Table Tango

Check back on the beginning of the Project City Center photos here. See the newest update here. The city within a city is beginning to show foundation…lots of it.  I was out cruising the heat filled streets when I decided to veer off into the employee parking area off of the Strip onto Harmon.  The entry was open but I was stopped immediately by a female security guard.  A green plastic something or other covers all the chain link fence around the construction area and it’s impossible to tell what’s on the other side of it.  But once through the gate, it was easy to tell I wasn’t supposed to be there.  While she was throwing up her arms, I was already rolling down the window and showing her my employee ID.  I just wheeled in and turned around and headed for Monte Carlo Drive - that would take me back to Frank Sinatra Blvd. and the employee parking garage.  (more…)

The fine part of being a poker blogger is that people read you.  Some of them read because they want to know more about the world of poker.  Some of them read because they want to know if you’re writing something about them, especially if you’re writing something bad.  That ‘bad’ part always cracks me up.  What if you’re writing about what they do, say, or how they act?  It could be bad but that part is dictated by them, not by the writer.  For example, Phil Hellmuth had a few stellar moments in his Day 1B showing at the $10,000 buy-in tournament.  And, I heard from a reliable source, that when he went bust and the announcer told the room, everyone in the room applauded.  So the truth is that his behavior is bad, it’s not that someone is writing ‘bad’ things about him.  There are a zillion more stories about other players just like that one.  ‘Name Brand’ players just get more press when they act like butt heads.  (more…)

We’re the mass.  Let me back track for a moment.  I haven’t been to the Rio since Wednesday, I believe.  That was the day after the Vanilla doodlie-doo on Tuesday.  I survived all that and just couldn’t find the energy to drag myself out into the heat.  But that’s all I’ve done this week, is drag myself out into the molten lava air that swirls around me when I step outside.  Ugh!  I don’t know how day time people deal with getting up every day and going out into the hot car, fade the traffice, and then climb back into the damn hot car to make their next journey in the game plan of the day.  Just think, they could be sitting in an air conditioned room, playing poker.  (more…)

Ha!  I made it back to the shindig post.  I managed to escape on a couple of hands during the tournament.  One where I held 10-10 on the Button.  Chilly raised it - Rachel raised it, I thought about it for a moment, then folded, for all the wrong reasons because I thought she had a big pair, but as it turned out, I made the right decision to not go busted or become injured in chip count with this hand.  Chile had 8-8, Rachel turned over A-Q off and hit a Queen on the Turn.  Whew! I did pick up K-K once and won a big pot.  (more…)

“But I don’t want a Creamy Vanilla Smoothie.”

“It’s shaken, not stirred and it’s a ‘Readi-Cat-2′.  Make sure it’s chilled, and start drinking the first 10 oz. at 8:45…”

OMG!  This was a surprise. (more…)

I’d like to jump start my brain somewhere in the middle of everything that’s going on, that way I could miss half of what has happened, and have the knowledge tucked away that would move me forward into the next step of the plan that never was.  That’s how I feel.  I had a plan…or did I?  Maybe I didn’t.  And if Plan A fails, aren’t you supposed to be ready to move to Plan B?  Kee-rist!  NO SUCH ANIMAL! (more…)

From the film ‘Hook’.  I love that movie.  What incredible fantasy and fun.  Dustin Hoffman, “No stopping me this time Smee.  This is it.  Don’t make a move Smee, not a step. My finger’s on the trigger.  Don’t try to stop me Smee.  This is it.  Don’t try to stop me this time Smee!  Don’t try to stop me this time Smee!  Don’t you dare try to stop me this time Smee - try to stop me!  Smee better get up off your ass.  Get over here Smee.  Come on Smee, do you think this is all a joke?  I’m committing suicide!” The only part I didn’t like was when Rufio died.  But the overall of the movie?  Loved it!  It’s like the WSOP this year.  It’s BANG-O-RANG!  (more…)