooting for them very hard if Jameis Winston is their starting QB. I've hated that guy since college. Guess we'll see how it all shakes out. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>I would say I'm ready for summer to be over...so we can get into the cooler season, but all of us living in the south KNOW that would be a huge, fat lie! I've had my sprinkler system turned off since May! No joke. It hasn't run ONE TIME. I've never seen so much rain. Half of my yard I can't even cut with the riding mower because the ground is so soft it completely tears it up. So if I want it cut, I have to either delicately use the push mower...or in some cases, a weed-eater. Everyone is having all the same issues. I know one thing for sure...I better not hear ANYONE complaining about a drought for a LONG time! Oh...except for those 'nice folks' out west! I'm sorry, but maybe this is just a little bit the poker player in me, but I'm a heavy believer in karma. As far as I'm concerned, everything bad that is being thrown at places like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, L.A., and a few other places out there...they've brought it on to themselves. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Not sure if I mentioned it in my previous blog post...but over the winter I let my wife talk me into going in on a river house with her brother. He's got a wife and three boys, and of course they have a ton of friends, as well as relatives in the area. Meanwhile...we live 6 hours south, have only Carley...and might make it up there 3 or 4 times a year, max. They live 25 minutes from where the house is in Rogersville, along the Tennessee/Elk River. We are there right now...our second trip this summer. It's a quaint little place, but the property itself is fantastic. We are surrounded by really nice neighbors. My brother-in-law already had a really nice ski boat, so I chipped in for some nice used wave runners so the kids would have something to keep them entertained. I really didn't think (because of my bad back) that I would get much (if any) use out of them...but as it turns out, they are super-stable and really don't beat up the body as much as I anticipated they might. I've been out on them several times, mostly to pull the kids around on the big tube. About six years ago, my family rented a house for a couple weeks on Lake Chelan out in Washington State. I bought a wake board off of Craig's List while we were there, and actually got up on it and did a fair amount of wake boarding that week. So I brought the board (which I hadn't used SINCE that trip) up here to the river, and had hoped to be able to get up on it and do some boarding. Pffft. No such luck. I tried and failed about 5 or 6 times before I finally gave up. The next day I could barely walk, my hamstrings were destroyed!!! And my forearms hurt like hell too from all the failed attempts to get up. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VF2qkUlfeA/YPXaRnj-yGI/AAAAAAAAEAY/6jlbCf9IwRAlqwlr3mPkemK1G0uNarlowCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Even our Dogs like to TUBE!!!" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VF2qkUlfeA/YPXaRnj-yGI/AAAAAAAAEAY/6jlbCf9IwRAlqwlr3mPkemK1G0uNarlowCLcBGAsYHQ/w112-h200/IMG_5173.JPG" width="112" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJ31BvEodv0/YPXaLcg6amI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/MFM2Ig-Zg9sSi0g9UqoxEvS6zIWmtdM2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Me and the girls, 1st Trip out on the WaveRunner!" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJ31BvEodv0/YPXaLcg6amI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/MFM2Ig-Zg9sSi0g9UqoxEvS6zIWmtdM2QCLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/IMG_5140.jpg" width="135" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1xsTw_q_s8/YPXaOemKfhI/AAAAAAAAEAU/RE9dBjk1rbUqeQFOhuUpsBZJw8VGNjBlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1xsTw_q_s8/YPXaOemKfhI/AAAAAAAAEAU/RE9dBjk1rbUqeQFOhuUpsBZJw8VGNjBlQCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/IMG_5147.JPG" width="113" /></a></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--K_tfjaHKIw/YPXaj1Bz8LI/AAAAAAAAEAw/HNyPCajIHQQMnswHJlw_ZWSqoOjVDmZawCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hilarious guy I met from England playing PLO" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--K_tfjaHKIw/YPXaj1Bz8LI/AAAAAAAAEAw/HNyPCajIHQQMnswHJlw_ZWSqoOjVDmZawCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/IMG_5417.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N5CTLTRl0kg/YPXacYKqPpI/AAAAAAAAEAk/WArlJ5HTs4oHAvPrmaqRezfL3I7bGoqrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s3088/IMG_5552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Me and my Sweet Girl!" border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N5CTLTRl0kg/YPXacYKqPpI/AAAAAAAAEAk/WArlJ5HTs4oHAvPrmaqRezfL3I7bGoqrQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/IMG_5552.jpg" width="150" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTTW_7gpc78/YPXaWNpV09I/AAAAAAAAEAc/uLbBmc9iDdcIHtdbOXOsaE2ZHi8JGbSzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTTW_7gpc78/YPXaWNpV09I/AAAAAAAAEAc/uLbBmc9iDdcIHtdbOXOsaE2ZHi8JGbSzwCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/IMG_5200.jpg" width="150" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xE-xap2Ap_Q/YPXagN0SbrI/AAAAAAAAEAs/uNrgS8W-KTYfdgdhcPmxCIy6TpaXEMVjACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/IMG_5631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Squirrel and Daisy out on the boat!" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xE-xap2Ap_Q/YPXagN0SbrI/AAAAAAAAEAs/uNrgS8W-KTYfdgdhcPmxCIy6TpaXEMVjACLcBGAsYHQ/w241-h320/IMG_5631.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lFVwfjqUfNw/YPXanazrmwI/AAAAAAAAEA4/4B5Yvd27LY4qr_oh2rK5u7An-7rrQ1LFACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The New Resorts World Casino" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lFVwfjqUfNw/YPXanazrmwI/AAAAAAAAEA4/4B5Yvd27LY4qr_oh2rK5u7An-7rrQ1LFACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/IMG_5401.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BEyXI06AJCE/YPXaqk-rApI/AAAAAAAAEA8/YqYVWpS0Z5Y1S-UfW_hyBjPv6hX5ikXEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BEyXI06AJCE/YPXaqk-rApI/AAAAAAAAEA8/YqYVWpS0Z5Y1S-UfW_hyBjPv6hX5ikXEQCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h150/IMG_1480.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Krp4nneSRSU/YPXavUamPLI/AAAAAAAAEBE/WVRPlgYybGIWdACYYzgZAwU-IE8x8-h0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s3088/IMG_1630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The two best things in my life!" border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Krp4nneSRSU/YPXavUamPLI/AAAAAAAAEBE/WVRPlgYybGIWdACYYzgZAwU-IE8x8-h0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/IMG_1630.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Who remembers my 'Ol Buddy Kai Landry?</span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Well, he came out to Vegas and got married!</span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It was a really great night! <br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>That's called....GETTING OLD! And it sucks! If I have ANY plans to be able to do that kind of stuff in the future I am simply going to have to get my ass back into the gym. Maybe one of the two that I'm being automatically debited each month for $20!!!! One thing I've learned about getting old; it's really easy to fall into a lazy routine. You start putting on weight. You find yourself wanting to take naps all the time. It gets harder and harder to get motivated to do little projects on your "To-Do" list. I've really been battling all of those things, and I need for it to END. Like...soon! There are things I WANT to do, in my spare time. And there really isn't anything keeping me from doing them...other than a lack of motivation. So I think once Carley gets back into school the first week of August, I'm going to get my butt in gear and start jump-starting my life!!!</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>POKER! Why yes! Yes I HAVE been playing some poker. And in addition to that, I've gotten back to staking, and putting together staking/investor packages. It started with me getting a "hall pass" from Squirrel to go out to Vegas last month to play the big $10m guaranteed $10k buy in event at the Wynn. I stayed at Encore, and played the 3rd and final flight. Things were going pretty normally the first 4 levels. Win a few, lose a few. Hit a draw. Miss five draws. You know the drill. But after rallying from 12k (starting stack of 40k) back up to 46k...I literally picked up AA on the VERY next hand. From under the gun....I raised to 1100 (blinds 200-400 with 400 ante) and it folded around to this newish player...an Asian guy, who came with quite a few chips, and who had immediately been pretty active since he sat down. He had the button, so I guess in HIS world, that meant he needed to apply pressure to me with a 3-bet. You know...me, the seemingly tightest guy at the table, who'd been showing down nothing but mainly Top15 hands all day. He re-raises it to 3600. The blinds both fold. Okay. Cool. Obviously I'm going to put in a 5th raise here...though it would be fun to just flat and let him double me up with some wild play. I just managed to chip back up, and the last thing I wanted to do was "get cute" and screw myself. So I fired a warning shot over his bow...letting him KNOW that I had a huge hand, and that he might want to just fuck off. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Well...he remained undeterred, even AFTER I bumped it up to 9800! He calls. Ugh. Here we go. Flop comes 10-high...with two diamonds. Pretty innocuous board for everything but a set of tens. I lead out for 12,500. And...truth be known? I'm never folding to whatever move he makes here. But when he instantly ships all in, I put him on either JJ (mayyyyybe QQ- but I think he would have put me all in preflop if he had queens) or AK suited...which is obviously the worst-case scenario there. I was wrong on both counts. He was clear on the other side of the table...and I didn't have my "up close" glasses because I had accidentally left them in a bathroom at Aria the night before. So when I looked at his exposed cards...I THOUGHT I was looking at AK. Which would have seemed pretty normal, and standard. I asked somebody, "Is that AK suited?" And they replied..."No man...it's KING freaking FOUR!???" And...trying not to be THAT guy (you know, Hellmuthiuan in my reaction!!!) I kind of blurted out...."what? King four!???? How the....." and before I could even complete the sentence the dealer slapped a fucking diamond on the turn. I was drawing completely dead to the river...which, adding insult to injury was another GD diamond. Fuuuuuuck ME! Fortunately, the other TWO players who I had raised money by selling shares to stake in that event, were both in close proximity to my table, and literally watched the hand play out. That always makes me feel a little better, because we all know how easy it is to just kind of embellish the telling of a bust out hand. Having witnesses gave me some sense of calm...as I picked up my bag, and zombie-walked to the elevator and back up to my room. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>There is NO worse feeling in poker, am I right? I can handle losing...but please, I beg of you, beat me with a hand that makes some damn sense. I hate plunking down $10k in a tournament where there are guys playing that kind of poker. That's a cash game play, as far as I'm concerned. Whatever. I lost. Time to root for the other two. I went and played PLO, and won a couple dimes. The next day, I went to Venetian and played the PLO tourney there...$600 buy in, I busted, rebought, busted again, rebought a 2nd time...and nearly ran that to the money. I went on a big heater...grew a nice stack...then got into a hand with the only guy at the table with a bigger stack when we were 3 from the money. I think he was chasing a weird draw of some sort against my top set (with a flush draw) when he hit a stupid gutshot straight he didn't even know he had. Yeah...THAT sucked. I was really hoping to snap off that tourney and take $14k back to my room. Well...I didn't. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Instead, I went across the street to the new casino that just opened the night before, Resorts World. They say they spent 4.3b on the place. Frankly...I don't see where all the money was spent. I mean...sure, it was "nice" and all that. But $4.3b nice? I struggle to see it. The poker room was nice. Spacious. Good dealers. I ended up playing two sessions there. The first session went very well. Cashed out with a $3200 profit. The next session, a couple nights later, not so hot. Missed about every draw. Best hands never seemed to hold up. And THAT... in a nutshell, is Omaha for you! I lost about 4 dimes that second session. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>While I was losing all my early cash-game PLO profits, my other two players were trying to make a big score still in the Wynn Main Event. Jason Bond ran into some bad luck and busted at the end of the day. But Kristen Deardorff ran pretty pure the entire day and bagged up a nice stack. With around 1400 entries...she would end up making it to Day 3...and wind up busting out 94th for close to $32k. For all the investors who bought a share for $200...they all ended up getting $154 back per share. So they almost boke even. They proceeded to use a lot of that ROI on the next to staked events for Kristen, since she lives in Vegas. She played the $5k Main at Venetian, and didn't have any luck. Then she played the $2400 there, the following weekend...and bricked that one also. Currently, we are in the throes of what I've labeled "The 3-Prong Series Package." It includes the $600 multi-flight Main at Orleans, then a $600 and another $400 at Venetian to round out the package. I sold a total of 96 shares, for $50 per share, to raise $4800...which covers 3 "bullets" in each event. She has had to use all three buy-ins for the first event, this weekend's $600 Main at Orleans. But on the 3rd and final attempt, she managed to bag $107k...and when she returns today, they should be real close to the money, hopefully she picks up some big hands early...and can grow that "M of 7" / 15 BB's to about three times that...and make another deep run. She certainly has the skills to make it happen. She's a player I really have no hesitancy to stake, for a lot of reasons. (1) she's a solid player (2) she's great about posting updates on our Facebook Group Page...a private group I created just for the players, the investors, and their friends/family. No one else is allowed to view the group page. And (3) she's very trustworthy...so no matter what happens, I know I am getting a photo of her buy in slip, and if/when she wins money...I know I don't have to ever worry about getting access to it. For the record...Jason is the same way. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>So I promised my wife and (more importantly) Carley that if I busted before my flight was scheduled to come home...I would change my flight and come home early. I kept my word. I took one day to relax, chill out at the pool, drink some frozen drinks...and then headed home. Well...lucky me, I get the driver who decides he's going to take the most leisurely drive to the airport in history. While I THOUGHT I still had plenty of time to make it...I was starting to get real nervous. We finally pull up with 40 mins before my flight is to depart. Okay okay...should be okay, plus I'm Diamond Medallion now with Delta...which I've been working for years to achieve, so they SHOULD cut me some slack if I'm a little late. NOPE! I get the Bitch From Hell. I think her name was Amy (probably spelled something like Aymey or something equally stupid) And she was in NO MOOD at ALL to be helpful. "You are late, sir. We aren't going to be able to check you in. We ask that you arrive at least 45 minutes before your flight! We're just going to have to rebook you for a later flight." I say "Um yeah, hi...Amy, the flight doesn't leave for 40 minutes. If you really can't get my bags on, I'm happy to take them through security, and check them at plane side. (which, in case you didn't know, is ENTIRELY okay...so long as your baggage will fit through the xray scanner, which mind do) I really don't feel like missing this flight." </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Nope. She tells me she has already given away my 1st class seat. I literally want to kill her. She rebooks me on a flight alright. The freaking red-eye! The flight she just booted me from was at 10:45am. Whatever. FINE! Can I please check my bags at least. NOPE! They won't check bags until 6 hours before the flight. Great! So I find a Centurion Sky Lounge (member via my American Express) and make it my homeless shelter for 7 hours...until they closed for the day. Then I went to the gate 4 hours before the flight...found a nice little cubby hole, and passed out for a few hours. The flight home was fantastic! I got lucky and got one of the newer planes with that newer Delta One 1st class cabin where you have basically your own pod...and the seats recline into an actual bed. I think I slept most of the flight home. Went from temperatures around 115 degrees in Vegas...to a monsoon in New Orleans when I walked out to my car!!! Quite a difference! And...since I've been home from that trip...it's literally rained almost EVERY day, as mentioned! </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Once home, I got back on my iPhone/iPad and started back in my PokerBros club. The latest popular game has been the 5 and 6-handed PLO Hi/Low game. But then they went and added another new game...DOUBLE BOARD! Talk about major action! So far, I've found most of the players in those double boarded games to be pretty shitty. I've run my account up a couple grand in the last two weeks. IN addition to those juicy cash games...they run some very decent tournaments. I just don't play as many tournaments as I would like to because I have a hard time carving out that much time to sit and play one. Maybe you'd like to join the club...and take me on!??? No problem...just be prepared to NOT screw over the friends of mine who run the club. They are a married couple who I've know for years, and who worked on the WSOP circuit for a long time. The network, as mentioned...is POKER BROS. The CLUB ID is 21699. And my REFERAL ID is 663632. If you DO sign up...shoot me an email at ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com and tell me your handle so I can look for you when I'm playing!!!</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>So the other night, my wife asked me if I would mind if she took (yet another!) trip to the beach with her girlfriends in a couple weeks. I told her..."Okay, I'll make you a deal. There is a tournament I'd kind of like to go play next weekend. If you let me go play that, then I'm okay with you leaving for another 4-day weekend." She agreed! Much to my relative surprise! So...next weekend, I am climbing in my car...because flying in to Dallas, then renting a car, and having to drive a couple hours from THERE...seems stupid, and I'm driving to Durant, Oklahoma to play in the $3700 WPT Main Event there at Choctaw casino. It's been several years since I played up there. I liked the place, for the most part. So I called and got myself a room reserved, and am all set to go. Drive up Thursday. Bringing enough for two bullets...play on Friday, hopefully NOT on Saturday...then take it from there. If I happen to bust out, I drive home. Easy Peasy! The last time I went up there, I also drove. It was an easy trip. I've put feelers out with a couple of my poker buddies in hopes of finding someone (that I can tolerate for 8-10 hours in a car!!!) to share the ride up there with me. If not...no biggie, I'll just watch movies on my iPad while I drive like I usually do! I'm expecting a pretty good turnout.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>As far as me playing staked or on my own dime? I put some feelers out to my current staking group, which consists of about 50 people, telling them I hadn't decided yet whether to play it for 100%, or 40% (if I sell shares, they will hold a 60/40 advantage). Well, I got a bunch of emails from people saying they would love to buy some shares if I DO decide to sell a package...so it looks like I will sell one for BOTH bullets. Then, if I bag on the first attempt, they will already get HALF their investment back! </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>I was telling my wife that I don't so much miss poker, as much as I miss the feeling of the competition. I miss that feeling of making the right call...and a player mucking his cards. But most of all, I miss that feeling when all the players remaining move to the Final Table. Because at that point? It becomes like something I have played 2 or 3 thousand of in the last 15 years....a Sit n Go. Nine players. Lose, and your gone, and we all get more elbow room! I LOVE playing Final Tables! But the thing I love the MOST..is being the very last player at the table. Just me...and ALL the chips. I hate chopping...and will almost NEVER agree to it...unless its just the dumbest (economically speaking) decision to refuse chopping. I don't play for hours and hours...and even sometimes days...so that I can get to the Final Table, make some kind of deal, and call it a day. Screw that! </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>And finally...I really discovered while on my last trip to Vegas, that I kind of miss the notoriety, the respect that I used to sort of hold in the poker community. It used to be I could sit down at a tourney table, and there was typically 5 or 6 player, minimum, who knew who I was. Knew I was highly-regarded, successful. I took it for granted back then. I think people in all kinds of fields probably do the same thing...taking things for granted, until they don't have it anymore...then they miss it. I miss it. More than the money. I don't really NEED the money now, like I did back then. Back then, I was playing staked...and needing a score to pay my bills. To survive. Now? Not so much. I just want to WIN! I want to experience that taste again. Bad! And I know...if I should put everything together, but fall short, say, finish 3rd, or even 2nd...it's just gonna motivate me even more. I hate losing. Always have. Whether it was sports, or school/grades, or job-related or poker...I f'ing HATE to lose. Granted...I certainly have learned how to handle losing a lot better than I used to! Thank god! Now it just burns me on the insides...without me showing my ass to everyone around me. Because lets be honest; poker? No one, I repeat NO ONE...gives two shits about your bad beat story. They don't really care about your flame out. No one. So when you DO lose? Just take it. Eat it. Bury it. Go find a nice quiet place, alone...and work it all out, mentally. Don't go find the first pack of poker buddies you can locate and whine to them about your bust out. Because...while they might act (and I mean ACT) like they actually give a shit? Trust me...they don't. At all! </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>And in saying this? It's the same (at least now) for me when I win. I don't need anyone's adulation. I don't need to post a "sick brag" post on Facebook. Nope. The satisfaction is internal. I guess I've come a long way in that department. At least, in the way I'm perceived by others in the poker world. So yeah...there ya go! I now have a wife, a little girl, and her best friend...down there on the dock...wanting me to come down and play with them...tow them around behind the wave runner. Jump off the top deck of the boat house...about 15 feet high. You know...be "The Fun Dad!!" We've been here 4 days now. This is the last day. Home tomorrow. Then, a couple days to do some yard work, run some errands, then kiss my girls goodbye for what I hope is FIVE days!!! Some of you know, I run sports pools. I've been doing that for close to 30 years now. It's how I was fortunate enough to develop the vast network of people I have that make up my staking groups...and other investment "stuff" that I put together. Some players in the past have demonstrated some bitterness towards me, for the great "staking deal" I played under. Well...I wasn't about to feel bad, or guilty because I spent decades building a credible relationship with so many people that gave me opportunities like the one I enjoy in poker. And in fairness, I haven't made anyone what I would say "rich" but I have made a lot of people "some money" and they always get paid RIGHT AWAY! Which...if you are a poker player...and you're playing staked? You should make your number ONE priority! Don't make people who took a chance on you...have to go way out of their way to get FROM YOU...what is rightfully THEIRS. Those kind of people are a disgrace to this profession. And they keep other well-deserving players from GETTING those kind of opportunities. The more "good guys" there are in poker, the more chances other players will get from people with the finances to take a chance on them. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>So? Moral of the Story? Don't be a F'ing Douchebag!!!! Perhaps I'll see some of you up in Choctaw! Feel free to tap me on the shoulder, or shake my hand, and say "Hi!" It's always good to see either old friends, or make some new ones! Bye for now!!!</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>MONKEY</b></span></div>Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-6487025188637661172021-04-20T12:43:00.004-05:002021-04-20T12:43:47.051-05:00Remember When Poker Mattered?<span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>www.gulfcoastpoker.net</b></span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>APRIL 15, 2021 (picked back up and finished 4/20/2021!)</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>IT's TAX DAY!!!! Wheeeee!!!!! For those of you NOT under IRS audit, in which case...you have an excuse to NOT file YET....you better have your taxes done by midnight...or make sure your CPA has filed an extension for you!!!!</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Yes. It's 2021! YES...I know! I haven't posted a blog in...lets just say FOREVER! I'm also acutely aware that I've become relatively irrelevant in the World of Poker. Over the course of the last 12-15 months I've made a few efforts to sit down and post a blog. IN fact...this was my LAST attempt. It might bring a little entertainment, even humor. Browse this snippet...then catch me on the other side! I am appearing today as a guest (why me??? NO idea! I'm flattered) on Bill & Gene's Gulf Coast Poker Podcast in less than an hour!!!</b></span><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>THIS WAS WHERE MY ATTEMPT at a BLOG UPDATE STARTED and STOPPED last JUNE!!!!!</b><br /><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="color: #800180;"><b>Here we are, in June 2020. The WSOP is in full swing in its first full week out in Vegas, the MLB season is nearing its midseason point. In the NBA, we should have a new champion crowned this weekend. And the same goes for hockey...where someone will lift the Stanley Cup. What an exciting spring it's been! And how about that crazy finish in the Master's? Not to mention that amazing stretch run in the Kentucky Derby. I mean...is there anything MORE exciting than being a sports fan in the good 'ol United States of America? </b></span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: #800180;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: #800180;"><b>Yeah...that's the paragraph I SHOULD have been leading with after having not blogged in a number of months. In January, after the "Heater" at the Beau Rivage...I actually started a blog entry...and was pretty close to being done. Then I stepped away from my computer for a few days...and suddenly, the world started changing dramatically all around me. The more time that went by...the more irrelevant my "poker post" started feeling. By mid-March...I became resigned that I would never post that previous entry. Now, here we are...the first week of June...and we have graduated from one huge issue to another. Even while the first one is still going on. In the 53 years I've been living in this country...I'm not sure I've ever seen things more chaotic, more confusing, more frustrating and more divisive. Anyone who insists that they have the answers to all that ails us...is simply a fool. </b></span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">AND NOW....here we are! A new year. A new president. A "new normal" that has been foisted upon us by a new administration, with help from a liberal media that simply can't bring itself to report anything that resembles honest news and/or information. Covid protocols still remain in place in some places. Deaths are still being reported nationwide, and worldwide. A vaccine was miraculously developed in record time...not just in America, but in numerous countries. I'm still perplexed by THAT simple fact. Despite a virus that 99.875% of people are expected to be able to defeat, we are being frantically urged (ordered?) to run out and get a vaccine that has been wreaking havoc with some of it's recipients, either with an unexpected side affect, or in some cases...even death! I'm in the camp of 40% of active Marines in this country...who are simply maintaining that they have NO reason to get a vaccine for something they are 99% certain to beat if they get it. Being young, and in the best shape of their lives...WHY would they EVER worry about a vaccine? I'm not getting it. I'm not letting my wife and child get it either. Nope. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">So the boys at Gulf Coast Poker have started a podcast on their website. They've asked me to appear as a guest today. Why, hell I don't know! I hardly play anymore. I WAS playing pretty regularly in a Pokerstars Home Game that featured a bunch of you players out there who I've known for years. It was entertaining...frustrating at times, but I had a bit of success on there. It went dark a month or two ago due to some concerns based on information that convinced the operators to step away from it. Understandable. NO need putting your livelihood in jeopardy if you don't have to. So aside from that...I'm a participant in some other online sites, and have been playing the app-based PokerBros, and am a....ahhhh what's that word? I always forget it. When you promote a site, and give out a referral code, so that you can earn a little money on the side? I should know that word...I've been "one of them" for several sites over the years. At any rate...I've been somewhat active on PokerBros...and actually made a pretty good chunk of change referring people to the poker club I play in. When I play on there, I lean towards the cash-game PLO6 Hi/Lo game...which is NUTS! I really don't like playing with THAT many cards...and that many WAYS TO LOSE...but getting a game going in the 4 or 5 card versions of Hi/Lo is almost impossible. SO I sit in on the 6-card version...and take my lumps. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">As for LIVE poker? I've been getting closer and closer to venturing out. I ALMOST ran up to Pearl River to play that main event. But things came up with the family that kept me at home. I've been eyeballing some events, one in South Florida...and one out at Venetian, to go get my feet wet again. The one thing that has me really interested, is the fact that nobody is playing 9 or 10-handed. I LOVE having elbow and leg room. And when these places are playing 7 and/or 8-handed...that's like a dream come true for me. I don't know how they are about rules and Covid-enforcement though...and I am NOT someone who likes being told what to do if the reason for doing it lacks ANY logic whatsoever. It's probably one of the things that drives me the MOST crazy. THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE! I have NO problem following rules...as long as the rules make SENSE! I am not a f'ing sheep. I never have been. I never WILL be. It's caused me problems in my life. I know that. I've reconciled that with myself. I'm aware that being a "yes sir, no sir" guy might have led to me avoiding some of the bullshit that I've been subjected to in my poker career, and upon close inspection, and reflection with myself, I have no regrets. You only live this life ONCE. How do you want to be remembered? I cling to my morals, my ethics, my values, and my beliefs. I have what I consider to be a lot of pride. People have the right to agree or disagree with me. I've never been delusional enough to think that I would EVER make everyone like me, or even agree with my views. I'm not in the business of making people like me. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Trust me, if I was? I would be in politics. I have a LOT of knowledge about politics. I have a lot of acquired experience in that field. Have a lot of connections in that world. Were it not for the path of destruction I've left in my wake over the last 30-40 years...I'd enter that arena. But with my checkered past, it would take the vultures in the media and in the political arena itself, to devour me within hours of dipping my toes into the political waters!!! So I operate on the outer fringes, contributing where I can to the causes I most believe in. It's true that 2020 was one of the biggest setbacks in my life...as it pertains to politics, and the overall health of our country. It's been a rough 2021 so far. I've had to pry myself away from the 24-hr cable news cycle...as it just leads to bouts of depression, frustration, aggravation, and deep contemplation about the future of our country. I think that were it not for being the father of a young child...I might not be as emotionally invested in the future of our country, from a political standpoint. I've been urged by several of my followers on Facebook to start a politically-based Podcast. Trust me...the thought has dawned on me many times. But I'll be totally honest...I'm scared. I've watched the way Big Tech has treated Conservative voices in this country just in the last 5-6 months...and it's terrifying. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I've already seen weird things going on in my own life. I don't how much of it is circumstantial, and how much of it is due to my political leanings. I'm reading a book called "The War on Cash" and that has probably fed into some of my suspicions. I've actually read a LOT of books over the course of the last year...most of them from authors on the Conservative right. I try not to inundate myself with ALL conservative readings...so I balance that by reading newsletters from leftist publications...as well as daily briefings from the New York Times. Each side accuses the other side of being tone deaf, of being shut off to the other side. That they exist in an echo chamber. I've tried hard to welcome liberal voices in my own Facebook wall. (I am currently serving a 30-day Facebook jail term, 13 days from being freed...for engaging in a heated conversation with a diehard liberal on one of my own friends' walls...I made a comment that the libbie didn't like, reported me to the FB gestapo, and got me suspended for 30 days. Ridiculous) I would say I have 4 or 5 people I still consider "friends" who's views I wholeheartedly disagree with, however, I respect their opinions. I respect their right to disagree with mine. We manage to maintain a level of decorum. We manage to maintain a friendship. I'm of the opinion that this is something that is dying a slow death in our country, and it's sad. I think that Social Media...born around 2004...but not FULLY employed until right about the time Obama came into office in 2008, has been the leading cause for the dysfunction of how we get along in this country with our fellow Americans. It used to be...most people kept their political beliefs to themselves. And if they DID talk about it...they knew when to stop the conversation. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">NOW? Whoa! Social media has basically empowered people, giving them this weapon (essentially) wherein they feel their opinion is a lot more powerful than it really is. The ingredients, that being social media, a liberal media overtly opposed to Conservative views/beliefs, racial divisiveness that has been promoted by those with their own agenda...all of this has led to a nation that is desperately trying to find itself right now. And lost in all of this, is how this has left us vulnerable to the rest of the world. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Okay. I keep getting sidetracked...pulled into political talk. Sorry. This should be about poker right? I'm trying, I'm trying! Promise! </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Hey! How about my good buddy Joe Hebert!??? One of the truly good guys in poker who I've been really good friends with for over a decade!??? I've never been happier for a poker player's success than I was for him! Winning the WSOP Main Event...granted, it was under some whacky circumstances...still! Home boy beat EVERYONE! And won what? A million and a half? This is a guy who I've roomed with at poker events. A guy I've swapped "pieces" with at other events. We've done a lot, experienced a lot. We've had our ups, and we've had our downs. We had baby's just a month or two apart. We've been there for each other in times of need...emotionally, and otherwise. And he was on the short list a couple times to be on my WSOP Team that has quite affectionately come to be known as "Monkey's Minions!!" I spoke to him a short while after his win...probably one of the few people who didn't reach out to him with ulterior motives! As much as I like to try to see the good in everyone...there is an undeniable element in the poker community that prey on those who are enjoying success financially. And one thing that is inevitable, any time you make a good score in poker: the moochers come out of the woodwork. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Moochers are the worst. They will present themselves as "good friends" and tell you how excited they are for you, and how closely they followed you in your big tournament, as though THAT is supposed to have earned them some kind of reward from you....like, you know? Them sweating you had some kind of affect on your "run good" for that tourney. It's annoying. And it's so predictable. It's one reason I'm always hesitant to contact a friend after they make a big lick. I don't want to get lumped into that category. The 'moocher' category. Ugh. But, with some people...they just know that I'm not calling them to ask them for something. And that is in and of itself, a nice feeling...knowing you aren't being scrutinized in that fashion.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">So I ran out of time to write this before we went live for the podcast. So I did 90 minutes with Gene and Wild Bill, then let a week slide by...and I'm back trying to finish this post. The interview was nice. Went really fast...and we definitely had PLENTY to talk about. I try really hard to NOT be long-winded in things like that. Sometimes its tough, but as I am a very critical viewer/listener of others' interviews...I'm always seeing/hearing things that I want to avoid if ever in that same spot. So yeah...I had a lot of that going on. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">What else is going on!?? Carley turns 9 this weekend. Crazy. She's halfway to being a legal adult and moving out. After taking piano for two years...she quit a couple months ago, much to my disappointment. But she has taken an interest in golf! We've been out a few times and she seems to really like it. Her Godfather...and my business partner and friend, Barth...got her a set of clubs for Christmas last year. For Christmas this past year...she took it up a notch. Just a NOTCH. She asked for a freaking golf cart. Huh??? Did you say, GOLF CART? The main shock...was that my wife didn't immediately shoot down the idea. So, umm...little girl is driving now. A red golf cart. Took her about 3 days before she slammed it into the corner of my shed...which caused the entire wall of bricks to collapse and messed up the door jam. Needing a little repair job there! But her driving has improved, no more accidents...and her and her buddies have really gotten a lot of use out of it. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Both the bars are still open and doing well...despite all the COVID protocols, and interruptions in business. MY tenants in my rental homes are still my same tenants. So...stability! I'm still playing the investment game in online stock trading...a lot more these days then when I previously blogged. I've taken up a new hobby...as an investment vehicle, getting REALLY into buying gold, silver, platinum and even palladium rare coins. I've gotten Carley really interested in it too. I'm in the middle of trying to acquire every year and mint location of every Morgan Silver Dollar in circulation. Carley, after I educated her on it...did a presentation on it...to her 3rd grade class. She did great, I was really proud of her. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">With the economy being in the state that it's in...and the dollar being devalued every day with all these TRILLIONS of dollars that the democrats are pumping out...there couldn't possibly be a better time to invest in precious metals. The other thing I've got on my bucket list in the next few months is to fly out to the Bay Area to take a friend up on this 3-day workshop to learn everything there is to know about crypto-currency...so that can get into that arena. Hypothetically...I should have started that a long time ago. But I don't like jumping into things that I don't have a workable knowledge in. And where crypto is concerned, I have none! So I'm going to change that...as soon as possible!</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Bought a tanning salon back in July 2019 so that my wife, Squirrel...could finally, after 20 years...get OUT of the cocktailing gig at the Beau Rivage and do something else. There had been a lot of changes, not many of them good, at the Beau in the past 5 years or so, and the job was making her miserable. But she isn't someone who would EVER be content to sit at home spinning her wheels. It would drive HER crazy...and her being driven crazy would drive ME absolutely berserk! So an opportunity came up to buy this tanning salon. She knew the owner real well...and they worked it out where the gal would come in and train Cheryl...and be on call to help her with anything that came up. So we pulled the trigger. The first year was mostly learning the business...and implementing some upgrades to the business. Then when COVID hit...it was RIGHT before what WOULD have been her busiest time of year. SO that hurt a LOT! We had just changed all the bulbs in all 8 beds (pricey!!!) and bought her a Spray-Tan machine...which everyone was requesting. So we definitely took a big loss in 2020. This year has obviously been a LOT better.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">In addition to the business just being better, she won an online poll run by...mmmm....sorry, I don't know!! Maybe the radio station? But out of 5 places that were nominated, she won the BEST TANNING SALON on the Gulf Coast!!!! I was so happy for her, and proud! And for the last month she has been absolutely SLAMMED. For winning, I guess she won a bunch of free advertising and some other stuff. I think the best thing that came from it though was a boost to her self-esteem...as she's poured all of herself into that venture. So it was basically a form of validation for her. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Alright! How's that?? Is that enough!?? I haven't posted in so long, the last thing I want to do is drown you all!!! Besides, it's sunny out, and I really don't think that yard is going to cut itself!!!</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">MONK</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-72980158819942848602019-08-20T10:35:00.002-05:002019-08-20T10:35:36.814-05:00BRING ON FOOTBALL SEASON...and CIRCUIT SEASON.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Hello again. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Been formulating ideas in my head to write about over the past month or two. Had an "interesting" day of poker at the Beau a few weeks back that had me inspired to put pen to paper, as it were. Sometimes, especially in poker, you see things that simply deserve to be shared with someone...ANYONE!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>One thing I know that I never did...or rather HAVEN'T done yet...is share the cool details of my trip to Scotland and London that preceded my trip out to Vegas for this year's eventual disappointing WSOP event. I have to confess...I find myself, the older I get...getting more and more private and unwilling to share personal details that in the past I was always fairly eager to share. Maybe it's a sense that there are just fewer people who actually CARE. Maybe it's a conscious effort to remain more private. I'm not exactly sure. Or, maybe it's just a feeling that as I've gotten much more successful in my business life...that excessive posting of accomplishments and/or acquisitions comes off as being cocky or braggadocios. And that is the LAST thing I want to do. So I suppose it's a hard line to draw. What is too much? What is not enough? What is just the right amount of sharing my personal details? I don't know.