IP Poker Classic ...WOW

Well...I now have some poker to talk about...lol

As most of you probably know by now...I had quite a series at the IP recently...my next few blogs will be about the entire experience so there will be several blogs coming.

I want to start off by saying that my wife and I are still trying to digest all this and keep it all in perspective. We want to make sure that we are thankful for what God has given us and try to learn from my mistakes as I made many...and see where this will take us. This will continue to be a learning experience for me...its an ever evolving game and I just want to continue to learn

1st off... I got 3rd place in the $345 multi-day re-entry tourney at the IP for close to $13, 500 and this was the 1st of 3 cashes for close to $40,000 I won. It was a good feeling to win that much money, but all poker players who have gotten that close also know the disappointment in not winning 1st place. It is a big whirlwind of emotions and I think I am over the disappointment/analysis part of it...and I am ready to celebrate and just be happy about the run. I will try to summarize a few things about that tourney below and might even throw in a few hands here and there.

I started off the tourney on Day 1A on Friday, and was not overly pleased with my draw as I had Corrie "Big Slim" Wunstell in the 2 seat and Claudia "Roll Tide" Crawford from ESPN fame in the 10 seat. I was able to slowly chip up and basically hovered about average all of day 1, and I was only all-in a few times. When we got close down to the stopping point of 27 players I was moved to a table in the 10 seat (I hate the 10 seat), and I had Zach Evans sit down in the 1 seat...and at times I thought when we were in the blinds that the rest of the table would fold around just to see what kind of fireworks were going to ensue. We would tangle up in the blinds more times than I wanted to...but damn it...I just never thought he had anything ...lol. I made some great calls at this table...and a few bad calls...once calling Zach down when we were in the blinds "again" ...with King High when he value bet 3 of a kind...I just had to see the hand...lol.

I really like Zach alot and want to wish him and his girlfriend Jennifer Parrish a healthy baby girl in the next few weeks...Zach and Jen...if your reading this ...Congrats!!!!

I was happy to get out of Day 1A with average in chips and both Zach and Jennifer made it through with above average. When we got back for day 2, I went to work quickly building my stack. I did find Aces a few times earlier and was able to win a few nice pots, and then I made a big bluff to get in the top 10 in chips...once I had some chips I worked the stack and kept putting pressure until I was in the top 3-4...and I had one of the chip leaders directly on my left.

The next hand would be the few times I got all my chips in before we were down to 8-9 at the FT...and it is every poker players dream with 25 players left...AA (me) vs KK (villain)...I really didn't realize he had me covered until everything was counted down...I was now the CL and cruised into the FT ...I think 3rd or 4th in chips...very comfortable.

The FT was long and the 4 and 3 handed play was somewhat brutal as the structure allowed for alot of good poker. I personally wished they would have brought the FT back for a day 3, but that was not the case. In the biggest hand of the FT for me was when I busted out Robert Harwell in a somewhat cooler hand for him...I raised PF with QQ and he flatted with JJ...flop came 10 high rainbow and we got it in the middle...Somewhat of a cooler but he played well.

I had some bad luck at the table in some spots 3 handed but still felt I was the best player left even as the blinds crept up...sitting on about 16 bigs I raised with 2 red 10's only to get flatted by "Brownie" as his military buddys were calling him (Bob defiantly had the biggest rail going for him)...Flop came with K and 3 club...check...check...turn was a brick...chceck-check...river another club...check-check...he turns over K-4o

I wound up getting it in with 12-13 bigs with A-Qo on a Q-J-10 rainbow board and the eventual winner flop the joint with K-9...GG me...ship 3rd for $13.5k

This is all a blessing but there is more to come...

I want to address here something that I want to pass off to everyone who reads this blog. I think everyone who knows me knew I was not happy with my job...well...I parted ways with my last company after 7 months of the worst sales manager that I have been associated with in the 16-17 years in the telecommunication industry and I want to pass on to all you readers that I hope you never get in the situation I was in.

I got internally transferred to work under this new sales manager coming into the company, and I knew who the guy was...I had heard terrible ...just terrible things about the guy... but I decided to give it a shot anyways and find out for myself what the guy was about...and I have never been more miserable in my entire life. I am so at peace with myself now that I don't have to ever have to stress over this guy again

So to all you people out there that hate your jobs...that are working for a boss that is the "epitome of everything you hate"... in people and in this world...get out and get out now.

Now I want to talk a little about the latest book I read which is an autobiography for Duff McKagan...the bass player for the band Guns and Roses...which I grew up with as a young adult. Absolutely one of the best books I have ever read and it encompasses Duffs (The beer on the Simpsons was named after him) rise to glory with one of the most notorious rock bands in the industry...to his suicidal like use of drugs and alcohol ...to his getting sober and turning his life around. Duff is now sober...writes articles for major newspaper...getting a degree from College and enjoying life...incredible read...I highly recommend it

I am here now sweating Bill and Jacob "Nocko" Naquin in the main event...I couldn't play the M.E. as my sons 2nd Birthday party was scheduled a month ago with invites sent...I had no idea I would be on such a heater.

Also...Ricky Romero from Lafayette, La is the only player who can catch me as the Casino Player Champion and a seat into the $1 million FreeRoll at next years WSOP...He is at the final table in the very last $345 event...tough final table though...Capt Tom/Chris Tryba/Carwash/John Evans...and more

I will be blogging about my other 2 final tables in other post...my other 3rd place for over $6,000...and the heart breaker...2nd place for over $20,000...and the coveted gold ring

If it weren't for people who took risks, where would we be in this world?
Shai Lebeouf as Jacob Moore in Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps

PS: Again...I was slammed by questions about why I didnt play the Main Event...Well...it was Ivey's 2nd birthday party as I mentioned in blog...and earlier on Sunday ....here is the reason why...right here...