Who's BEST for poker?

A very good article over at PokerNews from yesterday: http://www.pokernews.com/news/2009/11/pokernews-op-ed-the-november-nine-who-s-the-best-for-poker-7490.htm I know, I know I'm behind. Work has truly kept me hopping as of late. But idle hands and all that... The article by Nicole Gordon discusses which of the World Series of Poker's November Nine will be BEST for poker. It's an interesting read, check it out.

My prediction (or who's my pony in this race?) Phil Ivey... I just like the guy. I enjoy watching him play. That vacant stare, and the darting eyes. There's a cold-calculating mind in there but I really think the guy is truly a phenom! He's an incredibly intuitive player. Phil is unfortunately on the short side of the stacks... If not Phil then my second pick for WSOP glory would be Darvin Moon. He's somewhat local! He hails from Maryland, but earned his seat by winning it at Wheeling Island, right here in West BY GOD Virginia! It makes for one of those great stories, of "Local Boy Makes Good!" Of course I can openly root for Jeff Shulman as well, he's well known in the poker community and it'd be a good thing if he took down the win too. Of them all, Phil would be BEST for poker's image. He's a talented, charismatic personality and a win by him would indeed elevate the idea that skill does indeed play an enormous part in poker and he'd be a good candidate to sell it to the world. I agree completely with the author's assertion there. As for one of the "unknown"-ish NOOB's winning it and sparking yet another poker explosion... I don't know. The game is very much alive in the U.S. although the UIGEA did put a big lid on it for folks. But I can't tell you how many games I can still find every week right here in my own hometown, far removed from the Vegas skyline. The specter of poker illegality simply put a dent in online poker for a season. I like many others still believe that at some point the laws will be repealed or just fade into obscurity. I have a lot of friends that don't play poker... and they could care less if I choose to do so or not. It is that which gives me pleasure and joy. And sensible human beings I think respect that and won't throw their weight and support behind the silliness that the UIGEA introduced. All that said, though I don't think a poker-splotion is in the cards again. Moneymaker truly did give hope to the huddled masses to climb to greatness in the poker world, but really all it did for me was get me logged on to a computer to play some micro-stakes. I haven't plugged any sort of hole in the poker economy. I guess some others did way back then.

Wow, but I've rambled on... Uhmmm tonight there's cards to be played at the Yanok's! Gametime 7-ish. Always a good crowd, always a good time. Big Red and I are still on the fence about going, since she has been sick for a while, albeit no longer contagious. I'm feeling like 70% that we'll be there, since she's going STIR CRAZY from sitting at home all this time. She's gonna want to go back out into the world if she can stand it. So, I hope to see you all tonight, but if we don't make it play your hearts out gang!

Oh and don't forget the WSOP's Final Table does come back together starting tomorrow at High Noon, Vegas Time! Leading up to a much anticipated/hyped showdown among the nine, which will culminate the 10th of November on TV. Yes, of course I'll be watching... but thanks to the fine folks doing the Live Blogging at PokerNews.com, I really won't need to now will I! : P

Regards,

cheer_dad

Splat, and some poker announcements too

Somedays even the coffee gets the better of you at work! Off to a wondrous start this morning, with one too many dramas to deal with. Everyone really gets overly freaked out over things that just don't get me all that excited. Folks, ain't nobody gonna die if this service isn't running for about a minute and a half. FFS, it even fails over to it's counterpart. BUT, I digress. Just a minor bump in the road, but unfortunately the "team" didn't all see eye to eye on the subject. But hey as the lead, I opted for words of wisdom, from Mike McD himself. "Yeah, it's one me!" Of course now who in management will likely by "Gramma" or "TeddyKGB" I have no clue. The thought does give me pause... mighta even thrown up in my mouth a little there! : P

Work is work people... it's just a job... don't let it define or encompass you're very existence. If our work defined us, we all most certainly have very short dictionary entries.

In other more positive pokery type goodness, the Yanok's are hosting this Friday, at 7-ish I think!?! Me thinks there will be Crown. Time grows short for additional qualifiers to pad the chip stack for the year end game. See you all there!

Also, Friday the 13th (November) the Eagles Hold'em Tournament is scheduled. Registration at 6, game at 7. $25 gets you in for all the fun. Limit of 50 players (for now.) As an added bonus Uncle June tells me that Jinx'd is playing in the Main room. Any of my erstwhile Facebook fanatical followers can attest to the "good" time I/we all had on Halloween when they played at the 5th Street Pub. The things I've seen, the things I've heard... Thank all your lucky stars that I'm pretty sure I lost some time there. There are some details that are pretty fuzzy. Anyway, I hope to see you all come out for the game. I needs a big win... and YOU can make it happen! : )

Regards,

cheer_dad

On 6, 6 down...

And again from the well of drunken poker, I goes for 6 tables o micro variety, and hand over $6 to the poker overlords... who jeered and sneered in my general direction. Prolly lucky to have escaped with what I did sans my dignity. I did hit quad 7's last night and actually got paid with the little beauties, when I just limp called the whole way vs one other player, and then I mashed the all-in button after his river bet. He tanked for a while before making the call, and pulling the fuzzy session for me out of the toilet. He was holding cowboys and frankly played a bit weakly with them. (or so sez i, dee poker drunk...) The pot there actually pulled me back from the abyss. Sleep and boredom finally had me close down the connection to PokerStars.