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So...yeah...back to this night I had at the Beau Rivage. I went to play their Tuesday tourney. It's a senior's event...but it's about 60/40 Seniors to non-Seniors. I got there a little late. I sit down. 1st hand...with 200 up front...having posted to play before the blind...I pick up K10 suited at cutoff. It folds to me. Feels like a reasonable spot to raise. So I make it 600. SB calls with KJ. BB calls with I don't know. Flop comes 10-7-5. Very good flop for me. Right? You'd think. He checks. I bet 1100. No problem. He has overs. He calls. Turn...Jack. Of course. He checks. I check back this time. River is an irritating king. Ugh. He tank bets 3000. I call...see his hand...and wonder what the FUCK possessed him to call the flop bet. Whatever. I bust a couple hands later and walk over to rebuy. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Next table...I say a silent prayer to myself: "Please, let this table be better than that one." Ha! Sorry, Monkey....no such luck! Literally saw what I believe to be the worst poker player I've ever seen. And I've seen a LOT of bad players in my 15 years. It was an older lady. I knew things were screwy when...after a flop, and first to act, she stated that she would like to "raise to 600." Yup. She was first to act. Oh boy. Tip of the iceberg. It's hard to tell you which was my favorite...and by favorite, I mean, eye-openingly bizarre. But I will give you two. It should be noted...she had managed to chip up...massively...early...by playing horrifyingly bad, and just getting lucky. Her 8k starting stack was up to about 45k in Level 3. Oh...she played a lot of hands...like....nearly EVERY hand. But she rarely raised. Always limped...then it simply didn't MATTER how much someone raised...she was in there. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So here's HAND #1. She limps in with 10-6 (can't remember if it was suited, doesn't matter). Guy next to her raises it from 400 to 1600. Well...then the button makes it 6000. Yeah. 6k. What does she do? Insta-muck right? Nawwww. She tanks...then struggles to understand what her options are. She finally figures it out and calls the 6k. Wow. Well, now the next guy...who by the way has QQ...goes all in for about 27k. The guy on the button...who has, duh....ACES...also goes all in...she's confused once again. When it's explained to her...she calls. She has them both covered. The flop brings a 6...and everyone starts to cringe a little. Turn gives her a straight draw. Not one person at the table thought she would miss on the river. But somehow she did. Aces held up. Miraculous. And now she was crippled. Ah hell...one hand is enough right? She was out a few hands later...again getting it in horribly. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>How did I fare at that table? Not much better. My gosh...I don't even remember now how I went out. Oh wait...yeah I do. I got cut in half on a hand...then on a 5-way limped pot for 600....I shoved all in for 9500'ish with AJ in the SB. The BB looks down at the mighty 7-8 offsuit...and decides to call. Why? No clue. Everyone else folded...except the button....who also turns out having AJ. We both felt good when the flop came 9-10-J....or though we did. The other AJ guy goes all in. Bye Bye. Both of us. Unreal. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Then I went and played an extremely maniacal game of 5/5 PLO. In for 1000. Couple of brutal beats later...I was busto. Bought back in for 2000. Played for about 2 hours...and managed to run that up to 3250...then decided to go home in time to give Carley her much-relied upon hug and kiss goodnight. It was actually a pretty fun game, with some entertaining guys playing. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Haven't been back out of my cave to go play since. Wanted to play the monthly 50k guarantee...but Squirrel went out of town for the weekend and I was stuck watching Carley, so had to pass. I haven't played online at all either. A husband/wife team asked my permission to use my "Minions WSOP" private Facebook page to advertise a new poker club that operates on a cool app where you can play from your phone. They ran satellites that allowed people to win shares for my team this summer. It's pretty cool. They are really trustworthy and super organized. They're even shipping me a month rake back bonus...not that I ever asked for it, need it, or even care. But it's just an indication of how classy they are. I recently was sent an invitation to join this other private page on Facebook...a page with a name like "Weaselbag Deadbeats" or something...and it features people basically calling people out for stiffing other people. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Talk about a who's who of assholes and losers. Is that redundant? I scrolled down the list one night...and amusingly, I actually found some people POSTING about OTHER people who owed ME money still! I didn't post anything, other than that emoji of that guy scratching his chin, as if to be saying..."Hmmmmm." But two things came to mind: (1) this couple appears to be in the minority, running a rock-solid, credible poker club...that always pays it winners and (2) I am SO thankful that I am not living on that layer of society where people basically live buyin to buyin, who are constantly looking for ways to angle-shoot people to gain an edge. Or just plain scam people. I am so thankful that I can afford it when some dirtbag, piece of shit riddles me with excuses why he (or she! Yeah...women are also capable of being deadbeats!) can't pay me the money they owe me. For whatever it may be....a small personal loan, money owed to me for poker staking, or money owed to me for a fantasy league...of which I run a lot of...or one of my pools that I run. It all adds up. And that number is a six-figure number over the last decade. It's really kind of hard to believe that there are THAT MANY scumbags in the world...but they do kind of seem to gravitate together, and a lot of them seem to have addiction issues. So I just try to rationalize it as being the price of doing business, or doing favors. MOST people are good. MOST people will satisfy their obligations. MOST people..if they don't have a way to pay you right away....WILL try to stay in touch with you, and work out a payment plan. But those who don't? Ugh. Fuck 'em. I'm convinced there is no amount of shame you can heap upon them that will ever make them change into a person who wants to be respected by all. They just don't give a shit. I can't imagine going through life like that...I've always prided myself as a person who simply doesn't borrow money from people. And if I owe money for something...it can be ANYTHING...I want to pay it, and pay it quickly. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So yeah...anyway. If you are someone that is possibly interested in that aforementioned poker club...shoot me an email to ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com and I will give you their info. It's football season almost! If you are interested in my pools...which have grown a LOT and now feature some pretty damn good prize pools after running them for almost 25 years...you can email me at ThePoolMonkey@aol.com. I would invite you to join one of my FIVE NFL Fantasy Leagues...that feature 72 total teams...but I'm down to just 3 openings...so by the time you could email me...they will most likely already be full. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I think I mentioned in my previous blog post that I am going up to Milwaukee September 9th to (a) get my cataract in my left eye fixed...that developed as a result of my detached retina surgery that I had last November 5th. Another bad beat! and (b) to play the tail end of the WSOP Circuit Event at that casino up there that I can never get the name right on. My mother and sister live together up there, so I will be staying with them. They tend to get pretty good turnouts for their events, and I've never played up there, so I'm somewhat excited to get my feet wet up there. I'm fairly certain I can expect my mom and sister to hit me up for a couple of buy-ins too while I'm there. So far...my success rate with staking those two ladies is 0%...and it's sample size is now approaching about ten events! Time to get it in gear, ladies!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Once that is done...I have a couple other things I'm looking at. I've NEVER played a single tournament in Europe, and have wanted to for quite a while. I've also never played in Australia, and wanted to play there, too. I'm looking at an EPT event in Prague the first week of December. Lots of big buy ins, and they draw incredible field sizes. Furthermore...I've always been enamored with the beauty and history of Prague. It's a really old city, with incredible architecture. A lot of things I was excited about seeing when I went to Scotland and London. Also...if I go to Prague...and fly 1st Class with Delta...I will accumulate 16,500 MQMs...(million qualifier miles) which is EXACTLY what I need to maintain my Platinum Medallion status...which comes with a LOT of nice perks!!! I think the trip to Australia would get a similar amount, maybe even more. So...nothing solid on that yet!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>BUT...one trip I DO think we are going to make...and that I think I will get to bring Carley and Squirrel with me on...AND meet Barth (the buddy I own the two-soon to be three bars and restaurants with) down there for...is the WSOP International Circuit event in Aruba. The timing of it is great. Carley is out of school for Thanksgiving the whole week...so if we leave the Thursday before, we can get to Aruba in time for me to fire a bullet in Flight A and if necessary, also Flight B of their Main Event...which is $1700. That will be the only event there I play. And if I bust on THUR or FRI...guess what? We have 3 or 4 days to do nothing but enjoy Aruba as a family! If I happen to get deep? Well, Cheryl has been there before and knows her way around the island...so she can go off gallivanting with Carley and have fun together. Delta was nice enough to give me a $200 flight credit for ruining my luggage on the trip to Scotland, and another $500 flight credit for not getting my golf clubs on the connecting flight out of Boston...and not getting them to me until my third day there. They ALSO gave me the $1400 I had to spend to rent clubs, shoes, and buy clothes to wear, since all of my golf stuff was in my golf travel bag. I have to say...with all the troubles I've had with Delta over the years...they've really treated me well the past few years. Sure...it definitely HELPS when you are GOLD, PLATINUM or (of course) DIAMOND Medallion customers. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So...THAT is what's up on my poker agenda for the rest of 2019. We have a trip to Nashville planned the weekend of Sept 28th...where we are going to the Carrie Underwood concert, then staying with Squirrel's family up there for the weekend. I'm trying to talk Squirrel into letting us go to the Alabama vs Ole Miss game that weekend...but she seems to think it will be too much. So do I even ASK about shooting home early Sunday so we, or just I (with a buddy) go to the Sunday night game in New Orleans against the hated Cowboys??? Oh! And the weekend BEFORE THAT ONE...I'm contemplating flying out to Seattle with some Saints fans...to meet up with some of my fellow Seahawk fans from childhood...to go to THAT game! Yeah...football season gets pretty crazy around here!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The pools keep me busy...especially the football SQUARES that I run...which over the past 3 seasons...has average about 300 boards per season! And the accounting work involved with that is crazy! I've had a few spreadsheet gurus create sheets that would supposedly speed up the process. And another software engineer is beta-testing a site solely dedicated to JUST running Squares pools...inspired by me! Pretty cool. But I am trying hard to get out from under the hours and hours of accounting work associated with giving my 100's of pool players non-stop entertainment during the football season...so THIS season...my sister has asked if I can train her new girlfriend how to do the accounting work, as she lost her job as a poker dealer when it became known that she was dating one of the poker players...yeah..my sister. Whooops! So as she is now living with my sister...she's kind of needing a financial boost. So in addition to my sister and I both chipping in now to support my mom who is living with her...I'm going to provide a way for her girlfriend to contribute! Hey! Look at me creating jobs!!!! If she "gets it" this is going to be a wonderfully delightful football season!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Anybody wanna talk about politics? Ha! No..you do NOT want me going there! I could write for five or six hours...promise. I've thought about starting a video blog that ONLY deals with my views on politics. I guess I would go with the moniker of Mayor Monkey or something catchy like that. Why do I think anyone would even WANT, let alone RESPECT my position on things political? Shit...I don't know. I guess I've just had a ton of people tell me I really seem to know a lot about the topic, and that they really like what I have to say. I mean...I took a few political science courses in college, and it was one of my favorite subjects. I just see politics as something that is lacking TRUE leadership, and REAL difference-makers...and a lot of opportunists. And it pisses me off. This current batch of Democrats has just blown my mind, in so many ways. Some times, I listen to the things they say...and I can't even believe we are cut from the same genetic makeup. And are from the same planet. I think I easily come up with "A Take" at least once or twice a DAY. And I have such a hard time holding my angst. And with Twitter being (who's kidding who) fully a liberal operation, I've found myself getting suspended over and over until finally...they terminated my account for good last month...for referring to Ilhan Omar as a rat-faced traitor using Congress to sabotage our country. Oh....they might TELL US that we have the Freedom of Speech in this country, as afforded us by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution...but we all know that only goes for Liberals. Yes..I am back on Twitter...NO...I am not telling you my new name...not HERE any way. It's a pretty dubious handle...you won't guess it!!!! So...yeah....anyway...maybe there is a Video Blog in the future...probably not. We'll just have to wait and see!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I will probably write a "Vacation Blog" before too long. Find a day or night where I'm bored or can't fall asleep!!!! Just wanted to drop y'all a line to tell ya whas up!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>MONKEY</b></span><br />
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Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-78222424100161012972019-07-18T07:14:00.003-05:002019-07-18T07:14:53.560-05:00Monkey's Dismal Summer Wrap Up Report<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>First, let me just say something here. For those of you who DIDN'T actually invest in the poker team this summer, or ANY summer for that matter? Just because you HAVEN'T seen a post on my blog, DOESN'T mean that the 175+ investors in the team this summer (an all-time record btw) have been left "in the dark" because I haven't posted a blog in over a week...or since ALL TEN players made it out of Day One. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Ya see, I have a few ways of communicating with my investors. The number one way, is the Private Facebook Group Page, that I set up for all the players, investors, and friends/family of the players to follow along with their progress all throughout the lead up and eventual tournament. The second, is via email. I have a spreadsheet of ALL the investors, and of course, their email addresses. I often will email the group with updates. Finally...for those who don't (and just WON'T) ever use Facebook...they text or email me for updates. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So, those of you who have been quick to send me your "kind" messages suggesting all kinds of nice things about me because I didn't find the time or motivation to write a blog post on the status of our players? I'm not going to apologize to YOU. If you were interested enough to know how they were doing...you should have invested. End of statement, on THAT matter anyway. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>It's kind of ...mmmm, what's the word here? Disappointing? Irritating? Annoying? When I think about the game of poker...and where it has come from and evolved to since I first started playing back about 15 years ago...it's really pretty astonishing. One thing I can definitively state with almost complete confidence, is that the "douchey factor" in poker has really kind of hit a Mt Everest-like peak in recent years. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I'm not really sure which topic on the Top Ten List of DOUCHEBAG qualities is my #1....or really what order they should be lined up in. I guess it changes, based on the number of incidents occur. Some, it's just hearing about...either in printed stories, or just through the poker grapevine. Others, of course, its via personal experience. But like hardcore leftists in the political realm these days, they seem to be making more and more of an impact and leaving me wanting less poker. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Here is a great example. I have what I believe is....maybe two or three "haters" who like to leave anonymous comments on this blog. It could actually be the same person. A sad, miserable asshole who sits despairingly alone in his mom's basement probably, in one of those 70's style bean bag chairs...rooting for my personal failure to somehow boost his own self-esteem. Now, it takes a special kind of sicko to be so devoted to anonymously drop nasty comments for such a long period of time. And keep in mind, I used to blog a LOT on this site...at least four or five times a month. Well now I'm lucky if you get 5 or 6 posts out of me a YEAR. And you might THINK....that this would maybe cause this gutter-dwelling miscreant to search for someone else with an obviously better life than himself to annoy. But...despite my infrequent appearances here...he STILL manages to find time to browbeat me. I'm probably supposed to be flattered, right? I'm sure there is some shrink out there who would convince me of that. But...me being me? I just secretly wish this guy, or guys...whoever they may be...would fall victim to some freak accident. Like having a meteor punch through the atmosphere...then the roof of mom's house...where it permeates two floors and strikes the loser in the head down there in the basement. Or maybe he's driving, taking mom's car to the store late one night to get her some Metamucil...and while taking his eyes off the road to leave a hateful comment on someone's story about their dog who was rescued from a hole in a frozen lake...he manages to creep into the "no man's land" area of a railroad crossing...and gets creamed by an oncoming train. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "<a href="https://pokermonkeytalk.blogspot.com/2019/07/and-after-day-one10-monkeys-advance.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AND AFTER DAY ONE...10 MONKEYS ADVANCE!!!!!</a>":<br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><i>"Wow what a fair-weather writer. All your hype and BS about your great 'squad' which real players know is your annual scam, and you don't have the decency to report on their (at least for those in the know) demise. Do yourself a favor and shut it down scam boy."</i></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So here is Mr Asshole's latest comment...and yes, I know, just like the mass killer on TV who loves to see his name and picture bandied about, so that he can further bask in the glory of his 15 minutes of fame...I realize that I shouldn't give him the satisfaction of calling attention to his stupid comment, that he isn't even man enough to sign his name to. Cowards are my favorite of all douchebags...THAT I AM confident enough to declare. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So...lets analyze this delightful human being's (albeit barely) comment, shall we? Fair-weather writer. I imagine that infers that I prefer to write when I have something positive to write about. Of that, I am guilty. Go figure! All the "hype and BS about my great squad?" Hype? Yes. BS? I object! I was very excited about our team of 10 players...several of whom had cashed for my team in the past. I don't know what BS our friend is talking about. But here is where it gets good. "Which real players know is your annual scam!" First off...what is the difference between a "real" player and a "pretend" player? And the categorization of what I do being an "annual scam?" This same idiot has been chastising me for years, suggesting that I was ripping off my old backer...for no other reason than I had a staking deal that was better than most. See...it's funny, in a not-so-funny way, how poker players are some of the most violently jealous people you will ever encounter. God forbid...you manage to have a network of people you've spent decades developing, one that is more than happy to participate in just about ANYTHING you happen to put together. And yet!!!?? For that person WITHOUT a network like yours? If they are able to successfully do something they can only DREAM about doing? They must certainly be doing something illegal, or unethical at BEST...because no way could it ever be possible to just simply be BETTER at fundraising then your sorry ass! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>See...people like this? With this kind of mentality? And acerbic tone and attitude? They are what have made playing this game less and less enjoyable. When I have to read this kind of crap? Yeah, I know its in the minority of how people think. However...it rankles me to know there is even ONE person out there who thinks this way. This "annual scam" that I started six years ago? Collectively, I have LOST about...hold on, let me get out my calculator here...$12,000 or more doing this annual scam. See...I don't take a nickel for my efforts. Not one. If I sell 50 shares for $200...that sends a player. I sold 500 shares this summer. That sent 10 players. And the players first t-shirts and hat? I pay for THOSE as well. The first year...I personally purchased 10 shares for $2000. That had been the first year where no one made the money of the four we sent. Every year since then...I have purchased 15 shares for $3000. This year...despite having all ten make it out of day one...and had 4 going in day three...was the second time we failed to make the money. The four years in between, we managed to win enough to get about half of our investments back. So yeah...given all the t-shirts, hats and hoodies that I provided to the players at my own expense, and the investments I made myself...I am stuck over $12,000. But I'm a scammer. Right. Got it. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"You don't have the decency to report on their demise." Right, right. Because everyone likes to hear about failure, huh? Maybe just YOU...Mr. Anonymous...because again, anything in MY poker world that equals failure, is a win for YOU...right? Sad...but oh so true. So its really not that your upset that I'm not informing anyone else, really...you just need your dose of Monkey Failure to give you a reason to get out of bed everyday...isn't that more like it? Because like I said at the beginning of this post...the people who actually participated in the team this summer? They all know/knew the outcome. And frankly? I don't OWE it to anyone to post updates on my own personal blog. No one pays me to blog. Additionally? I have this thing called "a life" (you should look into finding one) that shockingly to some, keeps me incredibly busy. And sometimes..it just takes me a lot longer to get to some of the things on my "to do list" than I would like. That (again) is called "life" something I'm fairly certain you don't possess. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"Do yourself a favor and shut it down, scam boy." Tell you what...YOU shut yourself down first...and maybe I will take you up on your wish. But I want photos as proof. Like maybe the business end of a wood chipper. That would be sweet. See, here's the thing...I nearly DID shut it down last summer. Mainly because I was exhausted, from having just bought my wife and kid a beautiful new home in the country on 5 acres...with a pond in the back, and endless trees as far as the eye can see. I had projects going on left and right, and contractors running every which way. I hadn't played much poker, nor followed much poker, and my mind was anywhere else other than poker. But as the WSOP kept getting closer and closer...I started getting more and more people emailing me, texting me, hitting me up on Facebook...about the team. About not just having a chance to play on the team...but to invest. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>People have come to really look forward to this team I started in 2014. It has really kind of taken on a "Make a Wish Foundation for Poker Players," as well as poker investors. People who love to have some skin in the game...but otherwise wouldn't have a chance to...are able to jump on my self-created bandwagon, and follow the action as the team comes together all throughout May, June and the first week of July when sales are the most brisk as we race to fill out the roster. Then they sit back...and watch the countless updates on the Facebook page...leaving one encouraging comment after another. It's an army that is about 250-300 strong...and throughout that experience, friendships are born. The players...who are nearly always incredibly appreciative of the experience, and usually really good about conveying that to the investors, often times line themselves up for future staking opportunities as a result of having played on my team, and developing relationships with some of the investors. So from that standpoint, I've helped to launch the careers of some players who didn't previously have a network to draw from. There are a handful of players who came to me looking for that "big break" that I couldn't be prouder of. One of them is Joshua Reichard...who was one of the first members of the team. He has since gone on to win what I think now is 10 or 11 circuit rings, as well as a bunch of other tournaments. Jason Young, a former WSOP bracelet winner who had essentially hit rock bottom? I gave him a shot last summer...he fell short, but the exposure led to him getting staked in some tournaments in South Florida this past winter...and he managed to make three huge scores, including winning the Main Event at Hard Rock for a quarter million bucks. In the course of about 6 weeks...he snapped off about $400k in winnings. And now, his life has done a total 180. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So to those (like this jerk) who think this is somehow a money-making scheme of mine? Pffft....think again! If they don't make money...I don't make money. Add to that the other players I bought pieces of this summer...and it was a ROUGH summer for me. But there were a few highlights that made my one week in Vegas semi-enjoyable. I might write a blog after this one...where I get a little more into my trip out there, as well as a follow up to my amazing week in Scotland, and London, with some pictures. It's been a pretty cool summer, for the most part. And coming up...in September, I'm heading up to Milwaukee to stay with my mom and sister while I visit an eye specialist who my mom referred me to, and who I met with a couple months ago when we visited them. I suffered a detached retina last November...and one of the side affects, that I was quoted a 15% chance of getting (so in my case that usually means 98.5%) was a cataract, which, of course...I got! So my left eye has been totally screwy now for close to a year. Well...he is going to fix that (hopefully-knock on wood) on Sept 11th (I know, kind of a creepy date, but he only operates on Wednesdays!) and then after a couple days of R&R...I'm going to play the WSOP Circuit event at Potawatomi casino for the first time. They tend to get pretty good turnouts there...so I'm somewhat looking forward to it. Plus I'm sure I will probably end up putting my mom and sister in some events as well. So it will be a family affair on the felt! I'm somewhat disappointed in that the Gulf Coast Poker championship at the Beau Rivage is going on that same time period. I will be able to play the first big tourney that weekend, but that's it, as I will be flying up to Milwaukee that Tuesday. So that's a bummer. And aside from that event...who knows? </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I haven't been down to St Thomas to check in on my bar all year...so I would like to get down there to at least "check in" on the place. Also...we are apparently about to open a restaurant down there too. So it might be nice, if I'm going to be involved in THAT...to at least go down and do some research. Always nice to know where your money is going BEFORE it goes there. I have a lot of previous experience in the fine-dining industry...and have always kind of wanted to have my own place that handles high-end dining guests. It's been about 20-25 years...but while in Atlanta primarily, and a little bit in New York, I worked at some really nice places. To have a really nice place like that in the Virgin Islands would be amazing...but even moreso if I was able to be there and actually function as a hands-on owner. But alas, I'm the silent partner in all these ventures I'm involved with. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>A lot of people already know this, but for those who don't: I bought a tanning salon for the Squirrel, aka "my wife." I'd been trying to talk her into getting out of the Beau Rivage for about the past 5 years. She is someone who always needs to be doing SOMETHING....and I respect that about her. She's not one to sit around at home and collect dust. Well, she also liked working at the Beau because it's where all her friends are. I get that, too. So I proposed a bunch of different options. Hair salon!?? Nail salon? Clothing boutique? No! No! And No some more!!! Well, what then??? Turns out...this opportunity just kind of fell in her lap. A really nice lady, who ironically enough, had a teenage son who I had hired to do some yard work for me last year...was feeling like she needed to spend more time with her kids, and was ready to sell her salon that she's had for a lot of years. The price seemed fair, and she promised to help out with anything we needed. So Cheryl trained with her all June...learning all about the business, and the place, specifically. So before I left for Scotland...I went and got the cashiers check for her. And on the first of July...Squirrel became the owner of her own business...the Perfect Glow in D'Iberville. It's been a lot of fun watching her take on that responsibility. On top of that...Carley has really gotten into being a part of it. Squirrel lets her clean the beds...at 25 cents per bed. Granted...her little arms aren't long enough to reach all of the bed...so Cheryl has to go in behind her, sneakily (so as not to hurt Carley's feelings) and clean the bed after she has! But Carley really feels involved, and is (as she puts it) the "richest 6 year old in the world!!" She starts back to school here in a couple weeks...so we will have to cut back her hours significantly! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So yeah...Squirrel is FINALLY out of the casino business....after 20 years at the Beau. I'm so happy that she is out of there....it was killing her. And with all the chances, managerially, that MGM has been going through in the past 3 or 4 years...it had become a not-so-great company to work for. Now she is on her own...and her own boss. Again...I'm the "silent partner!" And I'm perfectly fine with that! As long as she is happy, and I think she is. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Finally got my taxes done! FOUR years in arrears. But now I'm dealing with the nightmare of the IRS and their bureaucratic idiocy. My accountant did all four years...and e-filed all of them. I owed for two years, and had a refund for two years. I send payment for the two years immediately. Then I get a check back...in the amount I sent. Huh? Turns out...the IRS is a really screwed up operation. They have like three posts. One that GETS payments. One that actively pursues payments. And one who tries to balance what's been paid and what's been collected. And they are not in sync! At all! And good luck if you try to actually CALL them! Ha! It's two hours...minimum...before you get anyone on the phone. I guess the moral of the story, in my case...do NOT get yourself backed up on your taxes! Especially four years! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Main Event is over. I sat in bed...much to the chagrin of Squirrel...watching it on my iPhone the other night. Yes, I was wearing my BOSE headphones...I'm not THAT rude! But any kind of light annoys her and keeps her from sleeping soundly. It was a pretty long battle heads up...and I can honestly say I thought they both played pretty well. There really weren't a lot of good hands being dealt. The biggest, I suppose, was the final hand...when Ensan picked up KK and Sammartino was unlucky enough to flop a flush draw and then turn a straight draw. That spelled his demise. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>It was another Final Table that lacked any star power...or poker notables. There were definitely some good players there. But also some newbies that just happen to run good for a week. The most notable one being that punk who decided it would make him infamous if he tanked on nearly EVERY hand. Kevin Maahs...who interestingly enough was photographed by one of my 10 players yesterday at the Rio...playing in a $100 daily tournament. Go figure...after winning 2.2m...he's playing in a $100 tourney? Either he REALLY loves poker THAT much....or he was playing the Main for about 2% of himself. Which...these days in poker...is very likely. At any rate...I hope we never have to see that idiot again. I really thought...after the first night of the final table, that we would see Garry Gates win. He seemed to be the best tourney player, had a solid background, and the most momentum. But he seemed to run into bad luck and a shortage of decent cards when they got down to 6.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The thing that stood out the most to me about the heads up action...was the rail. Say whatever you want about supporting your player. I just happen to think it's inappropriate to bring soccer-like antics to the poker tournament. The players are literally playing for millions of dollars, and with it already being a game of immense concentration...the decisions are magnified under those conditions. And to have a gaggle of mostly men yelling and screaming and singing stupid songs the whole time? It's just moronic. If I was a player...and at that final table...I would walk over and BEG my railbirds to please pretend that they are a tennis match, say, Wimbledon. Where decorum is not just expected, but demanded. I know you can't do anything about the other guy's rail...unless you and him both agree to go talk to our "birds" at the same time. I would 100% do that. Even as a spectator at home...it made it very hard to watch, with those idiots acting like a bunch of clowns. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I have another opinion about railbirds, and its one of the reasons I've always kind of hated having people sweat me whenever I've been at a big final table. Part of me feels like they are there because they somehow think their "support" for you should translate into a handout if they happen to win. Its just an awkward feeling. I know that I shy away from sweating people for that reason alone. I don't want them thinking I might be thinking that way. Not just that...but actually WATCHING poker...has got to be one of the most boring things in the history of mankind. Especially as a person who PLAYS the game. I can see where, if you didn't really play much...it might be entertaining. But for me? Ugh. Kill me. So...I'll just swoop by...wish you good luck...and be on my merry way!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But yeah...the WSOP really needs to do something about the hooligans that disrupt the play at the Final Table. It's out of line. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Is that enough of a report? Hater? Did you get enough to fill you in? 10 players. All made it out of Day 1. 6 went down in Day 2. We took 4 to Day 3...plus I had 10% of Barth. He was clicking along rather nicely with about 175k, among the leaders...and had "The Nightmare" happen to him. Him on the button with KK...the super-aggro Euro in the BB with AA. We all know how those go down. And with a rag flop...even if it hadn't gone in preflop....which it did....it would have gone in post flop anyway. Brutal cooler. So yeah...he went down....as did the other four. Jason Bond lasted the longest...and by virtue of that finish, will receive the automatic invite back next summer....that is, if my scammer ass decides to do the team again. :)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>MONKEY</b></span></div>
Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-26039980803674789962019-07-06T13:38:00.002-05:002019-07-06T13:40:21.440-05:00AND AFTER DAY ONE...10 MONKEYS ADVANCE!!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am SO happy, and SO proud this morning. I got back to my room last night about 10:30...frustrated by my own irritating day of tournament play. The cash list was way too long for my liking in the Encore poker room, and nothing else seemed appealing. So I just went back to my room...and quickly fell asleep. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh...before I go any further? If you are in the middle of an earthquake? Or any other natural disaster? Do us ALL a favor please? Limit your use of the phrase "Oh my God!!!!" to ONE (or less) use!??? Geeeeeee ZUZZZZZ! </span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And yeah...I sat through yesterday's 7.1, we were on break at Venetian in the 6pm $600 tourney...which I bricked TWICE in. I was talking to Carley on Facetime...when all of a sudden my chair started rocking. Whaaaaaa...then the table started kind of undulating...then the two huge chandeliers above me started to chatter and swing back and forth. I looked at the dealer, and we both said "Whoa...another earthquake." Some yelling and screaming ensued....then...things returned to normal. No big deal. My question is this: Will "THE BIG ONE" hit before I leave Vegas? Will I get to see the Pacific Ocean from my 16th floor view from the Encore hotel?</span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So what am I so proud about? Well duh....SIX of our players bagged in Day 1b...and the other FOUR went yesterday. How did they do? THEY ALL BAGGED. And all of them bagged with decent stacks! Yay! And Barth...my buddy/business partner who I bought 10% of...also bagged a healthy stack. So...heading into day 2...I'm loving life. Now...if I could just get some luck going myself. </span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yesterday was another sad tale in a long, long line of poker disappointments. Went to play the Wynn 1-day tourney...that eventually had $82k up top. I was gliding through the first 6 or 7 levels. Never got below starting stack. Got my starting stack of 20k up to over 60k...then level 8 arrived. 30 minutes later, I was in my room...kicking the furniture. A cacophony of disasters, most of which involved idiots making idiot plays and being rewarded by gratuitous decks, spelled my doom. 62k in chips. FIVE disastrous hands...and BOOM. OUT! My last two hands...both jacks. The first....guy who looked like an Italian hobo...not the type from NY/NJ but actually Italy...was fond of playing as many hands (great, good, OR shitty, didn't matter) as possible, from ANY position...raised to 2200 in early position (blinds 500/1000) and when it got to me...knowing how much he ALSO hated to fold to a re-raise...I raised to 6800 with my jacks. </span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He don't give a shit! Just call him Italian Honey Badger. He comes along. Lovely. Flop comes 9-high. Good. I should be okay. I analyze his stack as he checks...see that he has about 15k...and decide to bet a shade over half his stack...to commit him to either a fold or an all in. He goes all in. Whatever. I call. He turns over...ready for this.....KING-QUEEN. Yup. The board reads....9-7-4. Rainbow. Did he think I was going to fold? Does he think? Does he HAVE a brain? At any rate....I call. I see his hand. I clench my butt cheeks together in anticipation of the next two cards....praying this moron doesn't get rewarded. He GETS rewarded. Fuck ME. Queen on the turn. Unreal. Few hands later...I pick up JJ again. Sigh.</span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here we go again. Now at 600-1200...I raise to 3500. The big doofus in the big blind hems and haws...and finally calls my raise. The flop brings 8-8-6. Should be a pretty good flop for me, yeah? He checks...I bet a shade over HALF of my remaining stack...in a message to someone with an IQ higher than a lampshade tells you, "Oh...he's all in but not OFFICIALLY all in," right? Well...Captain Cavenman...in his bad times tank top, fat body covered in tattoos...goes into this ridiculous Bollywood (wasn't good enough to be labeled 'Hollywood') routine of what to do. When he finally acts...he throws in 4 red chips...representing 20k. Putting me all in. Yeah! Okay! I call! What did you luck into, A8? Nope. Not even that good. 10-8 off. Perfect. "Great little act there man...did you THINK I was going to fold after making that bet?" I didn't hit a jack. And I was done at The Wynn after 6 hours of play. After just 30 minutes earlier having visions of grandeur. That's poker for ya!!!! Always a kick in the nuts it seems. So glad I don't rely on poker for my living anymore. It will literally drive you insane. And there is no one to turn to for feeling better. No one really cares. They might act like it...but they really, truly don't. So..remember that...when you take YOUR next horrible beat. Just go sit at a slot machine...and mumble obscenities to yourself. The people around you will probably think your crazy...but fuck them. </span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm going back over to the Venetian today for some dumb reason...to play the last flight of their $1m guarantee...$1100 buy in. Maybe I can dodge the dumbasses for just one day. Probably not. But I will try. If I should bust out of THAT one? Who knows? Let it be a mystery. </span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: blue;">TEAM DINNER at CARMINES!!!!</span></b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But lets just focus on THE TEN SURVIVING MINIONS!! We got a REAL shot this year. I love this squad. I love our chances for a deep run! 6 go today, and the other 4 go tomorrow. </span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">MONK</span></b></span></div>
Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-835783670829441952019-07-05T13:40:00.000-05:002019-07-06T13:04:43.982-05:00TEN STRONG GOING IN VEGAS!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Happy Friday!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I was planning on writing a LONG, and way past due....blog this morning...but alas, things started popping up all over the place...and now I'm looking at 30 minutes before going down the elevator here at the Encore...and walking about 50 yards to register for today's $1100 ($250k Guarantee) tournament being held in the Encore side of Wynn. I wrestled with a few tourneys but this one seemed to be the winner. It's my first of the summer. My first cash session of this trip was last night after I left Frank Kasella's annual Fourth of July party out at his house...which was a literal who's who of the poker world. In a little under two hours I managed to snag a nice little profit of $1525 in a PLO Omaha game. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I have so much to share...details (and cool photos) of my trip to Scotland, and then London...but just no time right now. And the "March to Ten" has been filled with drama and stress and many late nights of accounting and emailing! But we finally got there....late yesterday afternoon! TEN really solid players going in the WSOP Main Event! Yesterday was flight B...and we had SIX of our players going. ALL SIX of them BAGGED CHIPS! Only one of them finished above the starting stack of 60k...Don Dove...with a little over 70k. Jason Bond was on FIRE early...and was at around 175k...then took a couple of brutal beats to get his stack whacked around. But he still bagged a healthy stack. Bottom line...the structure is SO good, and SO long...that anyone that HAS chips....has plenty of time to scratch back into the mix. </b></span><br />
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<strong>2019 TEAM MONKEY PLAYERS</strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">Kristen Deardorff - bagged 24,200</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">Jason Bond- bagged 48,700</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">Mike "Carwash" Schneider</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">Jerry Giroir - bagged 31,800</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">Easton Oreman</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">Don Dove - bagged 70,200</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">Jacqueline Britton- bagged 14,300</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">Chris Canan</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">David Chocheles- bagged 15,800</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">Wild Bill Phillips</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Today...in about 30 minutes...our last four players will hit the felt and start on their jouney to hopefully get us 10 players advancing to DAY TWO! Nothing would make me prouder...and more excited!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I have a Private Facebook page for the players, investors, and then family and friends...and they all post encouragement there, as well as player chip updates and any stories they wish to share. It's pretty amazing...as we have 178 unique investors this year! Really a TEAM effort!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I gotta go grab a shower!!!! Have a great day...wherever you are! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>MONK</b></span><br />
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Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-6989720261959583962019-06-25T21:47:00.004-05:002019-06-25T21:47:47.739-05:00From Scotland to Vegas....LETS GO!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hi!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Here I am. Sitting in a room of 5 super Alpha males, in Edinburgh, Scotland...after a whole day of travel, in which Delta managed to do the unthinkable, and NOT deliver my golf clubs while en route to a pre-planned (6 months in advance) $10,000 poker trip to the place where golf was invented. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The trip started with me logging in on Sunday night, late, to check in for my 2pm flight out of Biloxi. After dicking around and getting a lot of error messages, I realized my damn passport was EXPIRED! Holy fuck! Nov 18, 2018! Shit!!! So what did I do? Duh! Woke up at 6am, drove like a maniac in my new BMW to the New Orleans passport office...and got my passport renewed for another 10 years. This same damn thing happened a decade ago when I was slated to go to the Bahamas for a WPT Boot Camp. This time...it actually went smoother, and faster. Got back, got packed, and despite needing to tip the ticketing agent $50 to make sure my bags made it on...and then arguing with (yet) another petty Gulfport cop over the nuances over the word "parking" vs. "loading" and THEN...getting "randomly selected" for a full body search as they were holding the flight for me....I did make it on the plane. Incredibly. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Got to Atlanta, no problem. Killed time in the Delta Sky Club. Boarded for Boston. Oh no. Rain. Hard rain. And wind. Closed the airport. NO! This isn't happening! Granted...I already had a tight window of only 30-35 minutes for changing over to my Scotland flight once we landed in Boston. But now...this storm was really fucking with the program. We finally got airboard...and after three attempts to get it right...our CAPTAIN...who self-deprecatingly mocked his inability to figure out times and math...announced that we would be arriving at 9:36 for a flight that was scheduled for 9:46. Yikes. Turns out...they had 13 people on our plane flying to Edinburgh, so they held our flight. Upon de-planing..coming through the jetway...a couple comes up behind me...running...arms flailing..."excuse us...excuse us!!!!!" Me: "Yeah...hey....we're going the same place you are, honey." HER: "Whatever! I don't care! Good luck making your flight!!!" Yeah okay...we made it. Not an issue. We are in 1st class. She and her dork boyfriend are in (literally) the last row of the plane. I intentionally went in search of them when I needed to go to the bathroom. Ah! Found them! She smirked...knowing I had gottten the best of them! Get back to my seat...and wonder, "hmmmm....I sure hope my bags made it on the flight."</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>After two movies...one called "Destroyer" with Nicole Kidman...who in my opinion turned in one of her finest performances ever...and the other "Last Man" which caught a lot of heat because they didn't feature the American flag or something...both really good movies. So...I slept NOT AT ALL. Get to Edinburg. We all get our bags. All but me and my golf clubs. A $10,000 golf trip, planned 6 months in advance...on a day where everything had so far, been going perfect...and NO fucking clubs. Unreal. But I'm not dwelling on it. We have an amazingly beautiful 6-bedroom house just outside of St Andrews....with a hot tub outside, and a practice range with putting green . Couldn't ask for a better hook up! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Earlier today, I found out we "won" the lottery where every day they hold a drawing for all these people doing golf junkets, to win a chance to play the Old St Andrews course. We are promised 5 courses to play on during our 5 days here. But to get on the Old Course is the Crown Jewel of golf! And we found out today that 3 of our 6 golfers...me, Barth (my best friend and business partner) and Barth's dad....have won the right to play on Thursday at 4:20. Just need my clubs to show up now!!! And the other 3 in our group? I really hope they get picked too. But if my clubs don't show up...I will give one of them my spot.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hi! Did you come here looking for poker news? Great! We are now just...what? A week....a week, from the start of the Main Event!!?? Let me go check my spreadsheet.....hold on. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>347! Wow! That is nearly (3 shares shy) enough to fund the buy ins for SEVEN players in this year's $10,000 Main Event! The past two years, as most of you know, we have had 8 players in the thing. My goal this year...was to hit 9 or 10. I mean 9 in 2019 would be kind of cool. But I feel like if we can get 10 in the mix....we are going to make it happen! I've named 5 players so far...which we achieved with 250 shares sold. But now...wow...look! I need to come up with TWO more players! Then start planning for the next one! Oh...we WILL get 8...I promise you....but can we make it to 9 or 10???? That....is the question. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Alright Alright....Curious George....you wanna know who NUMBER 6 is? Fine! Here ya go! And the main reason I'm doing this is because I'm sitting here with a bunch of my homies from St Thomas...who just (between two of them) drank a BOTTLE of Jagermeister while I've had "only" 7 Smirnoff and cranberries. Plus is just needs to be taken care of. Confession here...I already gave him the news a few nights ago. I even asked for feedback about this guy on the Investment Group's Private page on Facebook...and I won't lie...I got a LOT of feedback...most of it great. Some of it...meh, nothing too bad. Rumor is...he doesn't always wash his hands after taking a piss. And he only tips $1 for water instead of $2 like I do. Both of those, do not add up to being deal killers.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AND SO.....here......is your #6 Member of Monkey's 2019 WSOP GRINDERS! (aka Minions) GO ahead and look him up yourself, for stats and all that. He applied way back...months ago...and I've been following him and doing a bit of research along the way. I think he's the real deal. And I think he has the tools to go deep! So...without further adieu....please welcome to the squad....</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DON DOVE!!!! Or....Double D! I like that! Cuz...well....(never mind)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>SO...check out this kick ass roster of Poker Rock Stars we have assembled so far....</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Michael "Carwash" Schneider</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kristen Deardorff</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Jerry Giroir</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Jason Bond</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Easton Oreman</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>and now....</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Don Dove!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>SIX TOTAL. and a very, very deep bench of players vying for the coveted #7, #8, #9 and #10 spots! No shortage of awesome candidates!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>But we are running out of time! I'm here in Scotland (then London for the Yankees vs Red Sox game) for the week...then home for ONE day to do laundry and cut the grass...then out to Vegas to my players all set up! I will sell shares ($200 per share) up to the last minute. Official CUTOFF for selling shares? July 3rd...NOON! Western time. Because my plane lands in Vegas around that time. I had my branch manager, and friend, Lorraine....from my Wells Fargo branch, arrange to have me be able to walk into the branch in Vegas...ask for an Amanda...and get the money I need to fun our players this summer...and NOT have to mule/backpack/ferry the cash to Vegas as I've done the past 5 years. That....pleases me. And comforts me...and probably a few of our investors. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You want to buy a piece of this team? Like I said...shares are $200. I make ZERO off this endeavor. No fees. No commissions. None of that. I'm also a share holder. Currently I've committed to 15 shares. IF they don't win? I don't win. So yeah...I'm all in...every year...on this team! The investors hold a 65-35 edge. And if a player cashes...they get 35% of what they WIN....so the investors get the 10k investment back. There is nothing quite as inspiring and encouraging as a player...than to have 150-200 people who have invested in you...and have the ability to communicate with you through the private Faceboook page...to boost you up emotionally. The people who have been a part of this team the past 5 years...almost ALWAYS come back! Only in the first year (2014) did we NOT have a player make the money. Oh...they came close...but it was a bummer. Didn't keep me from firing it back up in 2015...and ever since...we've had one or more make the money every year! Have we made money yet? I'm not gonna lie, or sugar coat it, or exaggerate it....we haven't. We just about made back 50% every year. Which...most of the investors have agreed, is WORTH the sweat that is involved! But its coming, I know it is. Our YEAR...is coming. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Now...some may be wanting to know, "Did they reinstate you, MOnkey?" After waiting, tirelessly, for 75 days...I finally got a letter from Hammond...and NO...they did NOT reinstate me. Yes...of course, I was extremely disappointed. But I have nothing to say about it. Why bother. Anyone that knows me, or the situation... knows everything that needs to be know about it. And me. And I have nothing to gain (or lose) by saying anything about their response. And...have I heard that El Dorado (whoever THAT is, right???) has agreed to purchase...or merge (terms vary depending on who you ask) with Caesar's...and that may or may NOT affect my status as a player. I don't care. I really don't. I will go to Vegas....get my players all set up and ready to go...and enjoy my week at Encore! Playing some cash game. Maybe some tourneys at Wynn and Venetian. And basically...just crossing my collective fingers and hoping my players get deep! It should be a really fun and exciting three weeks of poker!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Do you want to buy a share? EMAIL ME....at ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com and I will get you taken care of. Lets see if we can't go from 347 shares sold...to 500 shares sold!!!! Lets send 10 to the Desert!!!!! As for me? I'm going to bed! I'm shot!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MONK</b></span><br />
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Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-3860784802949147652019-05-11T02:41:00.001-05:002019-05-11T02:41:42.439-05:00HELLO MAY...HERE COMES WSOP! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.gulfcoastpoker.net</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's insane how fast this year is flying by. Not only have I continued to be a slug when it comes to posting blog entries in this poker "diary" of mine, but when I sat down this morning to write in my journal to my daughter Carley, who just turned 7 yesterday, I noticed I haven't written in there either, in a long time. 11 months to be exact. And that's disappointing. I have SO much to share with Carley...or rather, FUTURE Carley...and every day, week, month that I don't write to her, is just more things I neglect to share with her. And it's awfully hard to cram a whole year's worth of stuff into one single entry.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the poker front...I haven't been playing a whole lot. Actually, I've been super busy with projects around the house. Just put the finishing touches on my "super awesome kickass shed!" What started out as a pretty simple thing, added one thing after another as the project progressed. Windows. A loft. A carpeted loft! Added power. Added lights and ceiling fan. Then added an A/C unit...in the wall...just as they were about to brick over the only place I could put one. After having insulated the walls and ceiling, I kept having these mental images of this perfect shed...that was BOILING hot. Boom. AC added. She's a beaut! Carley got her playhouse rebuilt...as the first-run attempt lacked any kind of insulation or wrapping of the walls, so we had mold growing all over the walls. Nasty. I'd been promising Carley a garden for over a year...so I got THAT done...then, a few weeks ago, on Good Friday, her and I were out planting all of the seeds when she went into the loft to get something. Suddenly I heard her screaming in agony.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I went into the shed, there she was...on the floor, having fallen off the ladder, breaking her ankle. So sadly, we had to cancel her big birthday party the next weekend...which was going to be a pool party with a rented bounce house. She was devastated. And when we went to get her cast...she was terrified. But once she got it on there...in her favorite color (pink) she started getting excited about all her friends signing it.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the last time I played was at the Beau Rivage...for their monthly $50k Guaranteed. The previous month, I made it to the Final Table...but couldn't improve with AK vs QQ and busted out 9th for a meager payout. Well last months, I only fired once...on Friday, since I had a lot of stuff I wanted to get done on Saturday. It was paying 12 spots I think...and I busted out 19th. Don't even remember how. Just remember being annoyed at having played all day only to bust so close to cashing. Oh well. My mother is in town visiting, her first trip down since we moved into our new house...and she's having a great time, and loves our new place. She's a bit of a poker enthusiast...and I might take her to play the monthly 50k next weekend if she is still here.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UPDATE! </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Took a little break from writing this post. I did, in fact, take my mom to play the 50K last weekend. She busted in Level 4. Me, I busted 1 from the money in the Friday flight. It sucked. But with Saturday calling for rain, and the airshow headed for cancellation, I wandered back to the Beau for Flight B...and somehow managed to ride a roller coaster all day, including getting ONE-OUTED three times in ONE freaking day! No BS! First one, had a guy all in with his short'ish stack...with Q3. Offsuit. Me...AQ suited. Guy next to me folded 33. So...yeah, he had one out. No sweat. River 3. Later on a flopped a set of 10's versus Jacks...and despite someone folding a jack...he turned the last jack in the deck. Sweet! And I'll be damned, but I forgot the third one now.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But like I said...it was a ridiculous up and down day. One of those where you build a decent stack...then get some stupid beat, and get cut in half, or worse. Then you scrape and battle your way back...get another decent stack...only to take another punch in the face for a bunch of your stack. This time...near the money....like, TWO I think...I get freaking QQ...which is almost ALWAYS a sign that my tournament is about to end. And had I played them like 95% of you would have...I would have been out...again...two from the money. Two days in a row. But this guy simply raised in early position...and knowing my history with QQ, and being SO close to at least getting my money back, I flatted. The flop comes K-10-x. He checks. Hmmm...weird. Feels like I have to be good. I bet about 3/4th of the pot. He calls. Hmmm. That's odd. The turn...I don't even remember. Something small. He checks AGAIN. Now I'm a little nervous, so I check back. The river was another nothing card...and now I'm putting him on MAYBE A-10. He checks yet again. And I bet what I THINK is a value bet. He once again, JUST CALLS. I am expecting to drag a much needed pot to put me up to around 100k. Then he turns over AA...and I'm dumbfounded. Huh? Aces??? I mean..in retrospect...with the king out there...he played it perfectly, and got as much as possible from me. If he even bets the flop, I'm gone. But instead I donked off about 70% of my stack. SHIT! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I lucked out...a shorter stack than me goes all in for 19k...and me with my 28k at 800/1600 and in late position...didn't find FOLDING to be much of an option, so I shoved. He turns over A9...which, yeah...is great...finding out your ahead. But when you've sat there all weekend losing when you're ahead on almost every all-in situation, only to lose...there is NEVER really a feeling of comfort in those spots. Well, he didn't hit a nine, or any other bizarre combinations that would have led to me losing. He was out...we were one away, and I now had a workable stack.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made the money, then quickly lost three players, and I bagged a small but "workable" stack that I felt confident I could turn into a good stack the next morning. I went home, got very little sleep...and returned at 10am with 17 other players. And...ya ready for this shit?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sit down...I get dealt 7-7...and say something like, "Really, first hand? Well...okay...lets go." And at 1500-3000 with 48k, I raise to 8000. The SB calls. All others fold. I flop TOP SET!!!! And all I'm thinking about is how to get this guy to give me full value. He checks the flop. I bet another 8k. He snap calls. Hmmm. Turn completes a possible flush AND a straight...yuck. He checks. I am not going to bet so that I have to fold if he shoves. Then again...I would have had to call anyway, and pray I pair the board on the river. Safer though to check and hope to pair the board and get paid off. River is a blank. Dammit. He makes a perfect value bet of 10k. Impossible for me to fold there. Fairly certain he's got something...but I'd be sick if I folded and he showed something lame. I call. Oh. Nut flush? That's it. Lovely. I'm now sitting on a paltry stack. And in the SB, I complete with FOUR callers. I flop bottom pair with an ace and stick the rest in there. Well this time he has top pair...and it holds, and I'm the first one out...17th. For a whopping $940. Out in 5 minutes. Wishing I'd have gotten pulled over for speeding in my new car, might have saved me!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So....wow! It's already May. And with May comes the WSOP event in New Orleans...which I haven't played now in quite a few years. And I believe, if I'm not mistaken...that it's the last circuit event before everyone high-tails it out to Vegas for the 7 weeks of WSOP in the desert, which culminates with the $10,000 Main Event where my team of Grinders will assemble for the 6th consecutive year in my version of poker's Make-A-Wish-Foundation pet project! We haven't had a HUGE score from any of our players yet...but we've had a lot of players cash, and a few go relatively deep before getting derailed by the typical crappy luck that happens so often (way too often!!!) in the game of Texas Hold 'Em. But the way I see it, we are destined to eventually have our day in the sun. We keep sending solid players out there...and they keep making great runs...it's just a matter of time.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last summer</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...I was horrendously slow to pull the trigger on the annual festivities, and I nearly bailed on the whole thing. But suddenly, at the 11th hour, I got a burst of motivation, and with the help of some extremely amazing people, made it happen. Well, I was so encouraged by last summer's efforts, and the great feedback I got from so many investors and players that I vowed to get things kickstarted in PLENTY of time this summer. And I have. I have already sold 47 shares towards this summer's team...and I haven't even sent out an email yet to all of last year's investors, nor written a blog post here to signal the start of things. SO that is what this will serve as. The </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OFFICIAL KICK OFF POST!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some know that I have a pretty firm policy of the previous year's highest finisher getting an automatic invitation to return to the squad if he or she so desires. I mean...I can understand why it might not be an automatic for them. Do you play for 100% of yourself, and put up (or raise) your own $10,000? Or do you play for just 35%, yet not have to come up with ANYTHING...and have the added excitement of having anywhere from 100-200 people on your bandwagon rooting for you? Definitely two things to mull over!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I get into the nuts and bolts of this summer's upcoming squad, I need to give a shameless plug to a couple of really good people, not just in the poker world...but just in life in general. I've known them for over a decade, and met them when they were working as a dealer and a floor person. They started up a poker club a few months ago and asked me if I would give them a little kick start, a shout out, on my </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Private Minions Group Page on Facebook</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I was only too happy to oblige, and they have been doing moderately well with it. I don't know how many of you were around when I had my own poker club going on the Pokerstars site back about 7 or 8 years ago. It was a pretty amazing little thing we had going for awhile. But it was a TON of work, on the accounting end of things...for ME! And when it came to end, courtesy of some asshole ratting us out to Pokerstars...I never did know for SURE who the culprit was, though I did have my suspicions, and am fairly sure I was right. But when it did come to an end...I noticed I sure had a lot more time available to focus on other things. SO, whoever that fucknut was? Thanks! You did me a favor! Since that endeavor ended, I've been only TOO happy to endorse other people who have wanted to get into doing it themselves. Better them than me!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, Nikki and Brandon Moore have started this </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poker club named Angry Aces.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9I_pyQy2Lw/XNTZTMOFOVI/AAAAAAAAD24/sU3J-yak6IUgJN2-3Fz2eqrr1OhTM3WTgCLcBGAs/s1600/53830234_10216948937809424_4590748336327229440_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="960" height="167" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9I_pyQy2Lw/XNTZTMOFOVI/AAAAAAAAD24/sU3J-yak6IUgJN2-3Fz2eqrr1OhTM3WTgCLcBGAs/s320/53830234_10216948937809424_4590748336327229440_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/AngryAces"><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/AngryAces</span></b></a><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Go to that link...and you will find them. OR...if you don't have Facebook, simply email them here: </span><span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: red; white-space: pre-wrap;">AngryAces@outlook.com</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is what I know. Right off the bat, they ran a freeroll, where the winner won shares of our team. They have tournaments, AND they run cash game tables. I haven't gotten in there and participated myself yet...but that's not due to anything having to do with them...I just don't play much online poker anymore...and with Carley, and all the other things I have going on...I just don't find the time. Today, however, I finally downloaded the app...yeah...APP! You don't play on your computer! Its phone-based, and offers an app for either iPhones or the other kind...what is that? Androids? It's a really quick download and set up too. And if you need help getting up and running, Brandon or Nikki are awesome at walking you through it. But it's a piece of cake, trust me. So...check out what they got going on! Tell 'em Monkey sent ya. I'm not sure if that will get you or me any special gifts, but at least they (and I!) will know that "word-of-mouth" is still alive and well!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I DID...finally...manage to FINALLY get my taxes done! For the past FOUR YEARS!!!! And I owe a BUTTTTTTT-load of money!!!! I think I'm about to pay for a new bridge somewhere! Or a good stretch of highway. Maybe even a portion of a certain Wall!!!! That's not going to be a fun check to write. But then again...at least I will have the comfort of knowing the IRS won't be coming after me now! I'm not exactly sure how I got so far behind. Probably because different business ventures kept popping up. Houses were being bought. Stocks were being bought and sold and bought again. Just a lot of confusing wrinkles in my finances...led to me doing a LOT of procrastinating!!! But it's all done now!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now that all that is done? It's JUST in time for our purchase of our NEXT business venture! I've been trying to get Squirrel to quit working at the Beau Rivage for years now. Not because of anything I have had against the Beau...but for her own good. That job, carrying that tray around, it takes a toll on her body. And money-wise, we haven't needed that job for quite some time now, but the health insurance is the ONE good thing that has kept her there. That and the fact she just feels a sense of comfort being there, and all her friends work there. But I've been telling her for four or five years..."Let me buy you something, ANYTHING....so you can own it, run it, make your own schedule, etc etc." But she refused, much to my chagrin. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, finally...after half-jokingly making comments back and forth with each other about buying her business, she approached me about the possibility of buying this gal's tanning salon in D'Iberville. I did a bunch of due diligence on it, talked to my tax accountant about it, then my personal lawyer and after mulling it over...we are going to pull the trigger on what I think will be a good investment. We are getting a really great price on it, the lady has a really solid clientele, the beds are all in really good condition, the rent on the building is low...and well, my wife is kind of a social butterfly, and I'm pretty sure all her girlfriends will give her their business. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm really excited for her, and think she's going to do great. She's really nervous about it...which is understandable. I mean, she's been at the Beau since they opened...that's a long time (20 years!!!!). Anyone would be nervous. But I'm pretty confident that once she gets up and going and learns everything she needs to know about it, she will run it really well. I'm just excited because now we can be free to take vacations whenever we want to...and not just when she has vacation days, or the right combination of days off. Basically...FREEDOM! Now, my biggest headache is finding Health Insurance for our family of three. That is literally my biggest obstacle in all of this. I won't reveal the name of the place...or offer any special discounts or promos...until we actually close on the business! We won't be renaming the place....nothing like "The Sunny Squirrel" or anything...we're going to keep the existing name.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay...so...let's get into the reason you probably clicked on this blog in the first place! </span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MONKEY'S 2019 WSOP GRINDERS! AKA...Monkey's Minions!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am going for an all-time high of TEN PLAYERS on this summer's squad. And...a little secret here...I may or may NOT be one of the team members! I have had a discussion with the person who holds the key to my basic existence at the WSOP...and was encouraged to write a letter asking the security people at Hammond Horseshoe outside of Chicago, where I was unceremoniously 86'ed back in September of 2012 for what we will simply refer to as "mysterious and/or controversial circumstances." I have swallowed a little bit of pride, issued my regrets for some of my past behaviors at various poker events and venues...and am now sitting back waiting to see what happens. So...I could be back. And I might NOT be back. Either way...it will have no bearing whatsoever on my level of commitment to make sure we put together another exciting team of players chasing their poker dreams this summer. And even IF I DO get reinstated...I might just buy in with my own money and play for 100%. Only time, and circumstances, will tell. So stay tuned on THAT ONE.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for what this team is? Simple. I assemble a team of players who, for starters, I like! I will never have a player on my team who I personally dislike. Won't happen. Ever. Furthermore...even if I like them...they might not be universally liked...and for that reason, I try to avoid those people too. I try to get players who I am fairly confident a group of investors will simply love. Maybe they have a really good story, that makes them easy to root for. Maybe they just have a 9 to 5 grind of a job, and simply can't find the time, or disposable income, to go play the biggest tourney on the planet. Lets be honest...you're humans...you know what I mean...there are a lot of reasons that make up WHY you would want to get behind a player. And I try to encompass a little bit of everything into my teams.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are they any good at poker? Well shit...yeah, that's kind of important! I'm not just here trying to throw $10,000 into a wood chipper for fuck's sake! Of course they can play the game! And don't think for a second that I'm not looking for the types of players who can flourish in the long...I mean....LONNNNGGGGG structure of the WSOP Main Event. $50,000 starting chips. 2-hour levels!?? It's the ultimate marathon. Patience IS the ultimate virtue in this one. A first level disaster where you lose half your stack with a couple orbits from hell are NEVER a reason to panic! You come back with 25k! There is almost ALWAYS time to fight back from a bad start. It's just patience, and finding spots, and developing a good table image, and paying attention and learning about your table opponents. If you get lucky...and get a table that doesn't break early...you get a chance to learn EVERYTHING you could possibly want to know about these lunatics, maybe even what kind of soap they do or DON'T use, as well as toothpaste! It's a grind...a long long long grind!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I try to get players who will participate with the investment group...as well as the rest of the team. Sharing hands. Sharing stacks sizes on the group page. Sharing interesting, even funny things about other players. While I do NOT ever want my players being distracted from the task at hand...we also have well over 150 investors most years...that are itching to know what's going on with them. So posts on the break are usually encouraged. Some players are better at that than others. We just really like and appreciate any interaction between the players and the investor group. The one nice thing about the WSOP...once you get to Day 3...a lot of what you do...is covered by the WSOP.com. So updates start to become more shared universally. We also have some pretty incredible yearly investors who are amazing at posting information about our own players, their table mates, and other vital, relevant information. It truly has become a TEAM EFFORT.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are thinking about applying to be a player? Send me an email at </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com. </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tell me WHY I should think about selecting you to the team. Tell me about your accomplishments. Maybe even link your poker stats for me to look at. Got a personal story that might make you a one of those "special interest" stories? Share it. Whatever you think it will take to consider you for a spot!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IF you are wanting to be an investor? That's the simple part. Shares cost $200 per share. Once I sell 50 shares...that's $10,000....we have enough for a player. What do I take to do this endeavor? Nothing. Not a penny. I've lost money on it every year. I usually buy about 15 shares. In addition to that, I foot the cost for each players first hat and t-shirt, sometimes even their hoodies. And if the players don't break even and/or make a profit overall? Then I don't make anything either. Nor do any of the other investors. Over 5 years...our typical result has been about a 50% return on investment. So if you bought 10 shares last year? For $2000? You ended up getting about $1000 back, as we had two players cash for a total of about $58,000. Kristen Deardorff finished 928th for $15,920 and Michael "Carwash" Schneider put together a nice, deep run, finishing 226th for $42,980. I think we figured out that last year's 8 players would have needed to win about $120,000 for us to all break even. Anything above and beyond that...would have been "Let's Get Excited" time for the group!!!! And that is what we ALWAYS root for! The 7-day sweat is great...but we are looking for those last 3 or 4 days!!!! And it WILL happen...mark my word, I have NO doubt that it will happen!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the "cut" that everyone gets? That's also simple. The player is playing for 35% of their potential "winnings." What that means, is if they make the money, the $10k from the buy in comes off the top, obviously, since they didn't invest any of that. That 10k goes straight back to all the investors. The investors then get (also) 65% of the winnings. There are some pre-arranged agreements that are worked out with the players where tax withholding are involved. Basically, the more they win, the more they are allowed to withhold from their winnings in lieu of me having to a separate tax form for each and every investor. (pain in the ass!!!!) As for payouts? I am extremely good about getting all my investors paid out as soon as the run is over. I typically have everyone taken care of within two weeks of the last bust out. Bottom line? I don't like owing people money!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ANYBODY that wants to be an investor..</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.and buy a single share for $200 or more than one shares....just email me at </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and I will tell you all the various forms of payment I will accept for this deal.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay...so, as I think I mentioned earlier in this post...in the past years, I have kind of waited until about a month before the event to start naming players. I decided to alter that a little this year. The reason? I think when people KNOW who they are investing in...it might motivate them a little more to get their shares purchased. I know....I would love it if everyone just trusted me, and my opinion and "picking ability" and just went with it! But I know the reality of the situation! I'm not THAT stupid!!! Also, it's helpful to the players, so that they can be making their hotel and travel arrangements! And finally...a lot of the players have their own support network, and knowing that they will be on the team encourages a lot of them to also buy shares...so they will not just have a rooting interest in their own player...but also a piece of several OTHER team members! So in essence, its a total win/win! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One area where I would really like to see more participation, is from past team members. I took a chance on them, after all. Gave them a free (basically) shot at winning millions...a shot they wouldn't have otherwise been able to take. Since their time on the team, a number of them have gone on to have either modest or even MAJOR success in poker. So I'm quite certain that one or two...even ten...shares in the team...to basically show their appreciation for the experience, and stay a part of the team through their own investment in the squad, isn't going to place a financial burden on them. It's certainly not a contractual obligation or anything, and I don't even go seeking them out, pestering them to buy in. But...I don't know...I guess it's just kind of one of those things that irritates me a little bit. On the other hand...there are former members of the team who are there each and every year, buying in...and handing out support all along the way. Those guys and gals....are "The Real Deal" and kind of personify the spirit of the entire concept, and why I started it up in the first place!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So...without further adieu...I give you....this summer's first FOUR "WSOP GRINDERS!!!!!"</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TEAM MEMBER #1 MICHAEL "CARWASH" SCHNEIDER</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will be Mike's third time representing us. Last year, he made an exciting deep run, and ran into some bad luck right before the money started getting really good. Mike is one of the nicest guy's I've ever known in the game, and truly appreciates not just the opportunity, but the support he gets from all the other players and investors. He's been great about giving back feedback and keeping everyone in the loop. His run of success over the last decade on the tournament circuit is well-known by most who have toiled on the circuit themselves. He's about as well-liked and well-respected as any player I've ever known. Having him represent not just me, but all of us...is an absolute thrill! I know he will give us all another fantastic "sweat" this summer!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TEAM MEMBER #2 KRISTEN DEARDORFF</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kristen is a gal I've known for quite a long time. She used to live in our area, and was a friend of me and my wife. She works as some kind of technical wizard for freaking NASA...so when it comes to logical thought processing? She's kind of ahead of the curve!!! Despite the limited amount of tournament action that she is able to play, it seems like just about every time she DOES play...she makes the money. She had a fantastic run for our team last summer...and really represented the team well. Also, as a female, she just kind of naturally had a lot of fellow-female support! It's always good to try and get a little estrogen on the team!!! But Kristen is a lot more than just a pretty face in a Monkey's Grinder's t-shirt. She's a beast on the felt! I have 100% confidence in her coming back this summer and not just matching last summer's performance, but exceeding it. She's rock solid.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TEAM MEMBER #3 JERRY GIROIR</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who? Okay okay...to be fair, a lot of you probably know the rambunctious Prissy Giroir from Lafayette! That would be Jerry's flamboyant wife...who is also a poker addict! I've been playing with Jerry and Prissy for years...and they are about as frick and frack, as Yin and Yang, as Jeckyl and Hyde as they come!!! Jerry is the quiet one who lurks in the shadows...letting Prissy have the spotlight! So maybe some of you don't know who he is. But those of us who are regular Gulf Coast grinders...or who were at some point in the past 10-15 years, know exactly who Jerry is. He has a lot of great results on his resume. And he is PERFECT for the long structure of the Main Event...which was/is my main reason for naming him to the team this summer. Two years ago, in the Main Event, Jerry finished 207th for a shade over $46,000! And then this past fall here in Biloxi, Jerry won the well-attended $350 tournament at the Beau Rivage for a whopping $69,000. He doesn't play a whole lot...but he STILL has 42 reported cashes for almost a quarter million. Keep in mind...Cardplayer stopped reporting anything with a buy in under $400...and that used to be $300. So like me...he probably has about 30-50 cashes that never show up on Cardplayer. Take my word for it...Jerry is a MAJOR THREAT to go on a deep run this summer!!!! And on top of it all...he is one of the nicest gentlemen you'll ever want to meet. I'm pretty positive that he will give the whole team great feedback along the way!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I reveal the 4th player...I just want to let all of the players who have expressed a desire to be on this year's squad...you are ALL still in consideration! I have gotten a really good stack of applications this year...and the process on my end is always SUPER TOUGH. I am a big softee...and really hate when I can't give someone the good news they are hoping for. It's the most agonizing part of this whole deal....having to say "no" to people who I KNOW would most likely be great! But...I can only send as many people as the shares I am able to sell. I've actually had players in the past who applied, maybe once or twice...that after NOT being selected, literally teed off on me, telling me all the reasons why I sucked. One guy even owed me a balance for some pools he had played, and decided he was justified in not paying me for his pool debt. His rationale? That if I had put him on the team...that he'd have had a way to easily pay off his debt to me AFTER he cashed in the tournament. Yup! I get 'em all, folks. When you run a lot of sports pools like I do...you really get a chance to see some crazy shit, as well as some of society's bottom rung in the "class" department. Goes with the territory. On the other hand, 92% of the people who play in the pools I've been running for the last 20-25 years, are some of the finest people I've had the pleasure of interacting with...and it's because of them that I keep investing so much of my time putting on these pools every year. It was my pool players that allowed me to build up such a big network of people who I turn to for stuff like this very poker team. It also was critical in providing me an avenue to playing fully staked for the better part of a decade. I think that 8% pretty much exists in just about every walk of life. You just have to learn how NOT to let their bullshit consume you and your life. Sometimes, it's hard. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One other thing...is that Wild Bill Phillips...a FOUR-TIME member of this team...who is ALWAYS in consideration for a spot...is running satellites out of our bar in Metairie, Out of Bounds...and that will be an avenue that some of you will be able to use to hopefully win yourselves a seat into the big tourney! Bill does an amazing job of running those tournaments!!! Sometimes I even come snooping around to watch, scouting for talent!!!! So there's that!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I have to go keep my lunch date with Carley now...who we found out yesterday gets her cast off next week!!! I will finish this post when I return from lunch with her!!!)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay...I'm back! A little later than I had planned! Golden State went down to Houston tonight as a huge underdog without Kevin Durant, and knocked the Rockets and their flopping, flailing, foul-drawing with dramatics James Harden from the playoffs once again. And we celebrated my visiting brother's birthday. This is about the 4th or 5th year in a row that we've either had him down here for his birthday, or flew up to Seattle to celebrate it with him up there. He's my special older brother...who's Down's Syndrome just means he's happy most of the time..and lives without the stress that the rest of us do! He's also got a massive crush on his "seester" who doubles as MY WIFE!!! He clings to her like Saran Wrap! And she treats him like gold. Just further proof that I truly married the right woman! She's amazing. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now....drum roll please....I give you....our 4th team member....</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TEAM MEMBER #4 JASON BOND</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who is Jason Bond? Well..if you look up his Cardplayer stats...you aren't going to find a whole lot. And for good reason. I met Jason way back in 2006, and we hit it off immediately. He was a complete BEAST at the table...ballsy as hell, and impossible to put on a hand. And one of the first things I noticed about him...he was incredible as sniffing out bluffs. I was pretty new to the game, and he was the first player who I stood in virtual awe of. While he was winning an event out in Reno that I played in...I was smashing Sit N Go's left and right at that WPT event...back when the WPT event in Reno was a big deal. I crushed those SNG's so well at that event that I had two or three guys wanting to stake me the Main Event...which I THINK was either a 5k or 10k event. It was a pretty exciting two weeks out west! Through the years I've stayed in touch Jason and we've become pretty good buddies. He wasn't able to stay fully immersed in the poker scene because he had a family to support. One of his jobs took him to Williston, North Dakota where he worked in the oil industry. Well, my family happens to own a little over 700 acres up there that are under lease with an oil company. So Jason has come in handy a few times when I needed a little snooping around done on our plot. He has since moved to fabulous Bakersfield, California...where he tries to find opportunities to go play some poker. Most of what he plays is on the lower end of buy ins...so his results never show up anywhere. The thing about Jason? He truly LOVES poker. He also is truly appreciative of getting a shot to play "the BIG ONE." I know he will excel in that structure...and he will definitely respect his chip stack. He's promised a deep run...but I wish players wouldn't do that...because they just put pressure on themselves. I just want our guys and gals to go....enjoy the experience, and play the game that caused me to pick them in the first place. Don't change anything. Don't fell like you have to play SUPER tight just so you don't run the risk of an early exit and the shame that might come from all the investors. Pffft...that's nonsense. Nearly ALL the investors also play poker...and understand the game...the ups, the downs, the suckouts, the bad beats, etc etc. JUST PLAY YOUR GAME! And enjoy the ride! The rest will take care of itself!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's it! Your FIRST FOUR PLAYERS on this Summer's squad. Who is "on deck" or "in the hole?" Well...I'm not quite ready to reveal that just yet. To be honest...I have about 3 or 4 total newbies I'm deeply considering...and I also have about 3 or 4 former team members who are on my short list. And since I don't think I will be able to make 12 team members happen...that means someone is going to be disappointed. But there will also be about 5 or 6 people who are going to be REALLY excited too! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now...its time for me to email out the announcement to all of my past investors...and get the ball rolling on selling shares! I fully expect that by Monday, I will most likely have ALL FOUR of these players funded...and be working towards Team Member #5 and beyond. Yup...this is going to be a fun month. And while a lot of you will be over in New Orleans...playing in that circuit event that just got started over there yesterday...I will be here, waiting anxiously on a letter from the Chicago area...and selling shares left and right to build another team of Grinders!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be back in a week or two with an update on how we are progressing!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MONK</span></b><br />