I really gotta quit that shhtuff! It does SOOO cut into my beauty reshhhhht!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Quarantine

Day... what is it like 3 now? I've been at home with the boy, who has been sick. Flu of some variety. pig like, bird like, monkey for all we know. Doctor just told us to stay at home, control the fever, rest, relax, and get better. You know try not to DIE!!! But I'm happy to report that he is getting better. Fever has subsided, so the contagious phase is prolly over. Still some headaches, and a nasty cough, but Cole is thankfully on the road to recovery. I was concerned this morning that I might be getting the bug myself. The jury is still out but I'm leaning more toward a sinus/allergy thing in my case. The sore throat has passed.

I'd like to say that I'll be happy to get back to work, maybe tomorrow, but I'd be lying and you ALL know it, don't you!

Waiting around to see if Whit needs picked up from school... when the heck is that VW part going to get here so I can get her back on the road, and I can stop carting her around! Okay that last part was an exaggeration!

I did play a little poker I think back on Monday, and made a few dimes and nickles... very few. But I did experiment with 6-tabling on PokerStars and didn't find it too disturbing or taxing. When time permits again, I'll give it a shot.

Hope all is well with each of you, and if any of you find yourselves under "quarantine" at this point due to some iteration of the flu... take care and get well soon.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Happy 18th Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary Baby! 18 years ago today Teresa and I were married. Through the good and even the bad we've made a wonderful life together, have two great kids, and have the rest of our lives to look forward to. I wouldn't change a thing... well except for that thing... that time... with those people... u remember! : P

I love you Teresa and am so very glad that you lost your good sense and agreed to be my wife! You truly make me want to be better than I am, and so I strive each day to become the man which you deserve.

Tell her congratulations today, if you see her... or maybe tell her how sorry you are if you really know ME.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Follow your bliss

I'm winding down the day, with a little B-52's, happen on the Follow Your Bliss track off of the Cosmic Thing album. No lyrics, just a slow melodic undercurrent, that if I just let go would drift me off to sleep. And the randomized Media Player psychedelic animated display swirls and pulsates to the music. Dude, the friggin' colors! But it won't be long now.

We had a fun time at the Eagles last night. Of course I spent most of time huddled around the stupid Word Dojo machine with JJ and Jim trying to break thru the elusive high score. Earlier in the day Whitney called when she couldn't get her car so start. And of course I'm the who has to help, although I don't know the least little bit about automobiles. But the problem yesterday seemed somewhat obvious. I found a blown fuse, which sits in a fuse box over the battery. There was also some meltage of the surrounding plastic. We replaced the fuse, but it still would turn over, not until we popped the clutch. Then it started and runs til you turn if off. Then it won't come back on at all. Today I've spent a lot of time looking for internet advice to help me. I think I know what has to be done, which will required a trip into the shop for little Yellow Turbo, the VW bug!

No poker to be played this weekend I don't believe. We do have a bonfire tomorrow at the Eagles, so there's that. Beer and Combustion... : ) Also, Big Red and I will be celebrating our 18th Wedding Anniversary over the weekend! The day is October 26th, Monday... but we'll do some things together over the course of the weekend. Happy Anniversary Baby!

I foolishly played some after Eagles poker last night, and just gave it away. I got to pushy early on, and ran a flopped set into the Nut Flush on the River. I knew better than to shove there, but got cocky. I then tried to get it back, and failed and just ended up giving more back. I know you'd think I'd learn. But, it was all tiny stakes, so no real harm done, except for priced.
As the day marches on, my eyes are getting heavier. I'm looking forward to heading home and take a catnap. Plug your ears, the snoring's about to commence.

Later all!

Regards,

cheer_dad

NDPT Points Race update

I have updated the NDPT Points Race here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkU945DT3QQ5cHRObDZfY3BYREhsLXJVQmxnZDlmT1E&hl=en

For those of you unable, unwilling to click here you go.

JR Ruble, 2940
Teresa Murray, 2280
Eric Freed, 2130
Del Minturn, 1985
John Johnson, 1700
Steve Allman, 1625
Brian Murray, 1590
Julie Wolfe, 1330
Matt Hensley, 1050
Mike Westbrook, 953
Vince Post, 800
TJ Sellers, 630
Julie Miller, 480
Dennis Rempel, 315

Since our "regular" game has migrated to the Eagles, I will likely discontinue the points race after this year. It's been fun while it lasted but it's been like running a tournament within a tournament since obviously not everyone participated up there. Plus, even many of the regulars have changed. At any rate we'll be battling it out for prolly just under $600 by the end of the year.

We'll need to discuss options for the End of the Year game, likely at next month's tournament at the Eagles. I will post all the information here to the blog, so stay tuned. I will most certainly coordinate it to stay out of the way of any other scheduled pokery type events!

Regards,

cheer_dad