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Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-53299271294354628812019-02-25T12:32:00.000-06:002019-02-25T12:34:24.846-06:00Spring is Upon Us!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I last checked in, I was heading back for another bullet in the $2700 Main Event of the Heater at the Beau Rivage. Well it didn't turn out so hot...not the first bullet....OR the second bullet. In total, I dumped $8100 into that damn thing and didn't even cash. Very frustrating. Enough time has passed now since that thing that I've forgotten how I went out...which is good. The best thing you can be in poker, is forgetful! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've played very little since then. Been keeping busy with stuff outside of poker. Traveled out to California to watch the Tide get slammed by Clemson in the Championship game. Found out from the wife that I was on TV for a pretty fair amount of time during the 4th quarter, when I was heavily into the Coors Light and the mourning had begun! This morning, for the first time...I pulled the game up on my DVR and watched it. I got to the end of the 1st quarter...with Alabama leading 16-14, and was like, "You know what? I've seen enough!" I know that we never scored again! One failed trip to the red zone after another. For ONE quarter, aside from a pick-six, and one big play from Clemson, we totally dominated them. I will choose to stop the tape there...and use that to get me excited for NEXT season!!!!</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">"Momma! Why is Daddy talking to those girls who have toilet paper on their head???"</span></b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Things got worse in January...as "The Non-Call Heard Round the World" went down. Squirrel and I had found the most ABSOLUTELY convenient playground while in The Animal Kingdom during the NFC title game. I had my iPad to watch the game...and Carley was in heaven playing with 100's of random kids as we both sat watching the game. Soon we were joined by a bunch of other parents...who were dying to watch the end of the game. In my life...I think I have had 3 or 4 of those "Where was I when" moments...and this one just joined that list. I was freaking out. Being in a sea of kids...and their parents...all I could think was..."Don't swear! Don't swear!!!! Be careful....DON'T swear...no matter what you do!!!" And those of you who recall when "IT HAPPENED" have to know how hard that was!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In my life of watching football...hell ANY sport, really...we're talking 45 years...I have NEVER seen such an unbelievable injustice ever occur in a professional game, but to have it happen in a CHAMPIONSHIP GAME? Unfathomable. I mean...I'm a diehard Seahawk's fan...as most of you know, but I take a real rooting in the Saints as my SOLID #2 team. And as pissed, upset, distraught as I FELT? I can't even BEGIN to imagine how busted up Saints fans were. I guess the City of New Orleans spoke their minds on Super Bowl Sunday when (according to the Nielsen Ratings) they only posted a 29% share that watched the game...which is WAY WAY WAY the lowest EVER for not just New Orleans, but ANY top 25 TV market for the Super Bowl. And to boot...the Super Bowl suuuuuuuucked! Great I guess if you love a defensive struggle that featured the prowess of both teams' punters. What? 14 total punts? Yuck. The NFL got exactly what they deserved. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So football is over. I finally dug out of my massive accounting hole when it came to the football Squares boards that I have been doing now for the last five years. What started as a Super Bowl-only thing I featured...due to the popularity and the overwhelming demand...I started doing them all football season. This season and last season...I did almost the exact same number....roughly 400! Well...because of my detached retina in November, and then an infected thumb in January, that resulted in me losing my whole nail (yeah, gross!) I was unable to function correctly, and at one point was 80 boards behind! Very time consuming...but 2 weeks after the Super Bowl ended, I was finally FINISHED with all of it! So now I'm sitting around waiting on a bunch of people to pay me the money they owe...as I have already paid out almost all of the winners. Up next: MARCH MADNESS, then the Masters Pool. But for now...and before my wife murders me....I have to get my taxes done. That will be my goal for the next two weeks...get taxes done for the past, ahem...few years!!!! I know...I'm a moron!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The pool is FINALLY done. The 10 pallets of sod I thought would be needed to go around it somehow became 40 pallets of sod....I guess I decided some OTHER areas could use some sod! All I've got left now is the wrought-iron fence to go around the pool...it's a law, code demands it. Matter of fact, the pool guy called about an hour ago...and is on his way over to give me the final walk through on how to work everything. I bit the bullet and decided to buy a heater for it...and it's a monster. I figured, why spend all that money and NOT be able to use it 4 or 5 months of the year? The Squirrel and I started a MAJOR diet this weekend...doing it together for the first time ever. I KNOW I've gotten ridiculous overweight...but I think she looks amazing. But what I think, as any husband knows...matters very little. So we are trying to lose a bunch of weight. For me...that incorporates exercise. For my terrible back, I bought an inversion table awhile back...and it really helps. I'm planning on swimming a LOT of laps in the pool...then using the elliptical out in the garage to both lose weight AND get in better shape. So...I am hoping...that come summer...I will be in MUCH better shape!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Speaking of summer? I just this weekend booked my flight AND my hotel in Vegas for the week I go out to get my TEAM of WSOP players all set up, funded, photographed, wined, dined and showered with attention! I've decided to really treat myself this summer and stay at Encore...which is owned by Wynn. I have a game...an Omaha game...at Encore...that has kind of served as my Cash Cow the past two summers...so I figured, HEY! Might as well just stay upstairs. Besides...they have a beautiful pool, beautiful casino too, actually. And they fancy people stay there! Something about staying at a hotel with the upper crust of society always makes me feel more....mmmm...I don't know....happier? Staying in a hotel that is a "value hotel" seems to attract the underbelly of society, you know? Trailer park trash. Ghetto dwellars. People who save up all year for ONE trip...then act like they are world travelers. They bug me, to no end. Does that make me shallow, even pretentious? I don't know. Maybe. If so...whatever, I can deal with the insults. I just know who I feel more comfortable rubbing elbows with. And damned if I don't just happen to enjoy some of the nicer things in life. Like a good mattress. And a friendly and polite staff. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So yeah...check out my summer. In April...I fly my MOM and my brother down for a few weeks...for both of their birthdays. My wife's mom is also coming down for a couple weeks. Carley wants one of those birthday parties with a big 'ol inflatable bounce house. So now that we have a huge backyard...she's going to get her wish. I have a stocked pond...so I will have fishing for the kids. Maybe 4-wheeler rides. Carley has her own playhouse...which I'm sure she will be proudly showing off. The pool should be a big hit. And from the pool I now have a wonderfully sloped, freshly sodded hill...that will be perfect for a slip and slide! Should make for a great 7th birthday party for my little angel! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple weeks after that...Cheryl flies off to Key West for 5 days with her girlfriends. I can't remember if its for someone's wedding or just a girls weekend. I think the latter. A couple weeks after she gets home...we celebrate our 10th Anniversary...and then, BOOM! Me, Barth, who has been down in St Thomas killing it with our bar, Bernies, since the hurricane did all that damage to the Virgin Islands...and a couple of other bar owners from St Thomas, are flying to Scotland...to go play golf for a few days. Then we are taking a train to London...where I've never visited, to see the Yankees and Red Sox play in their first MLB game ever played in the UK! I hate both teams....duh, I'm a Mariner's fan...but I can respect the novelty of such an event. It should be a blast! Then we fly home...and we are flying on Delta ONE...which is their super-awesome-kickass 1st class that has the pods...where your seat slides down into a BED!!!! I'm psyched for that! Barth has been flying American down to the Islands for the last year or two, and they have those pods...so I'm a little sick of the bragging!!!! Can't wait to experience it for myself!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The day I get home from the UK...I will simply change out my suitcase, do some laundry, cut the grass (a 3-hour job!!! even on my 61' riding mower!!!) and kiss the girls...then the next day...head off to Vegas for a week. The invitation has been extended to Squirrel to come with Carley. But she has kind of a "been there, done that" attitude about Vegas, and a limited number of vacation days to use...so she might want to use them to go somewhere else. But I do hope she decides to come out. Encore is really nice...and I'm sure her and Carley would be able to have a really good time while Daddy is playing some poker!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once all that is done? Well....for now...August looks pretty clear! But August 4th IS Squirrel's birthday...so maybe something else will come up! Oh...I also forgot about our June trip to Milwaukee...to see my nephew graduate from high school! So yeah...four days in Milwaukee in early June. I'm crossing my fingers that the Bucks make it to the NBA Finals so maybe I can go take in one of those games. Another thing I've never seen in person. Bucket List!!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Poker? Yeah...that! Well...I am going to try and play the monthly 50K guaranteed at the Beau this upcoming weekend! As for any other tourneys? Just haven't had time...or really, much motivation. We have been trying like crazy to get our UPSTAIRS open at the new location of Out of Bounds in Metairie so we can start having a much bigger poker presence over there. We have been running into all kinds of delays due to various licensing snafus. Oh and permits. To build. I am not real involved in all of that, Barth is kind of the point man on all that...I just know I have yet to make a red cent from that rather hefty investment that I made either one or two years ago. How sick that I can't even remember THAT, right? I'm just anxious to get that upstairs open so we can help Wild Bill run some more killer satellites into the WSOP Main Event. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are you someone who is interested in what has become known universally (at least in the Poker Community) as Monkey's WSOP Minions? Well...last year I really dragged my feet, and almost didn't field a team. But I caught a little steak of motivation in late spring...and finally got it all organized and managed to field a team of 8 players. It was another great, and exciting run...one that due to some bad luck...as is almost always the case with poker when you DON'T get really deep, we fell short of our goal. But it was exciting enough that I got a big charge from it, and really came away from the experience excited about 2019...and I pledged to get the ball rolling a LOT earlier this year than I did LAST year. If you are someone who would like to APPLY for a spot on the team? Email me....right here at ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com and tell me WHY you think I should pick you!</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Here are a few things I look for: (1) I have to like you. If I don't like you...or even more importantly, you don't like me? Don't waste my or your time. (2) you MUST have SOME kind of positive results. Main reason being..it's not just MY money that is going to be raised to send players. It's anywhere from 200-250 separate investors who are buying shares....all of whom trust me to put the BEST players possible on the team. They trust my judgement. So for me to put someone on the team who has close to ZERO accomplishments...is going to raise a lot of eyebrows, and call my own judgement, even credibility into question. And I don't need THAT!!!! (3) Be someone who is HUNGRY to play in the worlds most visible poker tournament. Be someone who PROBABLY can't just cough up 10k to play also. Anyone who is loaded, and who has no issue bringing 10k to Vegas and playing poker for a few days? I probably don't want you. Because... (4) I want someone who has a great story to tell. That guy who I KNOW is a great poker player...but is stuck working a 9-5 job to support his family. Or maybe a guy who left a successful poker career to go live with his dying father? A story! Have a great story! A reason for my investors to WANT to root for you!!! Or just be the kind of player who is going to MAKE IT EXCITING for the investors. Someone who will give frequent updates (within reason) and give some great insight into what you experienced. I understand that there are a LOT of different personalities in poker...TRUST ME I KNOW!!!! Look who you're talking to here!!!! So the chances of getting a team of players who are exactly the same? IMPOSSIBLE! </b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> So I try to assemble a team of players who all bring a little bit of something that together, add up to a GREAT team! But the most important thing I look for...is a player who most likely wouldn't be able to play if it weren't for me and my backers. That just having a CHANCE to play for millions...is something that they are extremely appreciative for. Don't just use me as a way to get in to the tourney. A way to pay a lower buy in. I've taken a chance on a couple players like that in the past five years...and I regretted it. I won't RECRUIT YOU! Sure...I could. I could put together a virtual ALL STAR TEAM of poker players if I wanted to. But it would have a totally different feel to it. And I am fairly confident that would give very little BACK to the investors. One thing that almost every single investor I've had in the last five years can say? Is that it was a GREAT SWEAT! And that they learned a lot about the game...about the tourney...and about the players. All in all...I think it's one of the greatest and most positive things I've done in my life. Would I have liked to make a HUGE score? Well duh...oh course I would. But if you know anything about poker....you know how it works! Patience is key. We've come very close...a few times...and I have NO DOUBT that if I keep rolling out a team every summer....that we WILL eventually make a huge splash! So I will keep giving it my all until I just run out of motivation to do it anymore. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Speaking of "knowing how poker is." Back in 2008 I met a guy through some friends and we hit it off and became really good buddies. He won a bracelet back then...in the WSOP Shoot Out. He won half a million (I think). First thing he did was go back home to New York and open a restaurant. I was psyched for him. He met a girl, they moved in together, and then had a little girl...who now is close to Carley's age. Well, then he was hit with some major bad times. He lost his business. His girlfriend went crazy. Tried to run off to Florida with his little girl. So he moved there, to stay close to her. Struggled to find work. Struggled to keep joint custody. Just kept suffering one bad stroke of luck after another. I was a constant source of assistance...for whatever was needed, bills, lawyers, whatever. Friends helping friends. I tried to give him opportunities to make a big score...staking him in some circuit events near his hometown. No dice. Then putting him on this past summer's WSOP team...deep run....but a bust out close to the money. Bummer. He went home...and sunk even lower emotionally. I was really, really worried about him...but was hopeful that having that little girl in his life would prevent him from doing anything stupid.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well...cue this winter. He texted me an offered me (I always get first dibs) the chance to stake him in the WPT event down at Hard Rock. I declined, just because I had so much money tied up in things like the POOL! So what did he do? He proceeds to go and first, final table one of the early events...and make a nice score. But then he REALLY rubbed my nose in it! He goes and WINS the Main Event for a quarter million!!!! That stung! Well...as if that wasn't enough of a kick in the nuts...don't get me wrong...I'm very very very happy for Jason Young, on a personal level....it just sucks as someone who has staked a LOT of people over the past three years with very little success. Well...he got staked by the same person to play WSOP Coconut Creek earlier this month...and once again...he final tables the Main Event. Ended up finishing 3rd for $110,000! Granted...he probably only walked with half of all that prize money...whatever! In the past 90 days...the guy has won a total of close to half a million bucks!!!! That's crazy. So like I say...poker? It's a weird game. I've had runs like that myself...back in 2009 and 2010 to be exact. Sometimes you get on these crazy runs...where all your hands, for whatever reason, hold up! People fold to your bluffs. People forget to suck out on you left and right. You DON'T run KK into AA 2 or 3 times a day!!!! Or your own AA doesn't lose to AK!!!! A weird game.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So when I see players who I KNOW are good players...run bad? I have nothing to offer in the way of advice. Because they are almost NEVER doing anything wrong. It's just shitty luck. And THAT element of poker...is what I hate the MOST! Because you would hope that skill would eliminate, within reason...that aspect of the game. But it doesn't. And where most of that shitty luck happens, is LATE in tourneys...because in the first 1-12 levels...you are rarely playing each hand for your whole stack...as you are in the later stages of the tourney. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I really love the thrill of playing a final table...and winning? That is something that you can't explain to someone who has never won. Growing up playing sports...there is very few things that give me that special feeling of WINNING...and winning a poker tourney does it. But on the other end of the spectrum....getting deep after playing for HOURS....only to bust in horrendous fashion...is about as emotionally debilitating as it gets. And that aspect of poker? That's what makes it harder and harder to go back for more! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Okay well, I've been writing this now for two hours. My pool guy STILL isn't here...he is late a LOT...or just doesn't even show up! And while I've been writing this? I've had to get up and go to the bathroom...I'm not lying....FIVE times! I've been instructed by the boss to drink a GALLON of water a day while doing this diet. And it does right through me! Really hope this diet works...I NEED (badly) to lose 20-25 lbs. I would LIKE to lose about 30-35 lbs. That would leave me in perfect shape as far as I'm concerned. AND...I would be below the 250 threshold that is required to go sky diving! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you are a returning INVESTOR in the Minions...or a future WANNA-BE investor...I will go ahead and start taking payments for shares...which will, as always...be priced at $200 per share. I make NOTHING off of this. 50 sold shares sends one player. However many shares I sell...is how many players we send. If they don't make money, I (and the investors) don't make money. Period. It's not complicated! The players play for 35%...which if you know math...means the investors gets 65%...plus return of the $10k buy in....if they cash. I've already decided that I am going to shoot for 10 players in 2019. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">MONKEY</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CONTACT ME: ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">IF interested in POOLS or SQUARES? ThePoolMonkey@aol.com </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">March Madness Pool is right around the corner, and last year I had over 1,000 entries! Each bracket entry costs $25...and anyone entering 10, receives one FREEBIE! </span></b></div>
Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-30838045986109151212019-01-13T12:33:00.002-06:002019-01-13T12:33:32.242-06:00Hi! Remember Me???<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past year and a half, I've really gone from a frequent blogger to an almost NON-blogger. It's not just blogging that I've neglected. I have sponsor kids in four countries who send me letters constantly...but who I struggle to ever get around to writing back. I've got a journal to Carley that I write in, to give her a glimpse into who her daddy was someday after I'm worm food. I've written over 100 pages in that thing...but realistically, it should be 300 pages or longer. My biggest complaint there is that it's a hand written journal...and its weird how little we write now that we have computers. After about 3 or 4 pages, my hand starts to hurt. And its a little journal, so the angle of writing is a bit of a pain in the ass. Then of course...we have the taxes...which I continue to procrastinate on. It's gotten to the point of ridiculous. But it's also been aided by the addition of numerous elements to my financial life that require certain documentations that I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to obtain. Then, of course...is this new house. It's kept me VERY busy...with lots and lots of little "projects," the most recent...this expensive hole in the ground in the back yard that is nearly complete. In fact...right now I'm watching the guy on his tractor pushing about 11 truck loads of dirt around to dress the area around the pool. Next will come about 10 pallets of sod to give it a nice, grassy finish. And finally...there is Carley herself...my best buddy, my one and only...the apple of my eye. What she wants, she gets. And that keeps me VERY busy. Very! She doesn't even know it yet...but on Wednesday night, we are driving to Orlando for her third visit to Disney World. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you don't know, I HATE Disney World. Mainly because of how bad they gouge people. It's insane. And for all the money spent...they still keep running those same old boring ass rides. It's crowded. The lines are long. And my knees and back pay the price. I try to stay as heavily medicated the entire time I am there. And yeah...I said THIS Wednesday. Huh? Yeah...we are going the weekend of the NFC/AFC Championships! In the last two trips...we went on the off week between those games and the Super Bowl. Well...the wife fucked up. Even tried to change it....couldn't. Would have costed a fortune to move it up a week...more of a fortune than it already is. Ugh. Disney. And wouldn't ya know it? If the Saints can win at home today as 9 pt favorites...where they are 5-0 in the playoffs since 2006...they will be at home, hosting the LA Rams for a shot at a trip to the Super Bowl. And I will be running around the Palace of the Extortionist Rodent!!! Fuck me!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why aren't I going to TODAY'S game, none of you are asking? Well, that WAS the original plan. However, we have this little thing called "The Heater" going on at the Beau Rivage...and this weekend is the Main Event. I played yesterday, with the hopes of bagging up some chips...then going to today's game vs the Eagles...then coming back on Monday and going for a big win. Scrub all that. I'll just be honest...I've made a couple bad plays this week. However, I am also running incredibly bad. Three times, after being card dead for an eternity...I picked up QQ with a raise behind me...and shoved all in, only to run into AA. And of course, I never hit a queen there. But oh! The third guy? He tells me..."you're good, don't worry, I've already lost with aces TWICE today to queens." As soon as he said that? I knew I would NEVER in a million years hit a queen. I was right. REBUY!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There has been a LOT of rebuying this week. All I have to show for this week is ONE min-cash out of four flights in the first tourney last weekend. Finished 3rd in the only sit n go I played...after having a chiplead then getting sucked out on three times in a row. That was awesome. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've seen a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time, some I was happy to see...some, not so much. There seems to be a bigger collection of maniacs than ever before. Some, from a poker perspective, and some...just from a human perspective. In the Mega the other night...this older lady sits at my table. She was a chatty Cathy. Kind of playing that, self-deprecating, I don't really know what I'm doing persona? You know that type? She had a love affair with A10..and really...ANY ace for that matter. Her favorite move? Over-betting. And if you thought it was a good idea to raise? You'd better be ready to put it all in there, cuz if she had an ace? It was ALL going in. I just started calling her all ins with mediocre hands...sadly, I was ahead most of the time, but still lost. Yeahhhhh I ended up being into that Mega for $550 in rebuys before I finally was executed mercilessly. But at least I lasted longer than that kooky broad. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I know...I don't blog for 5 months than just think I can come splashing around with little to no details about the past half year. Sorry. It's mainly because I know how hard, and/or annoying long blog posts are. But also, its because my babysitter will be here in about 13 minutes...and then I get to go BACK down to the Beau....plop another 2700 on the counter...and see if I can run a little better than I have all week there. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I WOULD like to give a shout out to Henry, Derek, the ladies in registration, the dealers, floor staff, and the wait staff for doing such a great job at this week's event. My dream/wish for 9-handed tournament play still remains un-granted and remains on my wish list! My detached retina that I suffered in November...and which I been slowly recovering from, has been giving me fits when it comes to reading the cards on the board...and I would like to REALLY thank the staff for going overboard to give me a seat in the middle of the table whenever possible. The couple of times I've been stuck in the 2 and the 8 seat...it's really been a challenge. Everyone seems to be enjoying the event...the turnout has been great. I think the only grumbling I heard was during the Main Event yesterday...and from some of the top players. They were upset about a couple missing levels. And I honestly seem to recall talking to Henry about that very thing after the September event...but I think it was about a missing level much later in the tourney...I want to say it was the missing 2500-5000 level. It was going from 2000-4000 with a 500 ante straight to 3000-6000 with a 1000 ante....so the per-round price nearly doubled in just ONE blind level...which that late in the tourney is catastrophic, potentially. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think his rationale was that if it was going to come down to add back in the 250-500 round, or the 2500-5000 round...the latter was going to win out. And of course...that is totally his right to do so. We all, as players...just want the play to be nice and gradual and in accordance with the average chip stack. And as for too many levels taking up too much time? I don't think anyone that is paying over a grand to play a tourney has ever considered that to be an issue. But...I should say...it's not an exact science, and it's not an easy task running these things. And the new staff at the Beau...who was kind enough to welcome me back, has been wonderful since I've been back. The one really noticeable thing to me..is this staff really seems to care what the players think. What they would like to see changed...whether it be in tournaments, or in the cash room...and that is great. Its nice to see a poker room where management acknowledges that without the players...well, they wouldn't exist!!! Funny how that works, huh?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So yeah....I need to go grab a quick shower...and head on down. Maybe I will find some "run good" today. I sure as hell hope so. Pretty tired of making that long walk to the parking garage!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MONKEY</span></b><br />
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Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-31888822720968280822018-07-10T18:22:00.000-05:002018-07-10T18:22:02.275-05:00Another Summer of Broken Dreams....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>And...just like that, it was OVER. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sadness ensues. That familiar empty feeling takes over. Replaying hands in your head is the new normal. Laying in bed...and trying to find the motivation to pull yourself up so you can wander out to the kitchen and start another "back to the daily grind" list of chores. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>No trips to the local BMW dealership. Or the boat dealership. No calls to the guy to come out and give you an estimate for that backyard pool the wife and kid wants. (and dogs) No big score to take the sting out of all those 2k withdrawals you made while in Vegas...convincing yourself that "it's all good...in a few days, you'll be getting it all back anyway!!!" </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For the fifth summer in a row...this feeling has befallen me. Me and many of the 160 investors who joined TEAM MONKEY 2018. Every year...we get that one or two players who seem to have it all going their way. They have undisputed talent, and they've garnered the admiration and respect of our massive rooting section. Nothing seems capable of derailing them. We catch ourselves checking out flights BACK to Vegas for what would be the night of the Final Table. In what would be a glorious day and night spent doing unspeakable things in the streets of Sin City! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For me...its that "finding out" that is the most memorable of all the summer memories. In a "where were YOU when JFK was shot?" kind of way. Or if your not that old..."where were YOU when the planes hit the towers???" So when I ask...."Where were YOU when you heard that Carwash had busted???" there will always be that moment that you look back upon, and realized that none of our dreams were going to be fulfilled in the summer of 2018 for TEAM MONKEY. That like so many seasons as a Mariners fan...it would be "wait until next year!" Sure....we got a little bit of a financial band-aid for our rooting efforts. And to be honest? I would almost rather we DIDN'T cash at all. To have to now go and process the returns on investment for 160 individuals...is SO time consuming. At least if no one had cashed at all...my work would be DONE! See...if we cashed for enough to have made a profit, at least....then this process wouldn't be painful at all. I like it when people play my pools, or my poker investment groups...and actually WIN money! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So...where was I, you ask? When I learned that the Carwash has broken down and started mutilating cars as they were passing through the assembly line-like chip cleaning process? First...to answer that, I have to share a little story with you first.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>My last day in Vegas was Saturday...and I was all set to fly out on the red eye. It was Day 3 in the tourney...and we had Easton Oreman, Kristen Deardorff and Mike 'Carwash' Schneider all taking to the mound for Team Monkey that day. Fresh off an over-the-phone counseling session with Jason Young...who had fallen short of his goals, and taken it extremely hard...I found my way to the pool, joined later by the aforementioned JY....to try and wash the stank of numerous bad beats off my body. Despite there being a 20% chance of rain...the sun finally broke through at around 2pm. When JY finally arrived I was on my 5th Pina Colada. He got started in his Jameson/Ginger run...and we were off. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Eventually the pool closed, and we were forced to find out last action before I had to depart. So we up, I packed, and we decided to go play BIG O...and order food from Grand Luxe...using my plethora of comps acquired in $10 increments with every tourney buy in (bustout). Lets just say...what I had was enough to cover BOTH of our meals. Neither one of us had much luck at the table. I gave him a last-ditch shot at making some money...staking him with the understanding he could have 50% of whatever he won. He didn't win. Neither did I. Just another losing session on this trip. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If you following my tourneys at all...I had the same luck with KK out there that I seem to have every time I play tournaments in Vegas this decade. My last two punchouts came holding KK both times. Making it all the more irritating and painful...was that I lost to K10 and KQ. Yeah. No BS. One to a flush. The other to a straight. That following significant 4-bet re-raises by me too. Whatever. That's poker. Lots of idiots play poker. They pay their money...they have the right to play like complete fucking morons. I think it says that in the rules somewhere. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The good news...is that cars still run on gas....oil is still far from obsolete, and our property in North Dakota is still up to its eyeballs in crude...so I'm not going to give any "woe is me" stories about going broke. I'll leave those stories to the guys who scrape together every last penny they have...make that venture to the desert...chasing a dream...and lose on the river...to bubble the big one. Yeah...I'll be okay. For me? It's no longer about the money aspect of it all. For me...its just fucking losing. I hate losing. FUCKING HATE IT. Especially when I lose some of the ways I lose. It drives me fucking berserk. All I wanted...was to make my little one-week journey to Vegas...handle my Team Monkey shit..then go play a few big tourneys. Have everything go my way, have my better hands hold up, pull an occasional bluff, suck out a couple times...and then? Be sitting at that table. All alone. Me...my pile of chips, the two winning cards...and that shit-eating grin on my face as I pose for the "money shot" that would announce me as still be relevant in the game of poker. Shit I might even flip the bird and hold up a sign giving an insulting shout out to the person responsible for making me play on the outer circle tournaments instead of the one I keep sending players off to play. Yeah well...none of that happened, kind of like Carwash making it to the Final Table...which would trigger "The Great Reveal!!!!" never happened. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So uh...we played, we lost. We ate, it was delicious. Took forever...as the food there did all week...which is really a disappointment. Went to my room, called an Uber...grabbed my bags...and headed to the airport, dropping JY off along the way at his hotel. As I was nearing the departure area, our two players were now 41 spots away from making the money. Kristen had 20 bbs, and Carwash was in good shape...with many many more than 20 bbs. I arrive at the gate...ready to take my seat...a seat which was in "Delta Comfort Plus" which I should share with you...is a fucking oxymoron. I know better than to select window seats now. Why? Because planes are essentially a tube. Tubes are round. If you are next to the window...your space is significantly reduced. If this doesn't make sense to you...I don't know how to better explain this to you. But if you are large...like I am? You will, one day, experience this...and you will remember these words...and probably say something to yourself (or scream out loud) like "Ohhhh fuckkkkk...this is what Monkey was talking about!!!!!" By then, it will be too late. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>See...I didn't book seat 19f. Nope. But Delta had a problem with their original airplane...which was an Airbus A-320. They had to replace it with a Boeing 757. Slightly different configuration. They decide to move me to 19f. A window seat. In an exit row. Which means no movie screen. Oh and the seat doesn't recline. Sitting in the two seats next to me? Both very large guys wearing MMA t-shirts. I assume they had come to town for the big fight that weekend. Some of you might be aware that I have anxiety issues. So much so that I've been on Celexa now for a decade. And for those REALLY HAIRY situations....I'm prescribed Ativan. Well...this was to be one of those moments. I pleaded and begged with the flight attendants to do something...ANYTHING...even let me sit in the "jump seat" which is that seat the Flight attendants sit in during take offs and landings. I offered $100 to ANYONE on the plane in a seat with actual shoulder/arm/leg room to switch with me. No dice. Not even sure they tried. As I started to freak out...I could detect in them that they were starting to get...mmm...what's the word? Agitated? I was foreseeing one of those "episodes" we are treated to occasionally on the news. An unruly passenger causing a plane to land early or something. So here comes this little smart ass...who tells me they can book me on a later flight. "Oh...really? That's super. First, your plane has a problem. Then you MOVE me to this seat. Btw...I am 'celebrating' my escalation from Gold medallion to Diamond medallion with this flight. Very memorable! You offering to rebook me is SO accommodating. Except I don't have anywhere to sleep. And I have a wife and kid expecting me home. So no...I will have to decline your wonderfully generous offer!" </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lucky for me...the Ativan and muscle relaxer-combo kicked in about 20 minutes after we left the ground...and the pretzel position I managed to get my body twisted into failed to prevent me from slipping into a virtual coma. I was awoken by one of the flight attendants once we got to the gate in Atlanta. When I attempted to stand up, I immediately fell over. I'm still not sure if that was because half of my body was asleep from the goofy position I was trying to contort my 51-year old body into, or simply the effects of the pill. With a 3 hour layover...I limped off to the Delta Sky Club (which by the way...is really a nice thing to have access to) and found a nice quiet corner to make my sleep quarters. I got home to Biloxi on time...but in a hurry to get home by 10:18am (ish) so Squirrel could make it to work on time. Well...despite having gotten to McCarren a full hour before my flight...guess who's luggage didn't make it home? Yup! Oh...one of them did. The other one didn't. I'm confused...how does that even HAPPEN? Whatever. Went home. Kissed the wife. Hugged the kid, and dogs...crawled into bed...and passed out. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>That was Sunday. It's now Tuesday. I think 'Wash got knocked out yesterday. But it might have been Sunday. I can't be certain. Because the last two days have been me slipping in and out of the Ativan-inspired coma. Poor Carley...so excited for me to get home...and I keep falling asleep on her. She laid in bed with me, eager to watch some Disney movie...and I couldn't keep my eyes open for more than five minutes at a time. "Daddy! Are you sleeping!!???" "No...promise!!" That went on forever. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So yeah...back to my original topic of "where was I when I found out" about Carwash running out of chips? Sorry...I know...that was another long, rambling sidebar. If you've been reading my blog either full time...or off and on over the past decade..then you will know that I am renowned for that kind of writing style. So where was I? I was in bed. Duh! Don't have any idea what time of day it was. But I had the WSOP.com site up on my phone...and whenever I was lucid...I would click REFRESH and see what results it produced. They were painfully bad about posting accurate chipcounts...seemingly focused on just reporting the chipstacks of those who's names your average poker follower was familiar with. Everyone else didn't seem to matter. Well...it mattered to 160 of us! So to that end...it was pissing me off...that every time I looked it said "Michael Schneider 660,000 +330,000" and it stayed that way forever. Well...until they erroneously reported him as having 1.9m. Then I got EXTREMELY excited...as did a bunch of people in our investment group.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I have a private page on Facebook...set up with the sole intent of keeping all of the players, their friends and family, and the investors a place to post updates, or share their thoughts. And once word got out that Mike had 1.9m chips...I won't like...knowing how Mike plays...which is very similar to my style of play, especially when sitting on a big pile of chips...I allowed myself to start thinking about flights back to Vegas. My own Day 5 ended 6 years ago...when...with 175 players left...and me feeling extremely confident, and with a very healthy stack (for me anyway) of about 35 bb's...I raised with KK under the gun. The first time I'd seen KK the entire tournament. Most of you know the rest of the story. It's only aired on ESPN since then about.....ohhhhh...I don't know....100 times? Elisabeth Hille (who eventually finished 10th) would get out of line with 10-10...due in large part to Jeff Finkelstein shitting the bed with AK a few hands prior. A guy who had already admitted to being enamored with the TV cameras...he decided to make a big show of committing chip suicide, with everyone at the table...and most likely the Amazon room knowing that she had AA. But hey! He got his moment of recognition for all of America to see. Dipshit. Well he passed her 1.8m chips with that move...and made it easier for her to call my 5-bet all in shove, hoping I had something like AK and she could win the race. Not a problem though. She simply made quad tens and my shot at glory was extinguished right then and there. I used my best acting skills to keep it together...knowing that however I acted at that moment would be seen by everyone...likely for years. Over the years...I've received a lot of praise for how I acted after that brutal elimination. So for once in my life filled with episodes where I DIDN'T use good judgement, I'm glad that I did on that one. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So...back to the main topic of conversation. Kristen had already been eliminated early in the day. She did all she could to last as long as she did. She managed to move up one little pay jump at least! She did great...and everyone made sure to let her know how proud we all were of her. And I've already let her know that she has a place on the team again next summer. The thing about having a solid woman on the team? Women players are REALLY loyal to each other...just...as a gender. You certainly don't see that in men. At all. So having Kristen, and Jacqueline on the team this summer...resulted in a lot more shares being purchased...and a really amazing rooting section. I like that. It's a great element to have on the team. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So, Wash never had 1.9m. I guess that what happened was that the chip counter erroneously combined the stack of the player not sitting at his seat, with Mike's. So for awhile there...Mike was a bit of a beast, and in the top 50 in chip counts. About that time...I fell asleep. Then I woke up....clicked on REFRESH...and couldn't find him anywhere. Hmmmm...what the.....don't even tell me......set over set? Aces vs Kings? The orbit from hell??? Lord knows I've had those at that stage of a tourney! You only get 3 or 4 hands max...and you go from a big stack to the felt like THAT! It suckkkkkkkkkks!!!!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I kept searching. Then thought...shit...guess I better click on RESULTS...and pray that I don't see his name there. And....there it was. 226th. Michael Schneider. $42,980. Had he made it just ONE more spot...to 225th...it would have paid another $7k. OUCH! I checked my phone. No text from him. I know him. I know what he was feeling. He's like me. He was probably in a very dark, cold, isolated place...seething. Not wanting to talk to anyone. I get it. I didn't bother him. Didn't even think to. I hope no one else did, but I can't be sure. Eventually the texts started coming in...asking me what happened. Fortunately for me...I had passed back out. The last day or so have been spend lamenting the "wrap up" blog post....then subsequent report to the 160 investors letting them know what they are getting back....which...after doing all that math work last night, is exactly $100 per share. So a 50% return on investment. Which means I get to facilitate the disbursement now of about $40,000. Fun times. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So last year....the "wrap up" blog post was, I think...the last time I posted a blog until June 1st of this year. Nearly 10 months in between posts. Its true that I just seem to be lacking the same desire to write as I used to posses. I don't know why. I really don't. My mind is still constantly generating crazy thoughts and ideas. I still have that "bug" to go sit down and play poker. Maybe not as much as in the past. Today's players have managed to diminish that somewhat, both with HOW they play...and HOW they approach the game. Sometimes, its just too much for me to tolerate. Plus I find myself getting impatient a LOT faster than I ever did in the past. They have an event coming up here in Biloxi...at the Beau Rivage...that I will try to play all of. The competitive fire still burns in me. I like to win. I enjoy winning. And I guess there is a tiny little part of me that wants to prove to people that I still have what it takes to win a poker tourney. Maybe that is childish and stupid...maybe. I don't care. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For now...I will wait for football season to arrive. My busy season! When all of my pools and fantasy leagues kick into high gear! When the road trips to go watch the Crimson Tide, the Huskies, and the Seahawks start. Maybe this fall...there will be (finally) a flight out to Seattle to see my Mariners in the MLB Playoffs! Carley starts 1st grade in a month or so. There is lots to do around the new house. Yup...Summer Poker Camp is over. It's not the 7-week variety that I enjoyed, or suffered through...from 2005 to about 2010...this is a much shorter version of Summer Poker Camp...but it still dredges up all the same feelings...both before it starts, and after it ends. Poker is a game that is really good at leaving lasting marks emotionally. For better or worse. And I have my own fair share of both. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you to all the investors who joined in to make the 2018 TEAM MONKEY poker adventure one of the most exciting in the five years I've been doing this. I'm extremely proud of my 8 selections to this year's squad...and thank them for their incredible contributions as team members! After dragging my feet to get this year's team launched...even waffling on whether I would do it or not...this summer's team really showed me just HOW important this thing is, to so many people. So I am hereby pledging to everyone that I will come back in 2019 with a renewed vigor...and a promise to get the ball rolling no later than April 15th! Get your player applications ready! In 2019...I will be gunning for at LEAST NINE team members...maybe more. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>SEE YA SOON!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MONKEY</b></span></div>
Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-56705982570269026732018-07-02T13:16:00.001-05:002018-07-02T13:16:31.939-05:00LET'S GET IT ON!!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Good morning, from sunny Las Vegas! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>It's the BIG DAY in poker player's lives! The opening of the WSOP MAIN EVENT! In about 30 minutes...Day 1A will kick off, and out of 7 players...we have just ONE of our players going today...Jacqueline Britton! She is ready too!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Last night I had all 7 of my players show up ON TIME...and hungry to kick some ass. Got all their contracts signed, gave them their 10k stack, got them all registered, their seat assignment/receipt sent out to all the investors, t-shirts passed out, Team Photo taken, and finally...we all gathered at Carmine's at Caesar's for a GREAT dinner party!!!! Everyone had a great time, the bill was about HALF what my bills at Maggiano's always were...and we STILL had more food than we could ever fathom consuming. I didn't even get around to ordering my Carmine's favorite...the Tiramisu for dessert. And that was my ONLY regret!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I was going to meet up with a few of the guys later and play in the Big O 8/b game at Venetian, but when I went by the desk at 10:30 the list was 15 deep. So I get to my room...turn on the TV...switch the poker list channel...and see only THREE names on the list. Huh? Called down. Yup! They called through the whole list. Damn. Should have stayed there. But I didn't. And then started getting tired. Then started thinking how much nicer it would be to throw on my C-Pap breathing device...fill it up with water to keep me from getting "Las Vegas Nose" that I have made famous out here...and get a solid 8 hrs of sleep. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!! My nose STILL feels awesome...meaning...no dried up sinuses...dried clumps of blood all up in my nose...the one thing I truly HATE about being out in the desert! This new CPAP machine is great! Breathing for 8 hours with that built in humidifier is the SHIT!!!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>So today I plan to play the last flight of the $600, 750k guarantee here at the Venetian that starts at noon. One huge bummer. They moved the tournament area to...well...freaking UTAH basically!!! It's a long long walk. Back in their convention area. And the registration situation is even worse. They don't even OPEN until 10am. Two hours before the tourney. Which translates to: Get ready to wait in line. I don't like lines. AT ALL!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>But...I am pretty excited to get back into big tournament action! It's been way too long! I would love to come out here and make a nice splash. If everything goes to crap...I will bounce over to the Wynn and play their $1100 tourney. But this tourney at Venetian is a SuperStack...30k in chips...and I usually don't burn through that many chips fast, unless I just have a calamitous level or two. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>So...check THIS OUT. I've got a shot at getting an 8th and final player on the team. We are trying like crazy to make it happen. My choice for that spot is between a long time buddy of mine who I met over a decade ago playing in Lake Tahoe. A guy who used to just tear UP tournaments...and has a game well-suited to the long structure of the main. Well, he ...like myself, got off the full time tourney grind, settled down, had some kids...and took a real job in the oil industry. He's kind of been my eyes and ears in North Dakota where my family has 700+ acres of oil property under lease with an oil company. Well he recently moved to Bakersfield (ohhh lucky guy!!!) so he is close to Vegas now. He has been asking me for awhile...and he is DEFINITELY a worthy candidate.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The other guy...is sitting down in Phoenix...just waiting for the call. He is young...seems like a great kid. Comes highly recommended from a few of my current players. He's had some nice scores, and frankly...I really liked his application letter. Also a young family guy...so he's got good motives for playing and making a good score. In case you haven't figured it out...I really enjoy putting people on this team who I would LOVE to see make a big score because of what it would mean to them in their life. Most of my investors? They aren't into this to get rich quick. They know the deal. They KNOW that for any of us to make a "nice splash" as investors, we really need one or more of our "horses" get down to the final 4 tables and beyond. It hasn't happened yet. We've had a couple get close. And I have no doubt that if I keep doing this every year...it WILL happen!!!! But if it doesn't? It doesn't. As long as our players give us a great ride, and a little bang for our investor BUCKS!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Are you interested in getting in on TEAM MONKEY 2018? I have...as of this minute....sold 377 TOTAL SHARES. 350 sent those 7 players. I have now sold 27 of a necessary 50...that would allow me to "make the call to the bullpen" to one of these guys and fulfill their dream of chasing the millions!!!! Oh! There is a FB Messenger popping up from a "Tom" requesting two shares....so make it 379!!!! 21 to go!!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>EMAIL ME at ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I will be checking my phone and everything all day and keeping in the loop! I gotta go grab a shower then make that long journey over to the Sands Convention room to get my own personal poker odyssey started!!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>HAVE A GREAT MONDAY!!!<br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>MONKEY</b></span></div>
Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-73252701259070070722018-07-01T15:35:00.002-05:002018-07-01T15:35:16.008-05:00Twas Main Event Eve...and Vegas is a Boomin!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Well I'm quite the loser! Got in yesterday at a reasonable time...even won the "Upgrade Lottery" on my Delta flight and got to fly 1st class...my favorite. That after spending my 3 hour layover in Atlanta in the posh Delta Sky Club...which my Gold medallion status gives me free access to. So basically, a wonderful day of travel. Got all checked in without much fanfare. And then...NEVER left my room! Not to play a nightly. Not to play cash. Not to gamble. Not even to eat! I actually ordered, from Capriatti's sandwich shop...my favorite sandwich on the planet, "The Bobbie"...which is Thanksgiving on a Hoagie! Had it delivered...thing showed up about 9:51pm. Ate half of it...went into a food coma...woke up at 3am...ate some more....woke up at 8am...ate the rest!!!! How is THAT for a Las Vegas tale!!!???</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>SO since then...I have been weeding through all the emails, and all the payments...and coming up with some numbers...while sending out notice to all the current investors and players that I have named a SEVENTH player to this summer's team...after crossing over the 350 shares sold hurdle late last night. We now are sitting on 360 shares sold...with the first of three Day 1 flights starting tomorrow. I am fairly confident that we WILL get to the same 8 players we had last year. My only real question is: Will they make it into the Team Photo!??? I am pontificating between two players. And one of them IS in town...while the other one is in Phoenix...which is, I think, about a 3 or 4 hour drive from here. Additionally, I only brought 75k with me...enough for 7 players...and then some money for myself. Well...if we DO add an 8th, I'm going to need to visit Wells Fargo when it opens tomorrow so I can pull out another 10k for that 8th player...and probably a little more for my own tournament play while I'm here.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>PLEASE...allow me to introduce to everyone...someone MOST of you Gulf Coast poker players know already, KENNY "TRUCKER" MILAM to the team for a return visit from last year. Why did I pick Kenny? Since he didn't cash? Well...a few reasons. (1) I like Kenny! (2) Lots of people LIKE Kenny! (3) Me and LOTS of people, investors included...are aware of Kenny's style of play...and KNOW he is fully capable of making a deep run in the main event. (4) Kenny almost...and really SHOULD...have cashed last year...going out right before the money, which really crushed me emotionally. (5) Kenny has had a rough go of things the past few years...and a big score would do GREAT things for him in his life...and one thing I love to do...is help people get on track when things aren't going so great. We have a few people on the team this summer who kind of resemble that..without me revealing too much. And as a guy who has had my own shares of ups and downs in my life...I always hold out a lot of sentiment for people who can use a little hand. Or in my case...a freakishly large hand!!! :)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>We have close to 150 investors now...a record in the five years I've been doing this. A great great support unit behind these folks. With the special group set up on Facebook (private group) it also opens up a nice space for the investors, players, friends and family to talk among each other, answering questions....showing support and giving frequent updates. I can't believe that I waffled for months on this and almost DIDN'T do it. What was I thinking? Now I'm beyond psyched to get this thing going again!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>FIVE PM...it's TEAM DAY at the Rio....then at 7:30...TEAM DINNER at Carmine's. Gonna be a great day!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>If you would like a last second PIECE OF THE ACTION on this summer's team...I have a hard 40 shares left to sell. $200 per share. Just email me if you are interested...at.... ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com. That's it. EIGHT. I won't go beyond that. Just not enough time. If I sell all these shares before the team meeting...I WILL name that person...and hopefully they might be able to be here to be in the TEAM PHOTO! For now...I am heading to the pool!!!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>MONK</b></span></div>
Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-55081552215788910342018-06-29T14:36:00.003-05:002018-06-29T14:36:40.934-05:00VEGAS! HERE WE COME!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just thirty days ago, I was SO NOT pumped for this trip! Me and Squirrel were having probably our best 'run' ever in our marriage. The new house we moved into is getting, slowly but surely...to where we want it. Me...I'm all about making the outside look great! Her...she's all about making the inside look amazing! It's so much fun to be in what I am pretty sure will be our LAST house! At least until Carley heads off to college...and maybe even still then. It's not too small...and its no where too big. In fact...it's perfect!!! I love waking up...walking out to the back deck...letting the dogs out, and gazing out over our beautiful pond. Some mornings there is a little bit of hazy fog floating over it...and it just gives me such a great feeling of peace, and happiness. Our new puppy, Daisy...who we got for Christmas...a few months after my best buddy of 12 years...Jasper, passed away in my car on the way to euthanize him after a battle with organ failure, she LOVES that pond. And its all we can do to keep her out of it. But watching her out there, her little (but growing fast) black head bobbing up and down as she swims around...just makes me feel the simplest of joys. And while Cheryl complains about having to always bath her...I know...I can tell..cuz I know that woman...that she wouldn't trade it for anything. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carley is finally sleeping in her own room. It only took 6 years. Oh sure...there are still a few nights here an there when she feels that need to come back in and sleep with us. But for the most part...she is transforming into "little girl" and moving away from our "sweet little baby." It makes me sad...but also happy. She's a great kid. A little spoiled (duh) but a great kid. She has MY love for all living creatures...started with stuffed animals, then moved to live animals. She has a heart of gold. She has her mothers' caring and nurturing nature. She's shy, and awkward, and a little bit dramatic...but I wouldn't change anything about her. She IS...my heart and soul..and best friend. And she has made me and Squirrel so much stronger as a couple. I love our little family. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well...Squirrel hates it when I go off without her. And she has every right. Putting all that pressure on her to have to take care of Carley...and the animals! And just me being out of pocket...I get it. It sucks. I would have preferred to take her and Carley with me. In fact I always prefer that. But she has no real desire to go to Vegas for a week. She's been there, done that. Did it once already with Carley and her...and Carley's little friend Abbey, and yeah..it was a really good time. But once was enough. Plus she erroneously screwed up at work...and not only used up all her vacation days...but royally screwed up and has cost us our health insurance...for at least the next 6 months. I guess we have to go on COBRA...which we know little about..and won't even GET the info until our current insurance is up on July 1st. So I have no idea what that will cost. She feels terrible about letting it happen...but I keep telling her, its not her fault. MGM makes it SO hard, and confusing...to stay on top of the hours. I've seen her at the dining room table trying to figure it out and it's absurd. She isn't the first of her friends who have had that happen to. I know of at least two others. Now she has to make up all these hours so we can get it back. To be honest...she really doesn't need that job...at all. But she would (a) get cabin fever if she was home all day with me...in fact...she might just kill me!!!! and (b) all her friends work at the Beau...its what she's been doing for a long time...and I think she just really kind of likes that daily routine. I think she would be miserable if she quit. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So anyway...as I look at the clock...yikes...I've made a promise...on my last day in town for a week...that I will take Carley and her little friend to see 'The Incredible's 2' today at 3:25. I still have to shower (probably won't) and then pick up her friend. I logged on with the intent to bang out a QUICKIE BLOG...where I would do a special, exclusive announcement...of our SIXTH member of the 2018 TEAM MONKEY GRINDERS...aka MINIONS! NO ONE but this person knows! I just told him/her last night! I sent out a "Last Call" email to my massive network of 2000+ people who play my pools, have invested in teams in the past...and just a lot of family and friends...and my shares sold in less than 12 hours have skyrocketed...from 263 shares sold (250 is enough to send 5 players) to a whopping 326 as I write this!!! So now...we not only have enough sold to send SIX...but are just 24 away from sending a SEVENTH!!!! And just based on how the past few years have gone...with a TON of interest coming in the few days leading up to the Main Event...have to think that hitting our total of EIGHT players (400 shares sold) from last year...is very possible! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for payment? I have a shockingly high...I'd say about 85% of the shares either paid for...being withheld from the players' buy ins...or am collecting from them when I get to Vegas. I take numerous forms of payments...but with it being this close to the start of the action (MONDAY JULY 2nd is DAY 1A) I am pretty much taking ONLY electronic payments...unless I have a good credit history with the person...and they can text or email me a photo of their check before they mail it. Fortunately...I have enough of a cushion in savings that I am able to cover any shortfall that I may have when I arrive in Vegas. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE TEAM DAY</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...which includes getting every registered, getting their contracts signed, taking the team photo...passing out their team gear, then going to (first time this year...replacing Maggianos's, who I got sick of ripping me off on the final check..with ME eating it and NOT passing it along to the rest of the dinner party) Carmine's for our team dinner...all of that will happen on Sunday night! Then...its time to GET IT ON!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I noticed in looking at my stats counter...that a LOT OF YOU have been hitting this site...looking for updates and possibly info! Okay...I was going to wait...but lets do this:</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TEAM MEMBER NUMBER SIX..</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">..after much much much consideration....and with 3 or 4 others who are STILL on my very very hot on deck circle for a 7th and/or 8th spot.....is FORMER MINION....long time poker pal....and a guy who's style of play is absolutely PERFECT for this kind of tournament. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PLEASE WELCOME BACK........</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> MICHAEL "CARWASH" SCHNEIDER!!!!!!</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>On top of everything else...he is easily one of the most-liked guys in the game. I can't think of anyone I've ever run into that (a) doesn't know him and (b) doesn't like him. I've never, not once...heard anyone say..."Oh Carwash? I hate that guy. He's such a douche." Now...me? I'm not naive or delusional enough to think that these words haven't been spoken about me...MANY times!!! Hey! It's all good! I am the team guy who lays on the grenades for all my teammates!!!! I'll take all the bullets!!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>NOW lets get to work....we got some more shares to sell....I gotta take Carley to go see this movie!!! I'll be checking my email, texts and Facebook all throughout the movie!!!! AGAIN...if you wish to purchase shares...they are $200 PER SHARE....(50 shares equals $10,000 and sends a player, I take NO FEE whatsoever for running this deal) and I need you to EMAIL ME at ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com. Please do NOT hit me up anywhere else. Things just have a way of getting very spread out and confusing when that starts happening!!!</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HAVE A GREAT FRIDAY!!! I will be back with an update tomorrow sometime...probably while flying over America!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MONKEY</span></b></div>
Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-30475288789904955112018-06-13T19:12:00.004-05:002018-06-13T19:12:46.248-05:00THE MARCH TO VEGAS BEGINS!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>As promised, I am back with a fresh blog post inside of ten months, the time between my previous two posts! Things since I announced the relaunch of my Summer Grinders has been fast and furious. Shares are going like ...hotcakes? How did that ever become 'a thing?' Going like hotcakes? When have hotcakes ever been in really high demand? And what ARE hotcakes? Are they pancakes? Are they cakes with a hot, molten center like those you get at Chili's after dinner? I don't know...but the shares are, indeed, going at a brisk pace. As I am writing this...at 11:25pm on Tuesday night...we are currently sitting at 186 shares sold. What that means...is I have sold enough to send the first THREE players...with 36 of 50 sold to send the FOURTH player. My initial goal...was to make dreams come true for FIVE players this summer. But...my gut instinct is that if I keep aggressively chatting things up...and getting help from some others...we might just have a shot to get to the same 400 shares that we sold last summer...when we sent 8 players.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And with all the numerous applications I have received in my email at ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com there is nothing I would like to do then to send as many quality, well-deserving (and hungry!) players to Vegas as I possibly can for me and all of our investment team to root for. I know one of the things that helps sell shares is to announce the players as I go...in hopes that the people who support THEM...will jump on board and buy some shares so they can have a rooting interest in THEM...and in doing so...will create a situation for someone else wanting to join the team. The more we sell..the more opportunities we create for more players and their rooting base! Then...at the end of the day...we come together as ONE TEAM....Monkey's 2018 WSOP GRINDERS! Also known, lovingly as MONKEY'S MINIONS!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>SO...without further adieu...and that's a delayed ADIEU...because I fell asleep writing this last night! It's now Wednesday afternoon...been processing picks all morning for my next pool...for the U.S. OPEN that starts tomorrow morning. So now I am getting back to finishing this blog post...already have had 5 people ask me when I'm announcing who the first three team members are. Okay okay okay....here they are!!!! You ready????</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">THE FIRST PLAYER</span><span style="color: blue;"> being named to the team this summer? This one is easy...and kind of self-explanatory. Chris Canan, who finished 520th for a shade under $25,000 was our highest finishing team member last summer...and as such, as has been established in the first four years of this team, gets the AUTO INVITE to the team the following year. Now, if that player decides to play for someone else, perhaps for a better deal, or even on his/her own dime? Hey! That's great! We wish them the very best! In the case of this year? Chris is excited to return and try to better his 520th place finish. Chris is someone who has been very supportive of the team even BEFORE he was named to the team last summer...so it's great to have him back for another go at it!</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/305418-christopher-canan/results/overall</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">THE SECOND PLAYER</span><span style="color: blue;"> being named to the team this summer? A lot of you might not know this person. I do. And have for about a decade. You likely don't know much about HER...because she really doesn't get much of a chance to play that much. Why? Because she happens to be employed! Full time! She works for NASA. Or did. She is...literally....our resident rocket scientist! One of the most intelligent people I know...she brings her cerebral talents to the felt. I've had the chance to observe her game over the years and always come away amazed with how sharp she is in so many of the different aspects of the game. She nearly won the Women's WSOP event last summer, finishing 13th in a huge field.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/72355-kristen-deardorff/results/overall</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Above is a link to Kristen's Cardplayer profile that offers a glance at some/most of her career cashes. Again...it's not going to blow you away. That isn't the intent with the naming of Kristen. She is a player who I know...and who I believe in...and am picking purely on the basis that I think she is capable of doing great things in this tournament, under this structure. I am fully aware that I am opening myself up to second-guessing from people, even investors...but those who have followed (even backed) me in the past 12-15 years...I think trust my (a) own abilities and (b) my eye for talent when it comes to other players. But if I can be honest? I'd love it if Kristen does me a solid and just goes ahead and at LEAST cashes....so I can avoid the scrutiny that some may have of me!!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">As for the </span><span style="color: red;">THIRD PLAYER</span><span style="color: blue;">? Now this one might come as a bit of a surprise. And might also come with some heavy scrutiny, even criticism. And that's fair. But...let me just explain how this pick was made. There are several reasons. First...SHE (yes...another woman!) has basically busted her tail to assist me in a LOT of ways the last few years...but the most vital being the taking on the creation of the TEAM GEAR. Hats, t-shirts and hoodies. She went from just helping me get them made the first year...then the same last year...but handling ALL the orders and MAILING, for anyone who purchased team gear. The time she saved me was incalculable. Since I got started way late this summer...we will be limited to just T-Shirts this year...and they are ready. Below is a look at them. Notice the monkey is holding MY favorite hand!? Yes...that was by design!</span></b></span><br />
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On top of all that...Jacqueline Britton has been incredibly instrumental in bringing us supporters/investors. As I scroll down the list there are easily 15-20 people who have joined our investor pool SOLELY because she brought them to us. So from that standpoint, she has literally EARNED her way onto the team this summer.</b><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/48104-jacqueline-britton/results/overall</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But before you start babbling about "yeah but what does THAT have to do with her ability to play poker?" Okay. Fair enough. So last summer...I bought a little action on Jacqueline's Lady's WSOP event...and then missed out on her $1500 Monster Stack tournament. With a total of 6,716 entries...she managed to finish 88th. All during the tourney she was texting me...picking my brain...asking for help. But in following her, I was extremely impressed with the decisions she was making. I always hesitate immensely to give people advice when they are in the throes of a deep run. I try to impress upon them that they HAVE to be playing pretty well to have gotten that far....and to have faith, and confidence in themselves. Also...they have a better feel for the people they are playing with than I do...seated sometimes 100's of miles away! Yes, it's flattering to know that my opinion is highly regarded. But I don't want the responsibility of giving advice based on something where I am lacking certain vital information. She did a fantastic job. I have NO doubts whatsoever that she has the skills to do well in the Main. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I consider one of the primary skills in the Main Event to be patience. Because with (upped again from 30k to 50k) a starting stack like this...and two hour blind levels you can literally play one or two winning hands on Day 1 and survive with an above average stack. But you have to be able to fight that nagging urge to start playing some ugly hands out of sheer boredom. The Main Event is a patient players Utopia. For those players who like to mix it up...set the tone...run the table....be in every other hand? The Main Event is a massive drain of energy for them. You can't WIN the Main Event on Day 1. Or 2. Or 3...you get the point. All you can do is lose. And a lot of really aggressive players will do JUST that. But the tight, patient players? They tend to survive...picking spots...using their table image...studying their table mates and making well-calculated moves against them at the right times. The Super Aggro's? They just keep playing the same way...until eventually...they make the wrong move at the wrong time. And those guys tend to develop an attitude, and ego...and refuse to be taken off a hand. So they commonly succumb to their own foolish and stubborn pride. I have always rather enjoyed watching those kind of players go down in flames. It makes me giddy.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And so...if you are wondering still...what kind of players I look for when putting this team together? It's NOT the kind I just explained. Because I really don't CARE how many chips you manage to accumulate by the end of Day 1 or 2. Hey GREAT! You have 350,000 chips! Yay! We are only 1000 from the money. You know what a chipstack like THAT carries with it? A massive amount of potential disappointment. Because there is almost always only ONE WAY for them to go. DOWN. Because the type of player who AMASSES that stack? Is rarely the kind of player who suddenly downshifts into "protect mode." Nope. That player is going out on Day 3 trying to run that 350,000 up to a million. And in doing so...tend to lock up in battles all day against players of similar style and stack size...and while one of them will emerge with the other one's stack...the other guy hits the bricks...to the loud moans of those supporting him/her. Because they just COULDN'T downshift...go into protect mode...guard their 100+ big blind start...and finesse their way into the money...while possibly picking up some monster hands along the way and maybe taking out smaller stacks. I've always said...I'd rather have a BIG STACK...and LET the smaller stacks give me their chips. Then to have a BIG STACK...and try to STEAL the smaller stacks chips.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Okay...so those are your starting three. There will be no more women named to the team. We've never had more than one. And this year we have two. Lady players...they are a special breed. They really do stick together. We were to get one of these gals making it to the final table? They might have to move it to the MGM Arena to accommodate all the viewer requests. I expect we will get a LOT more ladies jumping in and buying shares so they can have a piece of these two gals...and that our Team Facebook Group page will be jumping!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So who is next? We are only about 15 shares away from naming a fourth player...then next up will be the 5th (and maybe final) player. I am heading out to St Thomas next Thursday for five days to celebrate our one-year anniversary of opening Bernie's with my best buddy Barth Melius. Then I come home...go to my nephews graduation from Marine training over in Pensacola the next morning...then Squirrel and I are going to the Eagles concert in New Orleans two nights later...and then BAM! It's time for me to jump on a plane and fly out to Vegas with a backpack full of cash...contracts...and a bunch of hope and optimism. So my timetable to get the finishing touches put on this year's team is really tight. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I know a lot of people, locally anyway, were really hoping (even counting on) for a Wild Card tournament like I've done in the past...where I give 10-15 players a chance to buy in for $400 or so...and awarding the winner of that tournament a seat to the team and the tourney. Sadly...and due mainly to my own tardiness, I won't be doing that this summer...simply because there isn't time for it. Wild Bill Phillips, however...has been running his own satellites at our bar (Out of Bounds) in Metairie over the past couple of months to get more people to the Main Event. Bill offered to run an event for me...a couple of times...and I need to make sure to thank him for that offer. I probably should have let him do it...but I would rather not do something where I can't be there to oversee it. Also...I wanted to be in control of who was invited to play. Despite my fondness for MOST players in the area...there are SOME who I openly can't stand...nor would I want them anywhere NEAR the team I put my name on. And if they were to win a tournament that granted them automatic entry onto my team? I would be livid. So there's that. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So who is on deck? Well...as I mentioned earlier...I have gotten a BUNCH of applications from players. Some are better than others...not just in how much they told me about themselves, and expressed why I should pick them...and how hungry they are....but also in terms of their past results. To me...the story sometimes is just as important as the overall stats. I have to make two (maybe more) really really really difficult choices. I am deciding between a few past players...some who already cashed for me/us...and some who didn't...but came close. I am deciding on a couple of guys I know personally...one who has won a WSOP bracelet...who are a little down on their luck in their personal lives...and could really use a HUGE opportunity to potentially turn their lives around. There is a lot to consider...and plenty of people to choose from. And like I said...I hate being the person who delivers bad news. In a perfect world...someone with REALLY DEEP POCKETS will call me up (or text me) and say "Hey! Monkey! I love what you're doing man! How about if I buy 200 shares myself so you can send another four players!???" That would be killer. My partner Barth knows a couple of guys like that. I know a couple. I'll cross my fingers. But for now...I am counting on a big push from my investor base to start pummeling my email box at ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com to request shares so we can send another awesome team out to Vegas!!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>As for myself? I just checked out something I haven't looked at in awhile...especially since I hardly play anymore...MY Cardplayer profile. I see I am sitting at 146 career cashes...which of course is ONLY on tourneys that the buy in was $300 or more. I do WONDER how many cashes I would have on there if they reported ALL tourneys played...say, over $100. It would be fun to know...but alas...I don't think there is ANY way to know. But I am looking at a lineup of events at Venetian, The Wynn and Aria during the week I am in Vegas...that would give me a shot at getting to 150 career cashes...and maybe re-light my poker flame! Something about getting to Vegas...and getting immersed in that environment..it always really gets my competitive juices flowing...and my desire to win. Back when I went out for 7 weeks...and I was NEEDING to come home a winner to ensure that my bills got paid...now I'm in a much better place financially, and I can go and just play for the fun of it, and to play BIGGER buy in tourneys with a chance to win something that will make an impact on my family's life. No more laboring through these $300-$400 tourneys...playing for hours and either min-cashing for peanuts...or angrily busting after hours of play. If I'm going to play a tourney...there is gonna be a BIG score at the end of that rainbow!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I will post another blog next week before I head off to St Thomas and let everyone know where we are SHARES-wise. We're almost there! 3 weeks til GO TIME!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>MONKEY</b></span></div>
Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-37963233513720692362018-06-01T13:44:00.001-05:002018-06-02T20:15:44.665-05:00The Bear is Out of His Cave!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well...HELLO! Remember me!??? So back on February 21st...after a 6-month absence from blogging...I sat down all ready to finally post something. This snippet below is as far as I got. And now...it's June 1st. It's summer! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">{6 months long enough? That's how long it's been since my last entry on this poker blog. Far and away the longest stretch in the history of this scribe. I don't even know where to start. It's truly amazing just how much can transpire in half a year. Do I talk about what's happened in MY life? Do I talk about what's happened in the world? And give my commentary on all of it? Do I even attempt to delve into poker-related shenanigans? I suppose if I were going to do that, I probably should have thrown up a post back in January during the Beau Rivage's last tourney. There was actually some decent material that week to write about. But...alas, I once again dropped the ball. Or, rather, the pen. Or more specifically, the keyboard.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And sadly...I only started this entry...at 3am, for one reason. Because, as someone with OCD...who is a true "To Do List" aficionado...if I can just commit the act of STARTING something...then I am guaranteed to actually finish it in a relatively acceptable amount of time. Hopefully tomorrow. For now...I'm off to bed. }</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yeah...well...so here we are. June. So much has happened in the last 10 months. SO much. And with the Main Event in Vegas set to begin in just a month...I haven't even lifted the first finger to launch this summer's team of WSOP Grinders...aka "The Minions." In peeking at the schedule, I see they have moved up the starting date of the Main even further this year...and instead of Day 1 a, b and c taking place over the weekend...its now a M-T-W affair. Weird. In fact Day 1C is on the 4th of July. So if I am going to do it for a (is this correct???) 5th consecutive year...oh..it is, I pulled up the spreadsheet. 4 players in 2014, 5 players in '15, 6 players in '16, then 8 (bucking the escalating trend) in 2017. So yeah...this WOULD...be the 5th year in a row. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">FULL DISCLOSURE. It's been a long year. Long, taxing, stressful, pain-filled year...and to be completely honest? I really do NOT WANT to do the team this summer. I really don't. And it's for no other reason than I'd just like a chance to DO NOTHING. To sit on the back deck of our new home we just moved into this spring...and look out over our 4 acre back yard...and the pond back there...and drink something cold, eat something tasty...watch Carley run around in the back yard with our dogs or her friends, and just enjoy the summer free of any responsibilities. People just don't, and to be fair, CAN'T...fully comprehend what an undertaking it is putting this team together. For starters...I typically start talking it up in about March! I have generally had the team pretty well in place by NOW. Then its just a matter of getting all the Team Schwag produced and dispersed, and collecting all the money from investors...then making MY plans to get out to Vegas to orchestrate everything. I know it sounds like a quick and easy mission...but wow...it's NOT!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Over the past month I have been getting bombarded by a LOT of poker players, even investors (both past and those wanting to get in for the first time) asking for details on this year's team. I've even had a few people offer to lend their assistance with the endeavor. [If you are one of those and I didn't respond...sorry, I just didn't know what or how to say what I might have said!] </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here is why I can't just "turn it over" to someone else to run. For 25 years...I have run sports pools of all various types. In that time I have grown a network of people...from probably 25 when I started...to about 2000 today. Along the way I added people from my various career fields...one of those being poker. So when I decide to do something of this magnitude...it involves reaching out to those 2000 people whose trust I have earned over the years. See...despite being owed more money than I care to even try to digest, from over 100 people...I keep slugging away with the pools. Trust me, the GOOD definitely outweigh the BAD. By a long shot. The BAD just make it a little frustrating at times. Well...I have never, not ONCE...failed to pay a person who I owe money. Hence...when doing something like "The Minions?" There are a lot of people sending me a LOT of money...and people don't just DO THAT...unless they KNOW 100% that the person running the show is someone they can trust to not just run it properly, but also be trustworthy when it comes to handling the money, as well as disbursing the winnings, whatever those may end up being. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am smart enough to know that if I were to just allow someone to take over for me...that they would have an extremely hard time getting all of my customers who I have built relationships with over the past three decades to just jump on board without any trepidation whatsoever. And so...if this is going to happen...it's going to happen with me and me alone MAKING IT happen. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So? I get it. The feedback has convinced me. And once I get the ball rolling...it will get done, and get done right. I pride myself on NOT doing things "half-assed." We might not have the same number of players as we have been getting the past few years. Maybe a smaller team. Maybe NOT? I can't predict the way people will respond. The economy...we are told..is robust. Right? Wrong? I don't know. Depends, I guess, on who you are listening to...and if they have motivations or an agenda at play. And players? I always have a large pool of players to choose from. But I like to choose those who are HUNGRY and WANT to play for my team...under my banner. I'm not just looking to give someone a convenient stake. That's not what this team was started for. I get people asking me left and right to buy their action for the World Series. Typically...if I'm going to buy ANY action on ANYONE for the WSOP...it's going to be MY team. And I will buy a LOT of it. 15 shares last year alone. I like to put my money into things that I have poured my heart and soul into. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've been extremely proud of the poker players who have played on my teams the last four years. We have yet to have anyone make that "BREAKOUT SCORE" that defines a player for his/her poker career...but man, we have had a few of them come close. Some brutally unlucky breaks here and there...which truly IS the name of the game in poker (most of you know of MY bad luck break at the 2012 WSOP with 155 remaining...when my KK lost to 10-10 and ended my dream) or we might have had some MAJOR returns on our investments. But we have had a LOT of people cash! In fact...Wild Bill Phillips, who has played on all four squads...got deepest in our first year...then 'cashed' in back to back years before falling just short last year. Christian Iacobellis, who has represented us the last two years...has also cashed in BOTH trips...and is an odds-on favorite to represent the squad again. And as part of my unwritten and unofficial policy of "Thee Who Goes Deepest Gets an Invite to Return Next Summer," Chris Canan holds that title from last year's team. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know that if I DON'T do the team...the closer we get to the Main Event...the itchier and itchier I am going to be getting. Not having my team there would expose a big void in my life for those two weeks. The excitement of having over 100 investors on board...cheering like crazy on our Facebook Team/Investor page...always adds so much to the experience. I know if I don't do the team...it's going to really dig at me. So...with that in mind...LET 'ER RIP! And lets see how much earth I can move in just 3 or 4 weeks!!!! Adding to the limited time...I have to take a trip June 21-25th down to St Thomas to celebrate our one-year anniversary of opening 'Bernie's,' It's also an excuse to celebrate the birthday of my business partner and best friend, Barth Melius. I haven't been down to St Thomas since the week of Thanksgiving...when I took the family down there. Point blank...it SUCKED. I truly wish (as did the girls) that we had gone to Maui instead. The flight alone would have been less. Paid around $900 per ticket. And the condo we had to rent was grossly overpriced. The one that we rent was still out of commission due to the hurricanes that ravaged the island. So we overpaid for a place that had power that came and went. Had no clean running water. No internet. No television. It was awful. Yeah...the beach was nice. Unless you ask Squirrel. Some people are completely immune to sand fleas...and some get devoured. Put my wife in that second category. She got annihilated by them...was covered head to toe in what looked like a bad rash. And she itched like a maniac for 5 days solid. She was mIsErAbLe!!!! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The GOOD NEWS....is that our bar wasn't affected at all...so we were one of the only places operating on the island. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In a show of generosity and just basic human caring...Barth decided to treat a TON of people (10,000 was the last estimate I heard) to free meals in the months after the hurricane. Power line workers, FEMA reps, National Guard, local police and military, insurance adjusters...they all knew Bernie's was a place they could come in for a cold drink and a warm meal...and it really made a lasting impression on everyone on the island. I'm extremely proud to be not just business partners...but friends...with such a good guy who has such a kind heart. It was the right thing to do, at the right time...and we are now starting to reap the benefits from the rest of the community down there. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On a side note...Barth was forced out of his old location in Metairie...where his bar 'Out of Bounds' had been for 12 years...because his landlord...who had previously run a failing bar in that location before letting Barth have the space and run it successfully...decided after meeting a girl half his age...that he would like to try being a rock star, albeit an aging one...like, THINK: Keith Richards!!! Throwing her the keys and letting her "run her own bar" while he reaped the benefits of being a wanna-be Hugh Hefner (rest in peace Hugh!). So yeah...Barth didn't get his lease renewed...and was forced to quickly find a new location AND move out within 30 days. It was a total jam job. But Barth being Barth...he sucked it up..utilized his resources, and found a location. A better location. A two-story location...one that once we are able to get the upstairs done (the lower level opened for business again months ago) once permits are finally granted, and build out is completed, will serve as a fantastic venue for the frequent poker games and tourneys he likes to run. Well as it turned out...he needed a little cash flow to make the move...so I was extended an offer to come on board as a part owner of Out of Bounds, too. Of course I jumped at the chance. So now...I have a nice piece of two very successful bars (with food) that are about 2000 miles apart!!!! Oh, and....Clarence? The putz who forced us out of the old location? Months later...he STILL hasn't opened "his" place.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In February...after a conversation about what to do about our "Carley/Guest Room" problem...as it related to all of Carley's toys...Squirrel and I ended our discussion with me telling her..."Look, I never thought this house was going to be our last house. I've always wanted a big yard. I hate having neighbors 20 feet away. I'd like a pond for the dogs to play in...maybe enough land to have horses someday. If you think Carley is outgrowing her room....go! Go find a bigger house!" So what did she do? She called up our favorite realtor....who a LOT of you know...Jonathan Griffin...who used to be my "go to guy" when he managed the local Buckle for about 15 years. Well now he is this town's SUPER REALTOR. I mean...that title doesn't come lightly...I actually WORKED in real estate myself for awhile when I lived in Atlanta. It wasn't for me. Well..it suits Jonathan perfectly, and he is GREAT at his job. Didn't take him long to find us a few places to look at. The first one we looked at...we both LOVED. Had an amazing back yard with a beautiful deck and pool. Secluded. 3 acres. Only one problem. ZERO closet space. IT was a deal killer. Next up...the house we ended up buying. Woolmarket area. 4 acres. 1.3 acre pond in back yard. 2500 square feet house. Two-car garage. Bought it the Friday before the Super Bowl. But didn't move in until after March Madness! Hired some handymen and spent a butt load of time and money getting it to where Squirrel wanted it before moving in. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then, once we got moved in...it was time to work on the OLD house to get IT ready to rent out. Two months of having no one in there left a mark financially...but when it came time to rent it out..it was immaculate. And with all the improvements, upgrades and repairs that I've put into that house...my renters are basically getting a brand new home. They begged us not to rent to anyone else...as they needed a couple of weeks. I let them have it...and they are thrilled. Hopefully they turn out to be even HALF as good as the tenant I have renting my house in Pensacola. Another property that has seen a TON of money spent on repairs and upgrades this year. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Carley just graduated from Kindergarten! It was a great year. I spent lots of time going there to eat lunch with her...and volunteering for stuff at her school. I got to know all the kids in her class really well. It was a lot of fun. I love hanging out with little kids. They are so funny. So innocent. And they ask the silliest questions that just crack me up. Next year...Carley will be moving from North Bay to North Woolmarket. I hope the school is at least close to as good as North Bay was. And the kids as nice. In the meantime...she is home with Daddy for the summer...but next week she starts a Summer Camp Program through North Bay that is limited to only a small number of kids. Squirrel went there at 4 in the morning...after her and I had been out the night before for a concert and gambling...suffice to say...she was miserable. But she got the spot!!! Carley will be joined by 4 of her best friends...so she should have a great time. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What else? Alabama won the National Championship!!! Again! My Mariners are a game out of first place!!!! The NBA is rigged...obviously, as the Cavs and Warriors hook up in the Finals for the FOURTH year in a row. That's never happened in the history of the league. My Rangers missed the NHL playoffs for the first time since Carley's been alive...but the 1st year Vegas Golden Knights have done the absolutely unthinkable...and not just won their division...but are sitting in the Stanley Cup Finals...with the series tied at a game apiece headed back to DC. Crazy crazy crazy!!!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Trump is still president...YUP! The crazy lunatic liberals still haven't impeached him. I've had to back away from any and almost all communications with liberals. At first...it was kind of fun. It was fun to kind of poke the bear. But it was also an attempt to try and win over people that were (in my opinion) lacking in political knowledge. But as time went on...and it became evident that the lunatics who I find are infected with TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) I learned that they were simply incorrigible, and were in no way going to be moved from their position on Trump. Occasionally...I will happen upon a thread that grabs my attention...that deals with some kind of political thing...and I will catch myself..before it gets too deep...or too incendiary...and I pull the ejection handle and get the hell out of there. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In case you don't KNOW my position on politics, and/or Trump? In my life...I've never thrown my loyalty to any ONE party. I think the people who simply pledge themselves to a party...no matter what...are idiots. Narrow-minded, non-independent thinking morons. I have basically thrown my support behind the candidate who I think is either the right person for the current moment...or has the policies I find most appealing. Now...in my 40 years of following politics, I always found that MOST politicians would say one thing to get elected, then a whole different thing ONCE elected. So it's been refreshing, actually, to see that Trump has kept almost ALL of his campaign promises. Some more than others. Some we are still waiting on, of course...but hurdles stand in the way. I felt that Hillary Clinton was (and still is) one of the worst human beings who ever held any office. I think she is corrupt to the bone. And I wasn't interested in seeing a continuation of Obama's 8 years of fuck ups. And so...I voted for a guy who I consider to be an egotistical douchebag. Who has a knack for saying the wrong things at the wrong time. Who is immature. Who badly needs a Twitter "handler." Who exaggerates like no one I've ever seen (which just leads the other side to scream LIAR!!!!) ...and for what reason? Deep-seeded insecurity? I don't know. So yeah...he's flawed. Some would say WAYYYYY FLAWED. But? He's the right president at the right time. He makes things happen. He's a risk taker. He's not afraid to swing for the fences. He has reestablished our country as a STRONG nation that other nations fear again. And with fear...comes respect. Just as I've been my whole life...you can't always be overly concerned with everyone "liking you." As long as they "respect you." And as much as you may hate Donald Trump...its hard to deny that we are benefiting from him being in office from a lot of angles. And if you can't? Well..then you are just "one of them" and please don't try to engage me in political chit chat.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So..back to poker. Geez...I wouldn't mind getting out there and actually playing something myself. I was looking at the schedule for the Beau Rivage...just this week...and it looks, unless I've completely lost my ability to read....like they quit doing their $50k Guarantee tournament twice a month. Which would/will really suck. Because now a days...it takes a lot to motivate me to leave the compound to go sit with a bunch of annoying poker players to win a, meh...."decent" amount of money. Its about the only prize pool locally that I can't find the motivation to go play for...and now it might be toast. I hope not. Maybe they just took the summer off. Actually, it looks like the poker room is about to move (again) because they just voted to allow states to decide if they want to allow sports betting. And all indicators are pointing to the Beau being in the Sports booking business pretty soon. That should be fun. Not sure just HOW much of an impact that will have on the local economy. Hopefully its a much-needed shot in the arm for everyone here on the coast. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">[update: I dropped in to edit a few items today, and should add that last night I saw Derek from the poker room...and he informed me that the 50k is NOT gone. I simply looked at The Poker Atlas...which he says is always wrong, despite his numerous attempts to get them to correctly report their tourney schedule. The wife and I also played a little poker...an hour BEFORE the show, and a couple hours AFTER the show. I was +750 before the show...and -600 after the show. The crippler was flopping a full house...holding 55 on a board of J-5-J. I was pretty certain by the turn that the other person had a jack. SO it ALL got in there...and wouldn't you know? They hit the 1-outer Jack for QUADS to felt me? That suckkkkkkkkked!!!! ]</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">OKAY. This is an OPEN CALL for people who are interested in either (a) PLAYING on my 2018 Summer WSOP team....or (b) INVESTING in the team. Shares cost $200. The players get to play for 35% of what they win. The buy in isn't included in that. If a player "wins" a total of, say....$75k? $10k goes back to the investors. The players winnings are $65k...and they get 35% of that. Investors split up and share 65% of ALL COMBINED WINNINGS. I collect all monies (from investors). I hand the money to the players. I observe them buying in. I take a picture of their seat receipt. They all sign player/investor contracts. We take a team photo. If I have time...they will all receive team "gear" in the form of hats, t-shirts and either polo shirts or hoodies. Again...if time allows...since I dragged my feet so bad this year. I have an ace in the hole named Jacqueline who might...MIGHT...be able to make something happen along those lines!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you would like to participate as either a PLAYER or as an INVESTOR...I ask that you email me at ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com. Yes...I still have America Online. Don't judge me. I have my reasons. They are lame, kind of...but still...my reasons. Okay...go ahead and judge. I probably would too! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I will now attempt to blog on a regular basis this month...and update the whole process. Keep everyone in the loop on where we stand and where we are headed, or trying to get to. Just getting this blog written was the first obstacle, the first hurdle...in getting this effort restarted for another exciting year. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tonight!??? Me and Squirrel are having yet another "Date Night!!!" That's about 6 or 7 now this year! Dinner at BR Prime...a little gambling...then off to see one of my favorite comedians, Jim Gaffigan!!!! And thank god...I still have a few favorites who haven't let their politics force me to scratch them off my list of "favorite performers." In 2018...it seems to be a dead heat between "Who will do or say something to ruin their careers" and "Who's politics will cause me to never support them ever again???" What a year. What a time we live in. See ya soon!!! Promise...much much sooner than 10 months!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">SENOR MONKEY</span></b><br />
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Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-37258874402904696502017-08-12T14:26:00.004-05:002017-08-12T17:12:59.084-05:00Ohhhh What a Crazy Week!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>www.gulfcoastpoker.net</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So much to write about. Not even sure where to begin. Probably should start with the thing that got my blood boiling last night, since its so fresh in my mind. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So...currently, there is a Card Player (along with Tito's Vodka) sponsored event going on at the semi-new Scarlet Pearl casino here in Biloxi. Way back before the place even opened, I emailed the head of table games...and shared a lot of great ideas that I had for their poker room. Told them how excited I was for their arrival in our town. Then I made them an offer I would have thought would at least garner a response of some kind, at the very least:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"Let me come in and be your poker room manager for 3 months. You can pay me $1 a month, for 3 months. Then, at the end of those three months, if you like the direction things are going? We can sit down and discuss salary." I never even got a response. In actuality, with all that I have going on...it's probably a blessing it didn't come to fruition. I am not really someone who likes a 9-5 job, at ALL, in fact. Not to mention the time it would have cost me with my girls. Yeah...no thanks. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Meanwhile, I've been rooting hard for these guys to make it. It's this big, spacious room, high ceilings, lots of room between the tables. No shuffle masters on the tables (hear THAT Gabe Costner!!????) which I personally like. You can get food that is quite delicious. And when it comes to brands that you can order from the cocktail waitresses? They have no limitations. Which is hard to find these days as casinos continue to look for ways to cut costs. So in this respect....they really have a lot to offer. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>But...for some reason, it continues to struggle. I frequently peek at my Bravo poker app to see where there might be a cash game in town to go play...and they almost never have more than 1 or 2 tables going. (then you have casinos like Golden Nugget who won't even spend the money FOR Bravo...which is completely insane) I was excited for this event, hoping they would draw some good numbers, and more importantly attract some players who had not had a chance to play there yet. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>In other words? A really, really great opportunity for them to make a good first impression. I would say on the poker end...they are doing a really good job this week. They seem to have added just enough over flow tables to accommodate the number of players who showed up. Anyone that has had to go in as an alternate, hasn't had to wait very long. Unlike some casinos, they didn't tie up a bunch of tables spreading cash game to the detriment of players waiting to get in the tourney...and frankly, that might just have more to do with them not really having a solid cash game clientele, more than anything. But nonetheless, its nice to see all 8 tables plus the five outside the poker room, being used strictly for tournaments. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I've noticed a sharp improvement in the dealers there since my last tournament experience there. The floor also seems to have a better grasp of how to run the events. Floor calls are being made a lot more....well, correctly, then I've witnessed in the past. So all in all, the staff has done a good job. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>One thing that I hate!!!! And I will always hate. Have always hated...and just can't for the life of me figure out why they won't come off of it (some casinos have-finally) is the insistence to make players sit and play 10-handed. It is the WORST! And there is nothing I can stand less than asking for a reason...especially when there are plenty of open tables...and being told "That's just the way THEY (you mean we? Right?) do it here." So...in other words, they COULD change it, if THEY felt like it...but they don't want to. I get it. 10-handed equals fewer tables, equals fewer dealer downs. Equals more money for dealers. Equals more money for the house. The difference is nominal. But for the players? And trust me...I talk to a LOT of players...to a man, we HATE it. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>And if you are like me? And a bit of a "Space-A-Phobe?" I sometimes sit down and within minutes am on life tilt. Players are usually pretty nice, and will square up and allow you your space. But then there are some who are just total dicks about it. They've apparently gotten very used to that extra leg and arm room that was there before you arrived...and they will fight you for it. Making it even worse...years ago, I gave up on trying to sit down and hoping the players would adjust automatically. I started just standing there, and mouthing to the dealer to please square up the table. But for some reason, dealers have gotten very nervous, or scared, or something...where they don't make much of an effort to get the players to move to where they are supposed to be situated. Its frustrating.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>And lets not even try to pretend that us poker players aren't exactly the most physically fit bunch of "athletes" in the world either. So jamming ten of us into a poker table is often times a challenge in and of itself. But to have to fight for the space you are SUPPOSED to be entitled to??? I'm guessing part of my problem is how I was wired, as a kid. I had that shithead little brother (btw, he's STILL a shithead...as a 48 year old man) who used to like to antagonize me (usually in the car-on road trips) by touching me. In a way that aggravated me. Can you hear it? Do you have kids? Then this probably rings a bell..."Stop touching me!!!!!" Well he wouldn't stop, I would end up punching him...the car would stop...and my step dad would let me out and try to scare me (I was 8) by telling me I had to walk. I would cry...he would drive away....I would panic...then finally he would come back. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So...maybe that explains why that guy's knee pushing into my thigh...or that elbow braising my arm every time the guy goes to look at his cards...makes my blood pressure rise. Bottom line...I fucking HATE playing ten-handed. They had a tournament somewhere this year....can't for the life of me remember where it was: it might have been the Beau Rivage, actually. But it was an 8-handed Hold Em tournament. It was MARVELOUS. Yeah, sure, I like 6-handed (6-Max) tourneys...but with 6 it tends to play a little more aggressively than my style agrees with. But 8-handed? Absolutely perfect. And with all kinds of room to enjoy your time at the table. And you know what? For the exorbitant fees these guys are charging now, to sit and play a tournament? Shouldn't we at LEAST get to play in relative comfort? So that's my two cents (not the first time I've ranted on the topic, and surely not the last) about playing 10-handed. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Moving on. I've spoke on this subject in the past as well. The thing is...as I've gotten older, I've tried to chill out about certain things. To not be the argumentative guy who needs shit to make sense before I will accept them. Trust me...my wife has lit into me more than a few times about my stubborn refusal to accept things that simply lack any common sense or logic. "That's just their rule, Will. Whether you thinks its stupid or not, its their rule. Just say yes sir, or no ma'am, and follow it..." See...I consider people like my wife to be a little bit "Sheepish" in that they do exactly what their handlers want...with no resistance. And yeah...she goes through life with nary a conflict. Its not a bad recipe for a peaceful existence. I am just not wired that way. Never have been. I don't know if you'd call it a flaw or not. I'm sure some would, and some wouldn't, all depends on the person, and their perspective. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"The Bag Check Thing." It used to piss me off when I would walk into a casino and they would demand to look inside my bag. It pissed me off NOT because I didn't want them poking around inside my bag. It pissed me off because they would NEVER check a woman's bag. Ever! And some women have some giGANTIC-ass bags! But nope. They skate. Why? I mean, the whole objective is to potentially stop a terrorist attack, right? How fucking stupid do they think terrorists are? I mean...it doesn't take much to figure out how their security runs things. So if I'm gonna plan to blow up a casino, through the use of a person packing a bomb in a bag...pretty sure it's going to involve a WOMAN! And not for nothing...but even a MAN could get away with it...because lets me honest, all we ever do is open up our bag, they take a peek, and say "Okay, you're good...thanks." Any idea how small a little lump of super-explosive semtex is? Or C4? My point is...those bag checks aren't preventing anything. All they are doing is annoying the person being stopped. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Well, I quit being a jerkoff about the discrimination side of that bag search thing. Now when I approach them at the front...I just simply unzip my bag and show them inside of it, they smile...and wave me in. Much easier. Learned a long time ago I'm not winning an argument with them over it. Right?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I am, actually, going somewhere with this. But first....poker.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I played Tuesday night's $130 Ante Only tourney. I have played a bunch of those online, and thought it would be fun. Plus the structure looked great. I was disappointed that only 12 players showed up for it. Well, I somehow managed to NOT rebuy/re-enter..which is always a bonus. Last Friday and Saturday at the Beau...I played their well-attended 75k $355 tourney...and busted Flight A six from the money, then Played Flight B twice...and busted (again) six from the money...then in Flight C...busted 4 from the money. It was pretty demoralizing to play THAT much poker only to fail to cash completely. But hey...that's poker!!!! The guys at the Beau have come up with a pretty unique format...where you play down to 15%...and between 15% and 10%...each player makes $500. At 10% they bag up. So hypothetically, you can play...cash...then bust and come back and play the next flight. OR...you can play...make the money, but if your stack sucks, you can surrender it, and take your $500 and play the next flight. So in essence, you could actually cash the tournament FOUR times! Get it? It's definitely a cool new wrinkle on tournament payout structures. Well I cashed ZERO times! But at least I had a relatively good time all weekend. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So back to the Ante Only tourney. I never really had many chips all throughout. I won just enough hands to stay in the mix. Once we got down to 6 players (it was only paying top three-and the winner received a seat in the $360 Main Event) I started winning a few hands...and was getting more and more confident. The structure allowed for you to really be patient and find good spots. The chance of getting blinded out was pretty thin. But don't tell that to some of the players...who simply played themselves out of the tourney. We finally got to four-handed...and they started talking chop. The guy I eventually got heads up with had a lion's share of the chips, and he wanted nothing less than the seat and a little extra of the prize money. I, of course, said "No dice!" We played four-handed for TWO HOURS. And it wasn't much longer after that when we got heads up. He had a 3.5-1 chip lead on me...but I was honestly not nervous at all. The structure was perfectly conducive to a long grind where I could slowly chip away at him.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Well, we played for two hours...and when I had HIM 3.5 to 1...he tried to trap me by limping in with AK. I raised him with 88. He instantly shipped an amount I was never folding to. I called, flopped a set of 8's...and it was over. $588 (I know, big deal!) and the $360 seat. But more than anything...that wonderful feeling of having overcome a massive deficit...and WINNING. I don't care how many players there are, or how much you win...winning always feels good. Especially in that kind of a long ass grind. Those are perfect for working on your head's up game...which is another reason I don't like to chop. For the practice. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I didn't go back until Friday...for the first flight of the Main. I busted late in the flight. Barth had come over from NOLA, and he too busted late. So we found a black jack table to decompress; about the time that a couple of our buddies started blowing up my phone about a private PLO game across town. Barth wasn't too keen on going, since it was a bunch of known sharks playing in the game. But I was itching to play a little Omaha. "Come on man...lets just go buy in for $1000 and see how it goes!" Sold. So we headed over there. I was slightly inebriated so a lot of the details escape me. But this IS what I remember: I bought in for $1200. I cashed out for $18,700. In about three hours. Barth had taken a pretty crazy beat earlier and ended up stuck in the game for 2k. So to make myself not feel guilty about goading him into driving us over there, I gave him his 2k back that he lost. And yeah...that IS officially my greatest cash game haul of all time...that should be pretty obvious! </b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Not sure which stage of the game this was. I actually got as high as $22k before Barth finally dragged me out of the place before I could lose much more! Thanks Barth!!!!</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Well last night...a lot of those same players came looking for me, I guess. They NEVER spread PLO at the Pearl...and as I was bagging up my 95k chips from the early 10am flight (yeah, I actually made it in at 10am after staying out playing PLO til 5am!) I see a PLO game breaking out...with most of those guys from last night. Three or four of them imploring me to sit down and give them a chance to win back their money. Me, being ever the good sport...obliged. I bought in for $1000. Early in the game I lost about $800 to one of the guys...when I flopped top two...vs his bottom set of deuces. All of his chatter led to me thinking he was just trying to bluff me out of the pot...not that I didn't still have outs...but I didn't hit any of them. I was quickly down. I rebounded nicely. By the time the table broke, I had managed to dig out of that hole and finish up a couple hundo. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So I venture over to the blackjack table. And this is where my night took a turn for the annoying. The lady working the pit, Melinda...was awesome! We shared stories about the Virgin Islands...and she knew my wife from the Beau. So luckily, I had her in my corner when this young-looking kid comes up to me, and informs me that I can't have my back pack on the gaming floor. "Huh? Since when? I've played here several times...always with my backpack...and no one has ever said anything about it. In fact..I have probably played in 10-15 casinos, always with my backpack...NEVER an issue. So you're telling me this is the ONE casino...a place that is struggling to get business...that takes issue with it???"</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"I'm just telling you, sir...that its a policy at this casino. We have no way of knowing what's in your bag."</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>ME: "Well, I would assume that is the reason why, when I entered the casino, they checked my back in the first place, no?"</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>HIM: "I'm not sure sir, I just know that you can't have it on the gaming floor. If you would like...you can go check your bag in at the front desk."</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>ME: "Well, no. I wouldn't like to do that. First, I have a lot of money in my bag. Second, I have a lot of personal items in my bag that I like to keep close to my person. Kind of like a purse. Would you ask a woman to go check her purse in at the front desk?"</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Well, I wasn't getting anywhere with this walking, talking, employee handbook...so I asked to speak to his supervisor. "Sure." So here comes the supervisor...trying to act all "supervisoree." I explain myself. He explains himself. He offers to check my bag. I refuse. Tell him I would be happy to cash in my chips if he'd like and go across town to the Beau Rivage, with my bag, and give them my business...since I know they don't have any problem with me having my backpack with me while I play. He finally decided it was okay "this time" that I keep my bag with me. I also asked if he was aware that their casino was currently hosting a poker tournament? That poker players often times carried back packs with them? He claimed to be aware, yes. Yet, apparently this hadn't prompted any kind of opportunity to train his security staff to relax the rules on the "Backpack Thing" during this week. So instead...they just paint themselves as a bunch of amateurs. Because I promise you...NO regular tournament grinder has EVER been hassled about sitting at a blackjack table while on a poker trip....because they had a backpack in their possession. It mostly just made me embarrassed for the casino. I'm fairly confident if anyone on the gaming side of things observed what was going on, they would be appalled. Melinda, the pit supervisor, was obviously irritated by how they were handling it. She tried to keep me calm...and I did manage to stay relatively calm. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>But even after they "allowed" me to stay...they (three of them) lurked behind my table about 25 feet away. Why? Seriously...WHY? What were they doing? Finally, I just got fed up of looking over my shoulder and seeing them standing there with their walkie-talkies. I colored up, and headed for home. Made sure to wave goodbye to the three of them on my way out. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Think the BS shenanigans were over? They weren't. Some of you might be aware of my obsession with high-end BMW's. Two months ago...I wandered into our newly-opened Mandal BMW here in Biloxi...and laid eyes on a car that floored me. There are only 3 of them in the US currently. And it carries with it a price tag of $168,000. The 2018 BMW 760Mi. 601 Hp. Absolute beast. And beauty. Four door sedan. I didn't think I could afford it...but after they quickly crunched some numbers...and then plugged in my 755 credit score...they came back with a very affordable monthly payment of $2400. Ohhhh baby! This was literally my dream car. I've been wanting a 7-series BMW for 30 years. I got caught up in the moment...even put down a $10,000 down payment. Everything was signed, sealed and delivered...faster than any car transaction I've ever been a part of. Bo Mandal, the owner, was so excited that a local buyer was going to be the owner of this car. He's friends with Coach Saban at Alabama...and promised to take us to games, and introduce us to the coach in his office! And to maybe go to dinner with coach and his wife. I was so pumped up!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Then the shit hit the fan. First...we couldn't find ANYONE that would insure the car. So I didn't drive it home. Then when I went to get it the next day...it was pouring rain...and I didn't want to drive it through that. Plus we were still trying to find coverage. On the third day, we finally found someone who would insure it. But now my wife started poking around asking questions. When I told her I had essentially bought the car...she flipped out. And that was when she thought it was like an $80,000 car. When I told her how much it REALLY was? Ohhhhhh...the crazy, stubborn redneck Squirrel came out swinging! "You are NOT buying that car, Will! I mean...you CAN...but don't be bringing it back to THIS house! Get your ass up there RIGHT now and get your 10k back!" Well I was too scared to go face these nice people alone...so she came up there with me...and oh yeah...she put her foot down. I was reduced to crumbs. It was pretty embarrassing, and a little emasculating. But she was right. It was kind of an irresponsible purchase...and definitely something I shouldn't have done on my own. Granted...YES I could have afforded it. And YES I would love to drive that sucker. Well...say what you want...the wife won. I lost. No car for me.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So why am I telling you this story, you ask? Because as I was leaving the Scarlet Pearl...I gave the guy my valet ticket...and walk out to wait for my car...and I see this masterpiece of Bavarian engineering. I'd seen pictures of it...but never in person. To my knowledge, it existed mainly just in Europe. Its the M8...sick sick sick. Price tag approaching 250k. </b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This is perfect! See him pull up in his Security car? And there is my Tahoe pulling up in the Valet lane? Notice how this car is basically being showcased with NO other cars anywhere near it?</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So I am walking around the car...checking it out. Even took some pictures. From every angle. Out of the corner of my eye...I see one of those roving security SUV's drive by. I certainly didn't think anything of it. I mean I'm in the waiting area..and this bad ass car is parked right there next to the waiting area. I never TOUCHED the car...but I was peeking inside the car...mind you, not touching the glass. Simply looking. In awe. A fan of the car! You feel me? Well...here comes this chubby, cherubic-faced security kid who couldn't have been older than 25...and the first words out of his mouth are..."everything okay sir." Now, riddle me this: What the fuck kind of question is that? What would prompt him to ask me that? Is everything okay?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>ME: "Yeah...everything is great, why do you ask?"</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>HIM: "Well, I'm just asking because I see you walking around that car. Is that your car? (no, I tell him) Well then there isn't any reason for you to be looking inside of the car."</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>ME: "You have got to be REALLY bored to be bothering me about checking out a $250,000 sports car that is parked right up front here where EVERYONE can see it. I haven't TOUCHED the car. I am simply looking at it...and that's causing a big problem for you? I take it it's been a slow night for you?"</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>About that time, my car pulls up. Mind you...I drive a nice, 65k Tahoe myself...so it should be clear to him that I simply have good taste in cars, and am not some hobo milling about the garage scheming to break into this car, or god forbid, STEAL IT! But no....after all, we are in Mississippi, and we aren't always dealing with the sharpest set of knives in the drawer. Still, you would think the training at the top of the department would be able to keep these kind of episodes from happening. I mean...that guy has NO IDEA who I am, how valuable I might be to the casino...what kind of day/night I've just had...maybe I won BIG or lost BIG...and now that is the impression they want to leave me with as I'm departing?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So as I'm getting my car, he starts that stupid thing that strikes a nerve like no other...where they grab that mic on their chest and start chattering into it...giving the look that hey are calling for backup. So me..being "triggered" I guess we could call it couldn't resist needling the guy. I am aware the correct move would have been to ignore his stupid ass, climb into my car and drive home. But I was irritated. First by the idiot lurkers at the blackjack table, then by this clown. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"Ohhhh what are you doing? Calling for back up??? To handle the THREAT of me looking at a car??? Slow night in the parking garage eh? Gotta call in some extra muscle!!????"</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So...here he comes! I have my window down...am exiting the garage and this tool box comes strutting towards my car. "Hi! Are you the back up!? Have you come to read me my rights as it pertains to looking at fancy cars parked in your featured parking spot next to valet?" And he goes the tough guy route...."You need to leave the premises...NOW! Leave the premises!!!!" I rolled up my window and drove off. Laughing. Hmmm...I wonder...how did the conversation between those two idiots sound when they discussed that later?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>See, these are the kinds of experiences that have caused problems for me in my life. They have been reduced significantly in my elder years...as I have learned to be more tolerant of assholes and ignorant morons. And having a pacifist for a wife who is constantly in my ear about just ignoring the dipshits of the world, that has helped a lot too. But dude...there are some times...where my meter just expires, and I can't stand it. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Moral of the Story: Scarlet Pearl has a TON of potential to be a really nice resort and casino. The rooms are really nice. The casino itself is nice enough. It has a couple good restaurants. Sure, they are lacking a theater for live entertainment, and their pool is a joke, butted up against the valet drive through lane. But they got their parking garage built finally, and also, after months of being open with out it...got video poker units installed on their main meeting bar. But when you have a bunch of buffoons working in security, who treat their customers...who SHOULD be their most valued asset, like a bunch of criminals, well how do you ever expect the average patron to return? I hope someone in upper management reads this. But, if my history of dealing with casinos is any indicator...what will likely happen is I will come out looking like the bad guy. A disruptive force, someone who is bad for business. Hell...maybe they will even 86 me! That would be one for the highlight reel of all my previous transgressions with casinos!!!! Surely, someone with a shred of common sense would realize the only loser in that scenario would be them. "Hey Monkey...why did you get 86'd from the Pearl?" "Oh because I was playing $25 a hand blackjack and they had a problem with me having my backpack on the back of my chair. And then...after I left, I had the audacity to take photos and gaze with fascination at this amazing BMW. I guess they consider that kind of unruly behavior an unacceptable trait in one of their valued guests!!!!" </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Hey a lot of you know my buddy John Durio, who I've been playing poker with for years. I think some people refer to him as "Angry John" if I'm not mistaken. Not sure how he got THAT nickname...since every time I see the guy he's got a smile on his face. At any rate...I've been promising John I would put a free ad on this blog, touting his t-shirts that he came up with. They're pretty cool. So..if you look over there in the margin you'll see a link to his Donkey Gear! The t-shirts come in black, blue, or grey...and cost $20. He will either hand deliver them, or send them out in the mail. You can hit him up on Facebook, or call him at 504-430-5209. Just let him know Monkey sent ya!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>And that, my friends...is a wrap for today. Tonight I'm taking Squirrel to dinner at Ruth's Chris with some friends, and then at the Hard Rock we are going to see the Purple Reign (my 2nd concert ever as a 16-year old kid, with Prince) Tribute Show at 8pm. Should bring back some awesome memories of our youth. Some of you are grinding your balls off today trying to get chippies in a bag to meet us back tomorrow. I am taking 30'ish big blinds back at 2pm to try and chase down a decent win. And if I fail...hey no big deal! My Omaha score more than made this a great week on the felt!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>MONKEY</b></span><br />
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Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-91239299203062142802017-07-27T23:01:00.001-05:002017-07-27T23:44:30.023-05:00Post Vegas Blues....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Losing sucks. It really sucks. In fact...nothing really compares in this life, not for a person who is competitive, at least. You compete, you want to win. Period. Anything less than winning....blows. And that, my friends who read this poker blog, is why it is SO hard being a poker player, either professionally OR recreationally. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Sitting in my living room watching four or five of the biggest buffoons as they posed and slapped high-fives with their future stake-mooching buddies on their way to winning millions was especially aggravating. Watching the guy from France (Salas) or Argentina or wherever the fuck he's from as he took 15-20 seconds every hand to ponder what to do with hands like Q3, 5-9 and J4 against raises (even re-raises and all ins) had most of the logical-thinking poker world ready to wish for the overhead (and extremely heavy) display monitors to break free from their supports and land directly on that tanking fucker's head.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>But wasn't it a joyous moment...when Scotty Blumfat hit that magical three outer deuce on the river against the tightest, and possibly worst heads up player in the history of WSOP final table poker (had that two not hit, and the chip stacks drawn almost dead even...does ANYONE not think the Lady's Man from Meth-avania wouldn't have won the thing?) and ran back to where his throng of supporters was gathered...leaped into their adoring arms...and displayed that mouth-watering, hair-dominated back and ensuing gut shot as the camera swung around to treat us to a better view of the new World Champion!!!??? I don't know about you'all...but it's the image that was frozen in MY mind...as I attempted to get to sleep that night.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>But I digress.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Losing. Yeah. Wow, how it sucks.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Even worse...watching those you KNOW you are better than, WIN. And win big. These kind of moments don't happen in REAL sports. You know...sports that require actual athletic ability? Only poker. And I insist this is the reason for so much rampant drug, alcohol and prescription pill abuse in the game of poker. Nobody can really wrap their minds around the shit they experience at the tables...and so they turn to the bottle for answers. Makes pretty good sense, right? I can only imagine how some of the AA meetings go...or NA for that matter. Someone trying to explain their story to a poker player....then its the poker player's turn....nobody can relate. Nobody. Certainly not some asshole who's an addict because his job, or wife, or kids stress him out. Buddy...try walking a mile in OUR shoes as a poker player...then you can come back to this meeting. But for now? Quit being an asshole!!!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>So I decided to let our WSOP investors in on a package, a package that included myself and one of our Grinders from the team, Christian Iacobellis. He made it out of Day 1 with 38k. Me? Not so lucky. I busted with about half an hour left in the night. I was pretty pissed. But it was made a little better when I ventured over to my honey hole on this trip to Vegas....the Wynn/Encore Omaha game. The first night I played the game...I hit it hard (+4550). This trip wasn't a whole lot different. I cashed out with a $3800 profit in about 6 hours. During that time...I decided I would put another bullet up for sale. Why? Easy!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>This guy named Ryan LePlante...as was explained to me by long time friend and current Venetian Tournament Coordinator Thomas Larosa, came up with a very interesting and experimental structure for this event. They had (I forgot now) either 3 or 4 levels that just repeated themselves. Why? Simple. To extend the structures out so that if you decided to rebuy...your 25k stack wouldn't be at a huge disadvantage. Simply put...the last level of Day 1 was 300-600 with a 75 ante. The first level of Day 2? Same! So as I busted at 300-600...I re-entered with 25k chips (41 bbs) and the same blind level. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>A lot of tournaments have presented opportunities to buy in on Day 2...but you are almost always coming back in with 10-15BB's...which basically means you get to play 2, maximum three hands, needing to win one pretty quickly...or you're toast! Which makes it a bit of a crapshoot...and very difficult to get any sane investors to want to partake in. Frankly...I would never subject my investors to that kind of a rebuy scenario. If I were to rebuy into a 10-15BB deal like that...it would be with my own money. If I busted their first bullet...and went on to cash deep on my own second bullet...I would most likely throw them a bone as a gesture to basically make myself feel better about losing their money on the first go-around!!!</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Javier Gomez...the eventual winner of the entire event.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>So yeah...I sold out the 50 shares in about an hour....got about 5-6 good hours of sleep and came back with a full resolve to make a nice run. Side note: The eventual winner? Javier Gomez? He was at my Day 1a table most of the day...and made some of the most unusual plays. After about two levels I was investigating who he was...noticing he had some big scores to his credit. He was from Spain...and once I finally engaged him in conversation, discovered he was a pretty nice fella. Well...I almost busted him with 10-10 vs A-7...only to see him river an ace. But then he DID finally bust...in about Level 4. So how did he win? Duh....he rebought. Ran his 25k up to 38k...bagged the same as Christian. Then won the damn thing for $655k or whatever first was.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Anyway: I hadn't seen pocket AA since my friggin plane landed. Probably 500 hands of tournament poker without seeing them. I also hadn't seen KK, QQ or JJ until the day before, when I saw each of them twice. But still no AA. Well...here we are in the first level of the day (300-600) and there are two limps...and this guy who turned out to be a complete lunatic (as evidenced later by NUMEROUS heads up battles with Barry Hutter) raises it to 2200 in late position. I look down at....TADA!!!! Aces on the button!!! Wow! What a great way to start my Day 2!!! What are the chances I can double up here? Wouldn't that be marvelous to double up and have nearly the average!????</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Fuck that. None of that happened. What do you suppose a good raise would be there? I mean there is now about 4300 plus antes (750) in the pot....5050? I would think that a raise of 6300 should be sufficient to at least shake the limpers off the limp...unless one of them limped with AK, KK or QQ...in which case it could get VERY interesting!!! Well I make it 6300. Those two fold. And this guy starts eye-balling my stack. Him...he started the hand with around 22.5. He calls. The flop comes 7-9-3 rainbow. I feel like I'm in pretty good shape. He leads for 6000 and I immediately think he's betting into me thinking I have AK and I will sheepishly fold. I min-raise him to 12000 thinking that should send the message I don't have AK like he thought. Wait what? He's all in? Kind of hard to fold now. I call. Ohhhhh...he has pocket sevens? That's it? How fucking convenient is THAT? Kill me! Dealer? Maybe you could peel me off an ace here? No? Okay thanks. SHIT!!!! And just like that...three hands in, and I'm sitting on 2200....or uh....yeah! 3.5 BB's. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Very next hand? I get AKcc. Well...that doesn't suck. Guy raises. Two others call. I ship. They all call. Flop A-10-7. That's gotta be pretty good, yeah? Turn a jack...guy bets the farm. Oh shit!!! KQ???? They all fold. OH! Nice. He only has a set of fucking jacks. Arnold Spee...a longtime poker friend from California, looks at me with his little half smirk and says "Well, all you need is a Queen" and just like that...queen on the river. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Whoa! I quadruple up. Later...much later in fact....like 50 from the money to be exact (125th paying 72 in a field of 688) Arnold woke up with AK when I was forced to move all in with my Q10...sitting on 8 BBs and having been card dead as fuck for 7 or 8 orbits. He busted me...and was incredibly apologetic about it. (side note) He would come back the next day and take a horrible beat himself and bust 20 from the money. Ugh. Well...in retrospect..instead of running that 2200 up to a peak of 45k...with a real shot at cashing? I almost wish I hadn't hit that Q on the river. On the other hand...it would have really left a stale taste in the mouths of the people who ponied up another chunk of money on my 2nd bullet if I had been busted mere minutes after buying in. At least this way...via all my Facebook updates, they got to witness me scratch, claw, kick, scream and eye-gouge my way into contention...before taking the quick knockout punch to my spleen in the last level of the night.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Well that sealed my fate in Vegas...as I promised my wife and Carley that as soon as I busted...I would find a flight and get my ass back home. I walked to my hotel room...opened up my computer...and much to my shock, found a 1st class one-way fare home the next day at noon (on Delta)...for only $450! The coach fare for the same flight was $380!!!! I would love to meet the person who would have chosen that coach fare over the 1st class one. Sent her a screen shot of that info...and headed for Wynn...I mean...the Honey Hole...to try to go out a winner in the cash game, at least. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Game was full. Sat in 2/5...and for the 3rd time playing 2/5 there...cashed out a winning session....$515 in about an hour and a half. Before I sat down at the 1/2 PLO game...one of the floor supervisors pulled me aside and essentially jinxed me I think, "Monkey...I gotta ask you...you must just lick your lips when you come in here and sit at the Omaha games!?? I've been watching you destroy this game all week!" ME: "Well...I don't want to sound over confident...but yeah, I kind of do! Where I live...the Omaha players are...well..they're good. I won't even say 'better' because these people here are simply awful. But no...I don't even bother playing back home in Biloxi because those guys? I have zero edge against them. In fact, I can probably name 10 guys at least who are WAY better than me in Omaha. But here? At the Wynn? Hahahahah...its like Thanksgiving for an Ethiopian every night!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Well...ever have a conversation like that and immediately get that crappy, sinking feeling in your gut? I just knew something didn't feel right. But that feeling was alleviated somewhat when I won my first few hands...and quickly turned my $500 buy-in into a stack of 1700+. At that point, I was merely thinking, "Yay! Here we go again!!!" Right about that time...the table went to shit. Sitting on the other side of the table...were all the super lousy players, and on my side...the not-quite-as-lousy players. The next four hours were a roller coaster. When guys are getting it in with anything? Your quality/superior hands are very vulnerable. When guys who like to pot everything preflop? It limits the hands you can see after the flop. Sure...you might call that initial pot. But if you are between 8-17 outs from a made hand on the flop...and keep calling pot bets of 500 or more? You are going to lose a LOT of hands, and a LOT of money. So folding in those spots and bricking out was comforting....but hitting the hand after folding was a cause to scream.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>All Omaha players have been on these kind of tables. Up, down...Up, down...all I wanted to do...was hit a massive pot, as I was beginning to get tired...and get out of there with a nice fat bulge in my front pocket (hold the comments!!!) and a good final taste in my mouth. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Somewhere around 3am...this...oh gawd, I don't even know what to call this guy? He sat there in the 5 seat folding all night. Literally played maybe one hand every three orbits. He was big, out of shape (okay a fat turd), a big shaggy beard, and was playing fucking World of Warcraft. I truly didn't comprehend his existence in the game. Well I was sober as a judge...and really only talking to the guy on my right, so when I caught him making snide comments about me and my level of intellect, I stopped him in his tracks. One of the incidents was me trying to understand what my English friend on my right was saying about the cocktail waitress. It wasn't that I didn't get WHAT he was saying...it was his accent...and the quickness with which he spoke...I didn't know WHAT he said. So when I said "Huh" a couple times, this fat turd blurts out "next level thinking is wasted on this guy!" I was ready to knock him out of his chair. But I did nothing. I was more shocked than anything.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">IF you look closely, you can see this guy NERDIN' It UP on his phone!</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b> But then...and I don't even know what motivated THIS comment...I hear him saying (with his head turned from me) to the other side of the table something about me being illiterate. That's when I lost my shit. I went off on the guy. And the three floor people...who I had built up a nice relationship with during the week quickly came to the table and asked what had happened. I calmly explained my version to them...the dealer nodded in agreement, and they took fatty from the table to talk to him about 20 feet from the table. I could overhear him spinning some total BS story...which only made me want to sabotage his seat with rusty nails for his return...but I knew the floor people weren't buying his tale. And when he returned, I just completely ignored him the rest of the night...but oh MAN...every time that shitball raised (which wasn't very often, and you ALWAYS knew where he was in the hand!) I was in there trying to bust his ass. I finally did bust his ass too, with some total garbage hand against...duh....his AA xx hand. He pitched a little bitch fit then bought back in for (hee hee) another 150! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>The night dragged on. I continued to win some, lose some. It was approaching 5am. Something had to give. So here comes this tattoo-covered guy from the UK...a very pleasant guy actually. But he was ACTION JACKSON...raising every hand. And it got old pretty quick. Especially when I was calling and missing every damn time. So I'm sitting at about 2500. The other guy on the "other side of the table" has about 3500...and after watching him play bad and run worse for the other three nights I'd played there...he was running uncharacteristically good that night. So....here we go...the hand that could have sent me out on Cloud Nine! Mr. 3500 raises to 25. Mr. UK Tatt-Axtion raises pot to 115. I look at Q388 double suited. I know. Garbage. But every time I folded garbage..it hit. And I was sick of folding. Fuck it. I call the 115. Well now the other guy? Pots it AGAIN! Oh and by the way? He has a worse hand than I do! I believe he made it 600. UK guy only has 450. He calls. I call. Nice pot. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>FLOP? OH I just flop a flush...with top pair! Yeah...Q-2-4...all diamonds. The UK guy is standing up. I mouth to him..."Do you have any diamonds?" Him: "No! Shit do you have a flush?" Me: "Yep!" I bet 400 on the flop...into the side pot. And donkey boy goes all in...with two pair....Q-4. Of course I call. Can I just tell you how many outs he had to win that pot of 5500? You might already know. He had ONE FUCKING OUT! The last Queen in the deck! Turn? QUEEN. And he flips out. I'm drawing to an 8 on the river to win with a bigger full house. Nope. I lose it all. Granted...it only amounted to a total session loss of $500. But.....BUT....I was ONE MOTHERFUCKING OUT away from leaving with a profit of $6000!!!!!! I calmly rose from my seat...picked up my bag...thanked the floor people for their hospitality all week...and bid them adieu. I returned to my hotel room, packed, and fell asleep for three hours before getting to the airport on time with plenty to spare for my flight home. ZERO incidents on the way home. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Oh...but there were a couple of interesting sites to be seen. My favorite...and I wish I had gotten more video on this guy...was the gate agent who was obviously auditioning to be a game show host and just waiting to be discovered. I was wondering how long he must have been doing this job...because he REALLY loves/loved what he is doing! He's either really new...or he's on something. No one has that much damn glee!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Then there was this couple. You know the type...if you get out much, anyway. They think for some damn reason, that they are the most interesting and fabulous married couple on the planet. Everything they talk about, EVERYONE wants to hear. They even threw us all a little wrinkle by coming up with one of those playful little lover's quarrels. Ugh. I was ready to kick both of them in the face...as I assumed the 20 or 30 people within earshot of them were, as well. My two hour layover in ATL meant I had to endure these two fucktards for an uncomfortable amount of time. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Some other fun things to report on from Vegas. At about midnight...while playing cash at the Encore my last night...a disturbance from the craps area caught our attention...followed by the screams of "STOP HIM!!!" and five or six purple-coated (some in terrible shape) security people chasing after a very speedy African American gentleman who (I later found out) had made the clever move of walking by a craps table, grabbing $150 worth of chips (big balla!) and making a run for the exit. Fortunately for the much-slower pursuers, they had radios and friends up ahead at the exits. Things didn't end well for not-so-speedy Gonzales.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>On the Fashion Side of things...the poker landscape has really started incorporating some interesting characters. And lets be honest...in a world awash in what appear to be drones who rolled off a "Poker Player Standard Look" assembly line? You know...hoodies, jeans that need to be washed, straight-billed ball cap with stickers still on them, toting back packs, blah blah blah....you know the look. It was almost a nice break from the monotony to see some of these guys who were more than happy to pose for a photo for me. One guy, frankly? He looked like Jesus. I took to calling him Jesus...as he was seated at a table behind me on both Day 1 and Day 2 of the Main. He seemed like a very kind-spirited guy. He also busted before I did, both days. So I guess he can walk on water, but can't run like God! Bu dum bummmmm!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Another guy...at my table on Day 2...came looking like I hear Kai Landry is going to dress up as during the Gulf Coast Poker Championship coming up here next month at the Beau. The saggy, but oh-so-soft pants...resplendently decked out with kitty cats (he claimed to have a pair just like them but with dogs)...man bun on the head...full-on beard...and what appeared to be a cashmere shawl. Also a very nice guy. I assume he lives in California and gives out lots of hugs. He was also a fairly capable player. I am anxious to see what Kai might have in store for us this coming month...and he has suggested I go with a 'trendy' look myself. I'm contemplating it. You know...for shits and giggles. (think: Romper for Males) Gotta keep the people laughing!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>So I got home just in time to play the 25k Guarantee at the Beau....$245 buy in. My first irritation is sitting down at a 10-handed table...after playing 9-handed all week. (yesterday I noticed famed tourney TD Matt Savage posted a question on Facebook: Would you rather play 10-handed, 9-handed, or 8-handed? The responses were epic, and of course I contributed my thoughts on the subject!) My second irritation was that I was in the 10-seat...a seat that I loathe like no other...and on my right was a heavy set gal who had NO interest in moving over. But at least she talked non-stop in every hand. She had me on life tilt in minutes. So of course when I was in the BB with 10-2...and a limped pot (5-way) produced a flop of 10-2-5 rainbow...all my chips ended up going in against her...her holding 10-5 (nice!) and just like that? I had a $245 table change! I bought in again. I busted almost as fast. Don't even remember how. I bought in a THIRD time...and this time it went a little better. Well...for a while anyway.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Then Donkey Fuck Luck took over. When I limped for 200 with K10 suited...got four callers...and the old guy in the BB makes it 400 (always a comical play) I was fairly certain he had AA...of course I'm going to call and know all the rest are too. Because this guy's thinking is that AA is automatic...and he is never folding no matter what! This was very obvious when the flop came K-10-Q...and he led out for 3000. Oh yeah...he's not folding. I raise it to 9000. The others fold. He makes that kind of unsettling grunting noise that all OMRG's make...right before he shoves the rest of his stack in. Yup. Aces. River? No problem. JACK! Hey it's all good...I didn't want to be sitting on 55k at the break! Instead it was 33k. Rebuy period over. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>It did nothing but get worse. Bluffs called by guys with top pair and shitty kicker. Good hands, shitty flops. Good hands vs better hands. Rivered another time. One casual observation I was able to make. No, TWO! First, I sat in Vegas all week, playing in an $1100 tourney...then a $5000 tourney...with some of the game's best players. I counted 9 out of 9 players who were either actively on a cell phone, or an iPad...and the dealers not ONCE said a word about it...unless they were slowing down the game. Which was infrequent. At the time, I was thinking to myself..."Wow, how refreshing! They are treating us like adults!" Well...now I'm in a $245 tourney...and suddenly, any interaction whatsoever with the phone was a MASSIVE indiscretion. Not that I protested or argued about it or anything. It was just disappointing...after a full week of not having to be bothered by that.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>The other observation? The level of play. Whoa. When you go from playing with high-caliber players...to playing with incredibly BAD players...it's really aggravating. And I'm not just talking about the quality of the hand being played. Hell, at Venetian's 5k guys were opening in early position with 6-8 suited, getting repopped by 9-7 suited...and playing the hands to showdown. It was a marvel to watch. But you know how many times someone limped? I mean...JUST LIMPED....first to act? Twice! Twice all damn day! Every hand...it was initiated with a raise. And the raises? Almost always 2.5x....unless there was a raise first, then maybe 4 to 5x re-raising...taking into account the pot. In other words...GOOD POKER. I can't tell you how many times I watched this bullshit unfold in my brief, 3-bullet experience at the Beau last weekend. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Blinds 75-150. Early position limps. FIVE callers for 150! One time...I attempt to just end it there and take down the pot with AQh. Nawwwwww...that's not happening. I make it 2200!!!! Guess how many calls I get!?? Wait...even easier, guess how many FOLDS I got? ONE! Out of 7 players. Felt pretty good when I flopped an ace. I bet 3000. And this guy (holding Ac10c) calls the 3000...and leaves 2500 behind!!!! I'm like...is this guy for real? Turn is another club...I put him all in. He calls. Rivers a flush. Unreal. Saw this shit all day. Limp in....call a ridiculous raise. Did I miss something? Did they make 4-betting illegal in Mississippi card rooms when I wasn't looking?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Whatever. What are you gonna do? I was contemplating going to Choctaw this coming Friday and playing their WPT Main Event there, that has a $3700 buy in and always draws a huge field. But the wife tells me Carley's first day of kindergarten is Friday...and how do I not want to be a part of that? I'm not winning that argument, so I didn't even bother trying. So it looks like I'm going to take an Attivan (similar to Xanax) and go plop down my $345 (hopefully just once...or twice...okay,maximum three times) and play the 75k Guaranteed (bumped up from the usual 50k at the end/beginning of the month) tourney at the Beau...and just pray that the same band of goofballs finds something else to do with their weekend then play tournament poker at my table. All I want is a table full of competent players...because despite what ANYONE with half a clue about poker will tell you? Your chances of winning increase exponentially with the quality of the players at your table. The worse the player is? The worse your chances of winning. Period. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Donald Trump has had a very, very, very...ridiculously bad week this week. No, I do NOT, nor will I ever, regret NOT voting for Hillary...or Killary the Hun as I like to call her. There simply was only one choice. But...this week sure is making it hard to function on social media. The liberals are already big enough assholes...but for them to ALWAYS be wrong to the point of laughable...and then get fed a week like this to poke us with? It's painfully uncomfortable. Donald? Please man....cut the shit. The speech to the Boy Scouts? Ugh. Ever have that Drunken Uncle who stands up at a semi-formal event and tries to sound poetic? Yeah...that was Donnie. The constant throwing-under-the-bus of Jeff Sessions, who he spoke so glowingly of before naming him to his Cabinet? What the hell? That's inexcusable. A good leader...take Bobby Cox of the successful-era Braves for example, always keeps that negative shit in the clubhouse! Not Donnie...its all over fucking Twitter. Geezuz. Then last but not least? This Transgenders can't serve in the military shit storm...check that...TWEET storm. Even worse. Why? Just why? Who cares? If a tranny wants to go into the military, and be summarily bullied and beaten by a bunch of Alpha Males, its their choice. Why stir the Liberal pot? Maybe it's a sly way of getting the media to shut the fuck up about Russia? Is that it? If so...kudos? Even then...maybe not. And what in God's name is going on with Health Care? I've literally given up on watching ALL cable news. It all aggravates me to the core. I give up! Which is good...you know why? Because here comes football season!!!!!!! The greatest time of the year!!!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I'm putting this to bed...before my computer's battery dies. Talk soon!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>MONK</b></span><br />
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Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-89905197221212032922017-07-17T16:15:00.001-05:002017-07-17T16:15:53.760-05:00MONKEY's POST-WSOP REPORT...and next...VENETIAN!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">www.gulfcoastpoker.net</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm sitting here in my hotel room at Treasure Island...flew in yesterday morning, on United! Flew COACH! (granted, I paid an extra $150 to get an exit row) Couldn't get anything at the last minute on Delta for less than $1700. Yikes! And Venetian was sold out, so I'm saving about $120 a night to stay across the street. This feels a bit like the old days when I stayed at Riviera. Played and bricked the noon $600 Mega satellite, not once but twice. Then walked over to the Wynn, Encore actually, and played their 1-day $1100 tourney...great turnout of 539 players. Busted out of that around 10pm in 94th place (paying 54) so was instantly $2300 in the hole on the day. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No need to fear....CASH GAME IS HERE! Now I think I might get what Robert Harwell was chirping about all summer. I won't give you the number he claimed to have made playing 5/10 PLO at Rio this summer, but it was in 6-figures. Thing about playing Omaha in Biloxi? Everyone is good. There is almost no edge for anyone. A lot of swapping money 7-days a week. But Vegas? Whoaaaaa Nelly! I've never seen such a collectively bad skill set in a game. Yes...there are going to be some hands where you lose to a guy who should NEVER have been in there in the first place...but skill wins out. I sat down...asked what the max buy was, seeing a lot of chips on the table. $2500, I was told. $2500 it is. No need to give a bunch of details. I cashed out for $6280 at about 5am. So an eventual profit of $1480 on the day. I'll take it. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sidebar: Remember Tony Big Charles? Anyone? Kind of a legendary figure in poker...for a lot of bizarre reasons. At some point in the action...I heard his hard to miss, and unmistakable voice coming from behind me. But now? It had kind of a...how do I say this? Without sounding too mean or ugly? You know how gay guys who are super feminine talk? "Queenie" I think some call it? That is how he was talking. So I turn to look...and YUP! There he is...and he is wearing these reading glasses (I think) that have the multi-color support arms and frames...I think they call that style "Birthday Cake" and I only know that because I have a 5-year old daughter! He was wearing khaki pants that he had pulled up nearly to his chest. Hair all disheveled, beard needing a trim. And there he was...same old Tony...ripping into people. Then came the racially sensitive talk. Oh no, Tony...don't do it!!!! I never engaged him in conversation...for fear of where it might lead. Good to know 'ol Tony is still out here, alive (for the most part) and kicking! </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Thepokermonkey/videos/10213972856701253/"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">https://www.facebook.com/Thepokermonkey/videos/10213972856701253/</span></b></a><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Earlier in the day, I had another famous character at my table. If by now you aren't familiar with William Kassouf? Well, you aren't following poker very closely!!! Here is a video above to click for just a dose of what he brought to the table! By the end of my time at the table...and with him having dusted off a huge stack and getting down to only 7 BB's (soon to bust after me) he had sent me a friend request on Facebook, and was reading and liking all the comments about him on my wall. We had a very entertaining exchange that the table was loving. He might be an annoying guy...but he is truly a brilliant poker player. I guess him and I have a little in common, well...at least Monkey circa 2005-2009. Maybe not so much these days. But lets just say I can identify the strategy in his approach! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So about 4am, I was coming back from the restroom, and there he is...and he's buzzard-hawking Cliff Josephy aka JohnnyBax...who is down to the final 5 in that day's tourney. I said something to Will...and Cliff looks at me with these "Please help me Monkey!!!" look on his face! He places me from a final table we made together in Aruba ten years ago. "Monkey...wow, long time no see! Will you PLEASE do me a favor and get this maniac away from me!!!!?" "Sorry Cliff...you're on your own buddy!!! Hahahaha." Kassouf...he's a trip!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So its a little after 1pm. The intention today is to do nothing but lay out at the pool...then eat a nice dinner tonight...and be razor sharp and rested tomorrow in the Venetian 5K Main Event. Today is flight 1a, tomorrow is 1b. I chose not to play in what tends to be a much looser, wild early flight and risk lighting another 5k on fire tomorrow. One bullet. That's enough for me. Christian Iacobellis...my friend, and two-time (twice cashing) Grinder/Minion, is on his way over here from the Rio to join me...and will be playing tomorrow as well. I put up a package with my investors, to get 50/50 action on the two of us. It sold out in...well...about an hour. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before I wrote this blog I had to go and look on WSOP.com to see who the final 27 players are. So...out of 27 players...17 are from other countries besides the USA. The rest of the world is catching up with us folks! There is ONE lonely player in there who I have the slightest inkling to care about...and that is our well-known Gulf Coaster Jake Bazeley, who has the absolute smallest chip stack, but is guaranteed of a whopping $263k right now. Sweet! OH! Well what'dya know, just clicked refresh and he is busto...out 25th for the aforementioned amount. Congrats to him. But lets be honest...what serious player is EVER happy to make it that far and go out short of the Final Table? None of us!!!! So I now officially don't care about the Main Event.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How did we do? Well before I talk about that...let me address the elephant in the room. I have one or two serial haters who religiously read this blog (which is kind of amusing, as a hater) and leave incredibly pathetic comments that I never approve and publish to be seen. He's been ripping on my WSOP Summer Team every year now since we started. It doesn't bother me. But it's been my secret wish for one or more of our players to go really deep...just to see what drivel he would spew. Would he finally be silenced? Or would he desperately find SOMETHING to hate on? The guy who hides behind his computer and rants on and on against someone who's life he could only DREAM of trading places with? What kind of loser is this? He's (not lately) made death threats in the past...against me, my wife, even my child. Threatening to shoot me from my backyard...claiming to know where I live. That's a pretty sick fuck. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So there you go, dickhead...I just gave you the 15 seconds you SO yearn for! The correct modus operandi is to ignore shitbirds like you...and you will fly away. But you? You don't even have wings. So I guess that's impossible. I'm sorry your life sucks so bad that you have to live in envy of mine. Do you need a hug? Did your mommy not give you enough love? Did you catch your only girlfriend in life cheating on you with the family pet? Did Daddy leave you and your mother to join the circus? I get it...life's been rough on you. You can't even sign your name to a comment. Why? You scared? Keyboard Muscles only? </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Moving on. But speaking of assholes. Awhile back...I alerted the world of degenerates that on July 1st I was going to post a blog...complete with photos, and the whole story....about all the assholes in the gambling world...who owe me large, even minimal sums...of money for various things. Mostly pools of mine they have played in. So sure enough...a couple days before that deadline arrived...I get the "I've sent you a check today" (that check still hasn't arrived-shocker) and "Hey Monk...I don't plan on stiffing you...I will pay you, just need a little more time." That's after not responding at ALL for months! And then didn't respond to my reply to that comment. So its pretty obvious it was an attempt to keep from being "posterized" by Monkey. I mean...how fucking stupid do you guys think I am? Just so you know? My middle name isn't DENSE. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So...the blog post about deadbeats...has been postponed to give these guys to step up and pay up! I actually got paid from three guys who were about to be featured. Good for them. Good move. Especially those guys who run around trying to get staking! Oh...speaking of that...anyone see the story about Maurice Hawkins and the lawyer in Florida who had the staking deal with him? Boy oh boy. That's all I'm gonna say about it. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Watching Maury Povich right now for lack of anything else being on the TV...and there is this nasty-ass white trash chick on there trying to get her dipshit boyfriend to take a DNA test. You all know the drill. So check out these names she has given her offspring. Kaydence and Khaos. WTF???</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Has everyone heard how our TEAM MONKEY did this summer? I can't tell you how proud I am of this year's squad. EIGHT players survived DAY ONE! ALL of them! Then five out of eight made it out of Day Two. The three who lost all took unbelievably bad beats. But that's how this nasty game works. Sometimes you can only be SO good. Skill can only get you so far. You gotta fade the ugly beats. And when you don't? It doesn't mean you suck. Or made a mistake. It just wasn't meant to be. We lost three amazing players on Day Two.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So Day three arrived...and the excitement was building among our 130-something investors. Everyone was fired up! But with the top 15% getting paid now...and the really long structure (2-hr blind levels) and additional chipstacks (50k) it took a long time to get to the money. They played until they made the money...which...I'm not sure because I fell asleep, but am pretty sure it was into the next day.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When all was said and done...Wild Bill Phillips fell short on Day 3....then...only (I think) about 50 from the money...maybe less...the guy I was REALLY praying would cash, because he's had a really rough year...Kenny Milam busted out. Kenny, who I've known for about 12-15 years now, has to be one of the nicest guys in poker. When he was running great in life with his business, I saw him stake so many people, and mainly because he didn't have the heart to say no. He was an easy mark for some of the vultures in poker. I know a lot of people probably still owe him money. Kenny is a proud man. You'll never hear him whining too hard about a bad beat. Or life. If something controversial is being talked about...he isn't one to delve into the muck. He just kind of laughs that laugh of his and takes the high road. I really wanted Kenny to cash. After he busted...I even asked if any of the investors might feel like sending a portion of their winnings to Kenny. I am giving him 5% of mine. And...I haven't told anyone this...but I'm also going to pledge 5% of my Venetian Main Event winnings to him. Kenny would NEVER ask for help from anyone...but I know for a fact he needs a hand up. So if you love Kenny, or even like him a lot? Maybe help the guy out. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the end of Day Three...we had THREE players in the money! And all of them had relatively decent stacks, except Christian...who had a nightmare of a last level to finish with 60k. But at least he cashed!!!! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day 4 started...and everyone had their PokerGo up on their computers or devices...and we found out Christian was on the feature table. 888 gave all the feature table players $1000 to wear their patch! That was great news for Christian, who hasn't exactly been without his share of struggles too. And per our player contract...any player who happens to pick up some money from outside endorsements like that...its 100% theirs. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sadly...Christian wasn't on our screens long. He got it all in with A10...and got called by Jeffery Lisandro and his pocket 8's. Lisandro had already caused a lot of fireworks early, arguing with Jack Effel about his inability (or simply his refusal) to show his hole cards for the viewers at home. They got into a pretty ridiculous conversation about it away from the table. So...the 8's? They held up...and Christian was out in 1048th place for $15,000...exactly what he cashed for last year.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After that we lost David Chocheles. He cashed for $17,000 (806th). In the hand with QJ...he got all in on a flop of J-2-2. Gets called by the guy with 77, who then promptly turns a damn 7. Gross. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally...our Minion playing on the secondary feature table...who got a little TV time...Chris Canan...was steaming along, picking up pots when he needed them. Got chopped in half with AK vs JJ...then doubled back up. I was feeling it. We were all feeling it. I got in the car...brought my iPad to watch when I could...and took the wife and kid to Hibachi. We had just ordered when Chris called me...and I could tell from the empty sadness in his voice that he had busted. Raised with pocket nines. Got called by a Euro with 9-7. Lovely. And proceeds to flop 10-7-7.. Chris felt he was good and got it in on the flop. Ball Game. 520th ($25,000)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They were all, understandably, bummed out. I know the feeling. We all do. At least all of us who have played deep into a big tourney, only to fall short of our goal. If you are someone who has been competitive your whole life...like someone who played sports...it hits you even EXTRA hard. It's the worst feeling there is in poker. Well..besides being the STONE COLD BUBBLE. That is the worst!!! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NO SHAME IN YO GAME GRINDERS!!!! This was another extraordinary effort. The MVP of this year's team was, hands down, Jacqueline Britton. She completely took over the entire Team Monkey Schwag Department! From designing the stuff, to taking orders, collecting their money, and shipping it all out to them before the tourney started. Her energy on the group page...along with Wild Man....Kyle "The Enthusiastic Maniac" Stein...just kind of drove this bandwagon! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The return on the $200 per share investment was $111 per share. So everyone essentially lost $89...but I think everyone felt like they got MORE than their $89 worth of entertainment!!!! Its always sad when its over...but everyone was already talking about next summer's team! And as our deepest finishing Minion...Chris Canan has already locked up a spot on next year's team! I already have a semblance of a clue on a couple other people I have my eye on for next year too.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I offered my self up for Venetian for the price of $111. Smart right? What that does is gets all the odd-math out of the way when it comes to paying everyone! Those shares got scarfed up fast! And since I sent out the email confirming that I got everyone's shares correct...I am seeing that I missed a few people...putting myself in a pickle. But I will work it out. My investors are great people. If it means someone needs to give up a share here and there, I'm sure they will work with me. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay...Christian finally just got here! Good timing! Off to the pool for some R&R!!!!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">MONKEY</span></b><br />
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Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-35600207551058449102017-07-09T16:14:00.002-05:002017-07-09T16:14:38.693-05:00Time To Let 'Dem Minions Run!!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The time has finally arrived! Actually it started yesterday, to be precise. But I was so tired from my all day flight on Friday, that I couldn't find the time or energy to sit down and pen a blog. A blog that I had also intended to write on my flight OUT to Vegas this past Sunday, but which was neglected due to the very wonderful married couple I met on the plane sitting next to me. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So now...with two hours before I have to once again pack up the car...drive to New Orleans, and fly off for another four days, this time to Seattle, I'm going to try and get a blog into the hopper! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You know who's going crazy? Besides me from all the packing/unpacking, coming and going this summer? And besides Carley, from missing her daddy? My dogs! They are so smart. As soon as they see me, or all of us, packing our suitcases...they just lay on the floor and give us the most sad and pathetic looks. It kills me. This trip to Seattle kind of came out of nowhere. My Uncle Jim...after a long bout with cancer, passed away last month. He was cremated...but as a former member of the US Military, he is being honored in a ceremony on Monday. I get in at around midnight...and the ceremony is at 2pm the next day. Sure I will be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So Vegas went WAY to quickly. Got in Sunday night. Played a little 2 hour cash session downstairs at Venetian, won $178. Woke up. Played the $1100 tourney at Venetian. Went 6 levels without seeing anything above a pair of 8's (which lost)...somehow picking up the occasional pot. After flopping a set of sixes, I got it all in vs. two guys with flush draws. Despite all those spades in play...they turned a spade anyway. I missed on the river, and that was all over. I busted in time to go play the last flight of the Aria 500 at 7pm. Got there at 6:45. There was a line about 200 yards long. Great. Much to my disappointment, they no longer do/did their big tourneys downstairs in a convention room like they did several years ago when I played there. Instead, we get the ever-popular, money-saving act of putting poker tables out in the middle of the casino gaming floor, along with the noise and cigarette smoke. Charming.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>After about 20 minutes of standing in a line that wasn't moving fast...I went to the front of the line to find out if they were into alternates or not. They were. Wow. No thanks! I left..found a place called SAGE...and ate a wonderful (overpriced as hell!) meal at the bar. I was joined later by my buddy Charlie Townsend, who had come to play the same event, but like me, wasn't willing to wait then go in with 5-7 big blinds. If you dine at Sage...I recommend the sweetbreads. Holy crap those were good! The filet was also remarkable...but if that little slap of $65 meat was 8 ounces? I'm the Pope!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Returned to my hotel and called it a night. Woke up...and played the noon $600 at Venetian. It was called the SuperStack. It should have also been called a Turbo, because it was missing a lot of levels. I had a pretty good start...then kept building my stack at a pretty weak table. I was sitting at 100k when the average was 33k...and then my tables started breaking. I got moved 4 times in just over an hour. And that never seems to be a good thing. In level 12 I went from 120k to 90k with a pretty terrible string of circumstances. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Things improved a little. Managed to hover around average...then we got into the money...paying 54 places with 531 players. My mom and sister's plane was just landing in Vegas (about 9:30pm) when the shitty orbit happened. A guy moves all-in for 80k (at 12k/24k) and I go all in over the top for 155K with AK. No other callers. He has A3. Everything looks good going to the river...when the board double pairs on the river. Son of a bitch. So instead of having about 250k after that hand....I'm still sitting there with about 170k...or less than 10 bb's. So on the next hand, with 43 players left, I get 77. I hate to go all in in those spots, choosing to raise, leaving an almost-always pot committed amount behind, to appear to have a really strong hand. Well, one short stack goes all in...and another guy...who'd been playing a lot of iffy hands, and had the propensity to shove over small stack shoves to isolate, SHOVES. I have him covered by exactly 1k. I can't really fold. Now if I had won the previous hand...and with 250k...raised to 60k...I could have folded 77 there. Circumstances. Short stack had KQ...other guy had freaking 88. KQ ended up winning. I lost with my one single chip on the last hand...and went to collect my $1348.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MIN CASHES SUCK! But at least it's a cash. Ten minutes later I went and intercepted my Mother and Sister from the front desk. They were both visiting Las Vegas for the first time in their lives. I could tell my mom was pretty overwhelmed by it all. She has recently started playing poker...my sister has for quite a few years now, and is a solid player. They both had the itch to go play....so once they got unpacked, we headed over to TI (previously called Treasure Island before it became trendy to shorten everything to it's initials) to play their 10pm $77 tourney. They got 44 players. My sister and I both made the final table. Mom didn't. Mom ended up at a back table on the verge of throwing up her "there's nothing in these" mudslides she had been hammering away on during the tourney. I busted 9th. My sister busted 7th. It was paying 5 spots. Oh well.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>They went back to the hotel room. I got into a juicy cash game. A really really juicy cash game. It was 1/3 but played like 5/10. I had a lot of fun in that marathon session and left at like 1pm! Another one of those funky Vegas nights that screws up the next day! The girls went to play...and I slept all afternoon. Then never left my room that night. Basically a wasted day...and when you are only in Vegas for 5 days...a wasted day sucks!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So the next day was Thursday. Or TEAM DAY, for the Minions. I spent the morning on the phone with the banquet manager for Maggiano's. I was pretty sure we had hammered out a great menu, and the cost would be $49 per person...plus taxes, tips, and the 20% setup fee for having a private room. Later...I would be blindsided by a bill that became $77 per person...and charged us for 25 people, instead of the 18 we actually had. After arguing with them in the hall for awhile, I just gave up...telling them I didn't want the night marred by arguing over money. So I collected $75 from everyone...some nice enough to pay extra...and I covered the rest. Having a private room was a great idea...as it was quiet and comfortable. I just wish more people HAD shown up...because the amount of food they brought out was obscene!!!! By the time the appetizers were cleared away...almost all of us were full. I made sure everyone with a refrigerator/microwave packed up as much of the leftovers as possible...because there was a TON of them! Food was GREAT. Service was GREAT. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Earlier, before dinner...we met at Rio, and got all the team photos taken, the team gear all passed out...contracts signed, and players all bought in. The only guy who wasn't there...was Christian Iacobellis. But he had a good reason. On his drive over from Los Angeles, a tanker trailer got into a wreck, caught on fire...and set the entire highway area on fire in a massive brush fire. Traffic didn't move for three hours. He was stressed out like crazy. But what could you do? In kind of an ironic twist...he lives his life in a fairly anonymous way...preferring to be "off the grid" in almost everything. So...this is quite fitting I guess, that he isn't in the team photo, right!??? Well he finally arrived about 9:30, and was able to join us all at the dinner...met everyone, and caught a bite to eat. After dinner we drove over to Rio and got him registered. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Him and I went back to Venetian and we decided to play some 2/5 for awhile. He won a couple hundred, I won $940. That was it for my Vegas trip. I went to bed...and had to wake up a few hours later to get ready to come home. I was cutting it close, but still was on schedule. But my Uber driver went first to Palazzo...then the wrong entrance of Venetian, before finally finding me. Then she drove like a turtle to the airport. I was about to crawl out of my skin. I missed my flight. But they got me on another one 45 minutes later. But I had to go through Detroit. Squirrel had already left for her Blue Angels weekend in Pensacola after dropping Carley off at school that morning. I got to our friends' house around 11pm...and there was my little sweetie, wide awake on the couch waiting for her daddy! She came running, and jumped up in my arms. We went home, crawled in bed, and zonked out! Didn't even unpack!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Yesterday was our Daddy Date Day....already having promised her we would go see the new Minion movie. It was great. We went with a kid from her class and her mom and brother. Discovered our theater has renovated all the seats into reclining sofa chairs. AWESOME!!!! After the movie they came over to our house...and the kids played/destroyed the house for a few hours! They left...and Carley and I crashed at like 8pm!!!! While this was going on.....our one and only Minion was doing work!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Someone has placed the very appropriate nickname of Ken "The Carpenter" Christopher on Kenny...who has done a TON of work around my house over the past six months...doing my deck and fence. He did a great job of badgering me to the point I couldn't say no to him. Well...he earned his keep in Day One...the only one of our 8 who played on the first flight. He managed to put 52k in the bag at the end of the day. It should have been a lot more. His last bad luck sequence saw a short stack shoving 12k with 88 into Ken's pocket Jacks in the blind. Guy hit the two-outer and still has a dream alive. But with this structure? 52k is perfectly fine! And I could tell he played great all day...based on all his updates. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Going today (Sunday) we have FOUR players...and will have the final three going tomorrow. In case you missed it...the 8 players are:</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kenneth "The Carpenter" Christopher (played Saturday, BAGGED)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Wild Bill" Phillips (playing Sunday. 4-time Minion!)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Robert 'Cash Beast' Harwell (playing Sunday)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Benton Blakeman (Playing Sunday)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kenny "Trucker" Milam (also playing Sunday)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>as of this blog post...ALL FOUR GUYS are currently still in play!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Chris "Loose" Canan (goes Monday)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>David Chocheles (goes Monday)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Christian "Monk E. Grinder" Iacobellis (goes Monday)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I will be rooting from 35k feet! Then from Seattle! Missing my girls. While saying farewell to my uncle. Visiting with my Dad and Jimmy...and just found out...my brother, who is bring two of his sons up from the Bay Area. And while in Seattle, I'll be visiting one of my best friends from grade school...who was involved in a terrible car crash the week before the Super Bowl. He should have died. But he battled through a coma, and numerous surgeries, and is hoping to be out of the hospital this week! Maybe we will get to go play some poker. Or just find some good food and catch up old times. All while our Minions do work!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>As for shares? Well we sold 404! I only have TWO people who didn't pay...out of about 134 investors. Pretty crazy! A simply unbelievable effort to get this year's team off and running! A great bunch of players, and a remarkable bunch of guys. And Jacqueline Britton, who had a remarkable run in the WSOP Monster...finishing 88th out of about 6700 players...took on the role of SwagMaster...getting all the shirts, hats and hoodies made, orders taken, and items shipped out. She took SO much stress off my shoulders this summer!!! I then backed her in the Ladies tourney...which she busted out of. Oh well! Backed my sister too...and she wasn't able to have any sustained luck either. But a good friend of ours, Kristin Deardorff...who inquired about buying shares but ended up not getting any, finished 13th in that event for $5600. Good job Kristin!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Alright so its 4:07! I did it! Finally got a blog in the hopper! I promise I will update more in the next few days as the action progresses!!!!! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MONKEY</b></span><br />
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Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-33786644687396114592017-06-06T14:12:00.000-05:002017-06-06T14:12:01.453-05:00Filling Out the Roster<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>www.gulfcoastpoker.net</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Okay things are getting pretty exciting...for lots of reasons! First..we are 8 days away from zipping off to St Thomas for the Grand Opening of our bar, Bernie's Bar & Grill in Red Hook (the part of the island, kind of like Buckhead in Atlanta!). The girls are very excited for the beach...and I have to admit, I am too! It's so freaking beautiful down there!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Two nights ago, I almost snapped off an impromptu blog post that was inspired, or rather motivated...but a guy who posted just a RIDICULOUS comment in Raymond Davis' Facebook Group, Real Grinders. Basically, the guy comes in asking about a certain play of his that he pulled, and asked if people thought it was an angle shoot. Well, he quickly find out it WAS...as he was brutally ambushed by poker players who used all forms of varying responses to let him know he was either a complete douchebag, or the most clueless fool who ever played the game.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>It went on for a LONG time. I got into it...and was having a good time with it. Then all of a sudden, the next day, he completely edited the 'question' and it went from 'I' and being HIS story to being 'My friend Jim' and talked about in the third person. That managed to enrage everyone all over again. About this time...his wife (supposedly-though I have doubts about that) jumped in to support him. Telling us all what a GREAT (honestly had never heard of the guy, and a quick check on Cardplayer revealed him to have few results on his resume) player he was, and furthered that by telling us all what a wonderful guy is how and how many poker friends he had.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>It was kind of nauseating. First of all...at no time did he defend HIMSELF all throughout the thread. But his wife comes chiming in? Just kind of weird. I guess I backed off exposing him and throwing him into the volcano of public scrutiny when he came in last night and posted this sappy, woe-is-me comment where he basically calls himself a doofus who just didn't know better. Whatever. I honestly don't care enough about the guy to invest any further energy into him. But it was funny. And for those of us who got to 'enjoy' that brief encounter with the guy...it was some always-appreciated free entertainment!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I took Carley fishing again yesterday. This marks the third time since getting her a fishing pole for her birthday. On Saturday I went back to Academy Sports and had her line fixed up, and bought a bunch of new tackle. We must have swapped out our bait, lures, hooks...whatever...about 30 times yesterday! And we didn't catch ONE fish. I got a few bites...and that was it. We started at that cool grassy area to the Ocean Springs side of the Golden Nugget...then moved down to the pier by the lighthouse next to the Beau Rivage. Carley had a really good time...and I guess that's all that matters, but I sure would like to let her experience the joy of reeling in an actual fish. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I've been referred by local card player...and avid spear-fisher, Jennifer Day...to a charter captain named Jay...who I guess will take us out for a little 4 hour boat trip and guarantee to catch us lots of fish. For like $150 or something. Trying to get that booked ASAP! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Played the tourney again this past Friday. Shit sandwich again. Level 7. Probably should have re-raised, even shoved...against 'Benny' a notorious loose, wide-range player when he raised with Jack freaking seven of diamonds...but no...I flatted his raise with Ah10h. Flop came J-10-5 with two diamonds. He made a fishy bet that felt like a miss. I called. Then I turn the gin card on the turn...Queen of hearts...giving me a pair with a Royal draw. Pffft. Never folding there. And when he moved all in...I didn't. I bricked the river and was busto.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I then proceeded to find an extremely juicy cash game...a 1/3 game with a LOT of chips on it (uncapped game). So I decided to buy in deep...for 1500. And within an hour I was sitting at 1850 and really liking my chances of getting out of there with a few thousand if things kept going like it was. Fuck that. Everything quickly went to shit. Running QQ into KK. Flopping straights (4 times) and losing all of them....three to flushes, one to a boat...all on the river. Pretty much any way I could find to lose, I lost. Bricking 17-outers like it was my job. It was...well..it totally sucked. By the time I finally gave up, I'd managed to dust off $1900. Great session!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>SPECIAL REQUEST: It's THAT time of year again...where if you are a poker player, you probably have about 65-75% of your friends on Facebook as mutual poker players. Your newsfeeds are FLOODED right now with mostly optimistic posts about WSOP and other poker stuff taking place. It's kind of funny...every year is the same. First two weeks...extreme confidence, excitement, optimism, even lots of bragging. Then a few weeks later...you can start to feel the frustration of all the bad beats, the long runs followed by bubbling, or annoying min-cashes. Bankrolls drying up. Lots of 'FML' and other colorful acronyms. And then of course...in the final month...you see the dark side of poker. Talk of suicide. Talk of drinking oneself into submission. Hatred for fellow players. Etc Etc Etc. Every year. New year. Same shit. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>This is my request. Can you poker players PLEASE come up with some new buzz words? For the love of my sanity???!! First off...quit saying "WE!" We aren't doing shit at the poker table! You are! Even if I have staked you with MY money..."We" are NOT playing the hands together. "WE" are not running bad, or good, or "Bagging and Tagging" (another irritating phrase) together. NO! It's YOU and only YOU doing these things! So stop with the fucking "WE" okay???? And if it IS going to be "WE" then when WE WIN? I want my cut....and I want it FAST! No making us "US" wait to get paid!!!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Next: I get it. You're pumped. You're excited. You're feeling the ride. But can we please get rid of "LFG!??" Otherwise know as "Let's Fucking Go?" Its SO played out! I know for a lot of you it's just habit, kind of like "Bagged and Tagged" is. But like some of my new favorite players have done...they are embracing the opportunity to demonstrate some originality...by coming up with something that communicates the same information, but in an original and non-annoying way. Is it really that hard to use your imagination? It really shouldn't be. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>You have some other buzz words that REALLY need to be put out to pasture, or even taken out back and shot dead in the alley. For instance: "RIP." Ironic as it...when RIP can mean Rest In Peace...like it NEEDS to do...it's used way too often, and usually by the most annoying human beings that you might be forced (on breaks is a popular place to get ambushed by these fucktards) into discussing poker with. What they are doing with this word, is using it to describe the action of "Moving all in" with their chips. Used in a sentence: "And then...clutching a meager 12 bb's, I ripped it with a bad suited ace and prayed." Ugh. Ripped...your face...that's what I want to rip when I hear you talking this nonsense. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Okay that's enough on that topic for now. Lets move into the good shit, the shit a lot of you are reading this for. To find out who my next...and possibly LAST...if we don't make it to 400 shares sold (and we are currently at 337 with time ticking down) two players are on this year's 2017 WSOP TEAM MONKEY!!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>This has been one excruciatingly tough decision to make. In one vein...there are some applicants that really appealed to me in a personal sense, who's story I really really enjoyed. The "everyone loves an underdog" in me was leaning hard towards a few of these people. Then there was the desire to try and place a woman on the team. It's great for a little diversity, and to get the lady investors a little added motivation to jump on board. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Well, I had my lady picked out...and it's probably no secret, since she essentially was one nasty three-outer away from locking up a seat in our Wild Card tourney a few weeks ago. The invitation was extended to Rebecca McCann Campbell, but after much consideration and conference with her family, she decided to go it alone. While I was disappointed to NOT have her play for us, I appreciate her decision and wish her nothing but the best in this year's tournament!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So knowing I had to make a call to give the next two players a chance to get their travel and hotel arrangements made...I decided to go with two players who I felt the most comfortable with when it comes to my level of confidence in them cashing and perhaps getting deep in the tourney. I have a lot of investors who have been in the picture ALL four years...and while I am pretty certain they all appreciate my ability to spot talent, and endorse the reasoning behind my selections, I felt a bit of an overwhelming obligation to try and put the most SOLID team together this summer that I could. For them...mainly.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And so...without further adieu...I give you the next, and as mentioned before possibly final...two players on this year's team.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>RETURNING to the squad....the other player who cashed for us last summer....CHRISTIAN IACOBELLIS. This guy is not only a good friend...but he is a GREAT poker player. We met at the Rio almost ten years ago. He used to just DESTROY Full Tilt in its hey day. Then we swapped a piece at the Borgata Main Event back in 2010 (I think) and he final tabled that huge event. He is a PURE deep-structure tournament BEAST....and anyone would feel good having him on their team. So welcome back my man!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Appearing for the first time...and a guy who I have been staking quite a bit over the past year or so...with limited results, most of it due to just terribly bad luck...which I can certainly relate to, is a guy who basically just wore me down by being persistent. No joking. To the point I almost told him to fuck off and leave me alone two or three times!!!! He has also spent about 200 hours since the fall working at my house, helping me to rebuild my gigantic deck, and stain my new fence. But he has struggled financially...and I feel all his frustrations over the past year, and know just HOW much this opportunity means to him. I also know he is a great poker player. He has some very big scores to his credit as well. And as a matter of fact, back when I was backing Mike Bratovich...and he was at a final table in Foxwoods...I was watching on the Livestream...and lo and behold...I see THIS guy across the table from Mike!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Please welcome to this summer's team....KENNETH CHRISTOPHER! And on a side note...his cousin Bubba Thompson...who I've been tracking all year in HS football and baseball...is about a week or two away from being drafted in the first round of the MLB amateur draft! He's committed to play football (or is it baseball?) at Alabama! But there is a good chance he'll be going straight to MLB! Pretty exciting shit for Ken's family. Wouldn't a deep run in the WSOP Main Event be the perfect capper!???</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Now then. Today is election day here in Biloxi, and my good buddy Kai Landry is running for City Council. As I mentioned in my last post...we did a commercial...and I promised I would post it. Well...I'm not a fan of myself in this thing...but here it is, as promised. I need to run down and vote for him after I post this.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>As for shares? Perhaps these two new additions will spark the required amount of interest to get us sold out. We are only about 13 shares shy right now of fully funding all seven players...350 shares. Those shares are $200 per. I really am open to sending 8...and will...if I get a late run of shares requests. But I also need to make sure everyone is paid up...and have given everyone a deadline of JUNE 20th to get me PAID IN FULL or run the risk of losing their spot on the investment team. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>AGAIN...if interested in joining the investment team...email me at ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Oh hey! Kind of a funny story. Liv Boeree, who I became friends with back when she was dating my good buddy Allie Prescott...has gone on to enjoy a pretty successful poker career in the past 5 or 6 years since we met. We occasionally exchange hello's on Facebook. Well about three weeks ago...I dropped her a line, basically just catching up. I didn't hear back from her. No biggie. WSOP was coming up...figured she's busy...whatever, right?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Then the other day I'm leafing through the newsfeed, and I see that she is down to five in that big 10k Tag Team WSOP event...and holding the chip lead. Awesome! Well...I was sitting in traffic somewhere, and all of a sudden she hits me with this really long response to my message to her. And I'm like..."'Wait a second, Liv...aren't you like...at the Final Table of a really huge event going for really huge money? And NOW you decide to respond to me!????" Really kind of blew my mind. I mean...at that moment...you had to KNOW she was getting bombarded with all the usual kind of messages you get when you're on a deep run in a poker tourney. Any way...I thought it was kind of cute and amusing. Oh...and then she and her partner...who's name is really long and hard to pronounce, proceeded to win the damn thing...giving Liv her first-ever WSOP bracelet! So HUGE CONGRATS to her! She deserves it...she's a great chick!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>K bye!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>MONKEY</b></span></div>
Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3312023986845287098.post-64898472976039323672017-05-30T17:19:00.001-05:002017-05-30T17:19:25.984-05:00Vegas! Vegas!! Vegas!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>www.gulfcoastpoker.net</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Well hot damn! Look at how fast this year is rocketing by! Today is opening day of the World Series of Poker at Rio. Despite all the rumors and trends in the poker industry, the WSOP is still, somehow, in control of the Caesar's corporation. And still held at Rio. Obviously, if you follow me or any part of my life...this isn't good news. But...since poker is no longer a dominant force in my life, its lesser of a big deal than it was a few years ago.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>All that being said...there is LOTS of poker to played in Las Vegas...not JUST at Rio...but all over town, and at numerous properties. In fact, one could argue that if you aren't someone who's chasing poker immortality (and tacky bracelets), and maybe a future induction in the all-important Poker Hall of Fame, the really GOOD tourneys with good structures and lots of 'play' in them...can be found at places like Venetian, The Wynn, Golden Nugget, Aria, Bellagio, even semi-run down places like The Orleans and Binion's have solid, well-attended tournament series.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Bottom line? If you prefer a less crapshoot-style format, you have a ton of choices. But if you are a 'lottery-playing' poker player...excited about the shot at a BIG SCORE? Well...Rio is all for you! And when on the 2nd week of the 9-week run of summer fun finds your bankroll running on fumes...you might reassess your decision to go chasing after bracelets and million dollar payouts!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Also littering Facebook, Twitter, and various poker forums, are all the players selling (or trying to) their 'Summer Blockbuster Backing Packages!' Hey! Some of those selling packages, I've noticed...are people who owe me large sums of money! I was sure to call them out about it too! Don't think I didn't! And, as per my promise in my LAST blog post...I will be 'posterizing' any poker player who owes me money on July 1st...right here on this blog. Complete with photos of them. And why they owe me money. And any other little snippets of info about them I've managed to gain from OTHER people who they either owe money or have screwed over in the past. Hey! Call me whatever you want. It's time to start taking out the trash...cleaning up this profession. We don't need a bunch of dead beat losers out there playing poker.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>As for everyone else trying to sell packages? I've been defending a lot of them on social media...when, after posting their info...some jerkoff has the audacity to post some bullshit about how unprofitable tourney poker is, and why backing players is a bad investment. This is my take: We (intelligent people who also play poker) realize that poker is NOT a smart investment for investors. Hey! Know what else isn't? Bars/clubs/restaurants! Didn't stop me from getting involved in a place 25 years ago in Atlanta...or this month in St. Thomas. Ya know why? Because I know a LOT about the business, and I partner with people who do as well. And when you do that? You often times have great results!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Poker? Sure. Get some horses in your stable that have proven they have the pedigree to take you to the winners circle. BUT...and this is an important BUT...throw your saddle on someone who gives you an entertaining ride! They might not win...but at least let them know you gave it one hell of an effort! A lot of investors don't give a shit about someone's 'markup!' Save all that voodoo math and markup shit talk for the nerds who make up the Markup Mafia. A lot of people have more money than any poker staking package is ever going to put a dent in. They don't need Super Dork telling them how stupid they are for buying a poker package. In fact...some of those really wealthy people might just get annoyed enough with that asshole to hire someone at twice the cost to do unspeakably hilarious things to them, just for their own personal entertainment!!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>In other words: Poker Markup Mafia? Do us all a favor and just shut the fuck up! If a poker player has managed to cultivate and grow a strong enough network of family and friends and fellow players to be able to sell a package at WHATEVER price he/she has listed it at? MORE POWER TO THEM! And good luck! To the player AND their investors! Why you feel you need to 'educate them' to the awful investment they are making...is simply mind-boggling! Or is it??????</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>No...it isn't. I can explain it to you very easily! Its called, "Being a Hater!" Ask yourself this question...have you ever met a hater, or simply someone who was putting you down, or just talking shit behind your back...who's life you would gladly trade places with? Can I answer that for you? </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>NO! You wouldn't! Why? Because you are living a good, happy life! You don't have TIME for all the negative bullshit. But they do. Know why? Because they are generally fucking miserable pukes. They are straight up JEALOUS that some player they think (and hell, maybe they are!) sucks is able to get backing for a handful of tournaments...when they can't! I've spent a lot of time defending my own packages in the past...with some calling me a SCAMMER and a THIEF...because I had people lined up to buy my packages. I laughed. Why? Because it was hilarious! If you can't spot a hater...and you can't spot jealousy...well...that sucks. The older I get...the easier I find it to laugh at the losers in life. The thing is...it's almost like they are wearing a big T-shirt that proclaims "I'm a TOTAL FUCKING LOSER!!!!" It's that clear and blatant through their behavior!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Moral of the story? If you see someone bashing someone for their pricing or 'markup' of their poker package? That person is an asshole. A loser. A jealous prick. Fuck that person. Laugh at them. If you see them in person? Buy them a drink. Because they need one. Or ten. Then just thank the gods that you aren't that sorry piece of shit loser! Feel better? Good. That was my goal here! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Now, to those of you selling packages? Sell that shit! Don't listen to the Markup Mafia! Sell yourself for whatever YOU think YOU are worth...or what YOU can get from your network of poker constituents. Feel me!???? Awesome!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Now...lets get to the update on TEAM MONKEY 2017! The team is shaping up RATHER NICELY I must say! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I'm coming off another two-outer debacle at the Beau Rivage...followed by a -500 cash session that saw me lose to flush chasing rivers FOUR times...and a guy with top top vs my top two who counterfeited my ass on the river for a $350 pot. It was ugly. And annoying. But it seems to be how my cash sessions always go. I sat there playing for 5 hours while my mother (on her second to last night here) played slots after SHE was two-outed by some old lady overplaying AJ off like a banshee (vs. my mom's AQ suited) rivered a jack to knock HER out. (the flop produced an ace...and of course it all got in after that). That old fart made the final table but didn't cash...which gave us both a moment of glee. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>This followed our efforts last Friday...when I got knocked out fairly early when I ran QQ into AA...then my mom went out 14th, paying 9. She was very distraught, but I managed to talk her off the ledge. She and I share something in our genetics...we hate losing. And take it hard. Worse than the loss of the actual money....its just the simple act of losing. Hey...what can I say? Losing sucks!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Back to the Minions...aka, the "IMPORTANT STUFF" at this time of year.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Before I go one step further, I have to recognize a gal who I have agreed to stake in the $1000 WSOP Ladies event, based purely on her making my life 77% easier as it pertains to taking on this now annual event. The making of...and order taking for...and money collecting for...and finally shipping out of....the SCHWAG for all my team players, as well as investors, family friends, etc...has literally been the BIGGEST headache in doing this thing, but one I found to be totally necessary to give the enhanced experience to everyone.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Well Jacqueline Britton, who came on board last year as an investor, and helped me with the T-shirts and hoodies...took on the WHOLE project this year! And I could not be MORE thankful!!!! She is my little Angel on the Felt. So if you are looking for someone to root for in the Ladies event? She's your gal!!!! On top of it all...she is a wonderful lady! I'm thrilled to have her on the team!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Now then...some of you have already heard the results of last week's Wild Card tourney held at Out of Bounds in Metairie...and some of you maybe have been waiting with baited (bated?) breath wanting to know the outcome.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Well...a smaller crowd showed up than I had hoped for, for starters. I wasn't going to do it unless we got at least 14 players. But when I sat there looking at 8 faces who were ready to play some poker...and me not wanting to make THEM or ME drive back over there the next week to do it all over again? I just said "Screw it! You're all very good players...and one of you is going to Vegas! Shuffle up and Deal!!!"</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And wow...the play was magnificent. Wild Bill Phillips...a team member all three years prior...took an early chip lead with a huge pot vs. Scott Adams...and he would milk that stack in a very quiet fashion for hours. Gene D...a member last year...managed to compile a massive chip lead about halfway through the action, before he started losing some big hands. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Action got to 6-handed and stayed that way for about FOUR hours! The starting stack was 15,000...and the structure was great...so just like last year's tourney, I figured it would take awhile to determine our winner. I can't tell you how impressed I was with everyone's play. Most of the time I sat in an empty seat observing the action. I definitely paid a lot closer attention than I did at last year's tourney...when Barth Melius and I sat on the living room couch playing heads up for $500 a game. (I got crushed) I am really glad I spent so much time watching. Chris Canan, who was named to the team previously, was nice enough to show up and deal the entire tourney for us. And he did a fantastic job!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The last player to arrive was Rebecca McCann Campbell, who a lot of players on the circuit have nicknamed "Smiley" because, well...she is almost ALWAYS smiling. I've gotten to know her on a personal level this past year...and despite her being an LSU fan...think the world of her. She's a solid solid player, and a very affable player that everyone seems to like. I couldn't help but think she would make the perfect team member.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Well...at around 4:30 am...we finally got to heads up play, and lo and behold, there was Rebecca holding a massive chiplead against 3-time Monkey Grinder Bill Phillips. Bill really had his work cut out for him. But 'grind' he did...refusing to submit to the dominating stack of Rebecca's. After about an hour of heads up play...the BIG HAND finally arrived. With the blinds at 3000-6000...Bill moved all in with A2 for....an amount that was an auto-call for Rebecca holding AQ. All she had to do was fade...well we all know what she had to fade. But when a deuce hit the flop...you just KNEW the outcome. Anyone who has ever played a good amount of poker knows that feeling and has experienced it a bunch of times. It always sucks. And it feels like you've been kicked in the gut.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And on the other side of the fence? We've also been the player who has gotten it in SO bad...only to get the miracle suck out. And that was Bill. Then to seal the win...he would get it in with 4-7 vs Rebecca's J-7 (again-dominating Bill) only to see Bill hit a four! And just like that...it was OVER! Bill was our winner...and once again...a member of TEAM MONKEY!!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>To BOTH of their credits...and I don't think you could have EVER wanted to see it handled any better by the winner OR the loser, Bill (as he always is) was incredibly humble and low key in victory and Rebecca was an absolute professional about how she lost. The smile never left her face...despite the gut-wrenching pain I know she was feeling. It's always nice to be around people who don't do the "Stand Up and Cheer and Scream" when they win...or the "That's What I'm Talking Abouuuuuut!!!!!" victory reaction. Ugh.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Nope. They were both amazing. They both played great. Everyone played great. It was one of the most well-played tourneys I've ever been a part of. And is going to undoubtedly have an effect on the selection process in the determination of my final two players on this year's squad.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>SIDE NOTE: Wild Bill held his annual WSOP Main Event satellite (also at Out of Bounds) this past weekend...and the eventual winner was Lance Campione! Lance is already an investor of our team...so he's in line to have a fantastic summer potentially! Congrats Lance! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So. Where are we? We have FIVE players on the squad. And as of this moment? I have sold 274.5 (yes! you can buy half a share! That IS a thing!) shares. 250 shares sold covers 5 players...so we are halfway to the sixth player...and I'm 100% positive the 7th player will be a breeze. And Jackie has me covered on the apparel side of things! If things play out right...by the time I take the family to St. Thomas on June 14th for a week...I'll have all 7 team members named, and most of the money collected, and just be really focused on MY own travel arrangements to Vegas.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Yeah. As for me? I've decided...with some input (of course) from the wife, who has no interest in going to Vegas ("I've been to dang Vegas a thousand million times, I don't care about going to Vegas! That's not where I want to use up my vacation days!") that she gets to spend 4th of July weekend (actually the 8-10th) in Pensacola Beach with her friends...and I get to go to Vegas the week before, and play a handful of juicy events. An $1100 at Venetian with $300 bounties. Then if I bust that, another $1100 Omaha mix game at Venetian. Then the $1500 Main Event at The Wynn. Take Wednesday July 6th off for the TEAM DAY and TEAM DINNER...on July 7th have my horse Jacqueline and possibly my mother and sister running in the Ladies WSOP event...then play my Day 2 hopefully. And...if I don't make the Final Table...fly home Friday the 8th to take care of Carley while Mama Squirrel goes to play at the beach. If I MAKE the Final Table? Well...we have a back up plan for THAT!!!! Hopefully that gets put in play!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>So, RECAP: I have two more Minions to come up with! I also have approximately 75 more shares to sell at $200 per share. Investors have a 65/35 majority in the team. Players give back the $10k to the investors if they cash. Players also have the option of withholding 20% of their winnings to account for all tax implications. All investors know about each other. A spreadsheet goes out listing EVERYONE's personal stake. There is NEVER the possibility of me OVER-SELLING the shares. Doing so would be utterly foolish. Once I hit 350...that's IT. It's SOLD OUT and DONE! If I do get interest once we are sold out...I then give those who haven't paid yet...a date to pay or lose their spot on the team to someone willing to pay for their shares. I am longggggg since tired and weary of carrying bad debt that I have to chase people for. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>If you are interested in joining our team of investors to have a piece and rooting interest in ALL SEVEN TEAM members this summer...and get ALL the constant updates from the players, as well as frequent posts on the private Facebook Group page (for players, investors and friends and family) just shoot me an email at ThePokerMonkey1@aol.com and you can climb on board!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I could probably ramble on about a bunch of stuff that's been going on in the past month...as its been a pretty exciting and eventful month...but I fear this post has gone on too long already! So that's a wrap!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Oh! And now? I have to go rehearse my lines for....huh? Yeah...you heard me! REHEARSE MY LINES! I've been 'cast' to play a 'Dad' in a commercial tomorrow for my good buddy Kai Landry, who is running for a local political office here in Biloxi! No, I am NOT kidding! If I get a hold of the finished product, I will be sure to post it here!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>MONKEY</b></span></div>
Poker Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16846625703811355130noreply@blogger.com0