ONE TIME for the Gulf Coast...ONE TIME!!!

Wow...John Dolan has made the November 9!!

1st off: Congrats John!!!!! ...on making the November 9 as well as a great run all WSOP. We were all down here pulling for you and Gabe. For those not following the action last week, John came in somewhere in the bottom 5 of 27 people playing down to the final 9. I think he started with just over 2 million...and ended the day 2nd in chips going into the November final table with over 46 million.

John's poker savy-ness came to light when they got down to 10 players...and they were on the Final Table bubble. I cut and pasted a quote from Oskar Garcia below:

With a spot at the final table worth far more than the nearly $177,000 difference in prize money between 10th and 9th place, some players simply refuse to play their cards once the finalist sat the the 10 handed table....Others, like 24 year old John Dolan of Bonita Springs, FL, took advantage of the situation to pick up chips without a fight...Dolan began 10 handed play with 24.5 million, and less than 2 hours later had the 2nd biggest stack at the table with 46.3 million in chips

Thats what poker is about...adapting to your situation...getting a read on where you are...identifying opportunities...and taking advantage of the situation....There is no doubt that with the chips John has...he has to go into the Final Table the odds on favorite...we will see.

2nd: Gabe Costner...what a player...and what a nice run this WSOP 2010!!! You guys who follow my blog have read about my feelings on Gabe....all I can say is "Well Deserved Buddy...well deserved"...I think he is on the verge of taking that "next"step.

What have I been doing lately?...I had an interesting travel experience recently flying to Nashville for our "Quarterly Sales Review"...and I have been beating the local cash games...making some money but not getting rich.

I am going to start with this situation I think you guys will get a kick out of ...the "Planes-Trains and Automobiles" scenario nightmares we all face. We have all been there...just read some of Monkey's blogs about his travel hi-jinks...this one was interesting.

I am going thru the airport and I am at the metal detectors pulling out my laptop...taking off my shoes...watch ...etc. I reach in pockets and pull out a small pocket knife I forgot to leave in my truck. Not wanting to cause any delay/trouble...I immediately hand it to one of the Fed workers and explain, "Hey man...here you go...I forgot it in my pocket"...thinking I would alleviate any suspission...but....thats exactly what I got.

I am pulled on the side and into the holding area...all my carry on luggage is "thoroughly" searched while they scan me and frisk me. There is this one "mall cop wanna be" looking guy standing away staring at me ...as he goes thru my wallet and looks around. I comment to one of the friskers, "This is because of the knife?"...he responds "Yep...routine"...OK fair enough...They finish searching me and my luggage and MCWB walks over and circles me with a look on his face like the agents in "The Matrix"... I have a Magellan Sportsman Fishing Shirt on and one of my Gulf Coast Poker Hats....This conversation ensues:

MCWB: So...where you going?
Me: Nashville for work
MCWB: Where do you live? (He is holding my drivers license)
Me: Houma sir...
MCWB: Where's Houma?
Me: about 60 miles southwest of here...I live behind the hospital
MCWB: Whats the name of the Hospital in Houma?
Me: Terrebonne General
MCWB: So you like to Fish...and play poker right Mr. Dudek?
Me: Uhhhhh yea...(I am figuring out he is going off my clothes)
MCWB: What are the boat launches down their called?
Me: Well...theres CoCo Marina...and I guess Falgouts
MCWB: What do the words Cobia and Penn mean to fisherman
Me: Uhhhh...Cobia is a Fish...and a type of Boat....and Penn makes reels
(I am now seeing this will be a question and answer quiz game)
MCWB: I have a friend up by Lutcher killing the specks in his
pond...
Me: That would be hard to do sir since specks dont live in ponds and
are a saltwater fish
MCWB: So what the best hand in Poker...a flush or a straight?
(I start to laugh and give him that "are you serious look?...he is serious")
Me: Uhhhhhh....a flush sir
MCWB: What is the most popular poker game nowadays?
Me: No limit hold him sir
MCWB: what would be the most prestigious poker tournament there is?
Me: Thats the World Series of Poker sir...actually...it has been running
for over a month and the the Main event is starting in a few days
MCWB: How do you like the poker room over at the Treasure Chest here in Kenner?
Me: Well sir...the Treasure Chest does not have a poker room...but they did years ago
and it was nice...in fact...the Treasure Chest had the 1st Casino in the city with a Poker
room in early 90's...I have a Poker Room jacket from the Treasure chest

He gives me my license and wallet and says...."Have a nice day sir and enjoy your
flight".

WTF!!!!!!!! LOL..... Your tax dollars at work people

So I have been running good lately beating the cash games. I played at the Belle of Baton Rouge last night and booked my 4th winning cash session in a row (knock on wood). The game there was good with several weak spots.

Amelia Belle Saturday night: Booked a nice win there also...I had to go home early so did not get to take full advantage of the action. I was told by Dave Anderson...."Your going to see some strange plays here...get ready"...and boy did I ever.

I saw the following hand on the 3rd or 4th hand. Guy in for $500 opens for $40 in mp....and donk on button calls. Flop hits As5s6c...MP player c-bets up to $75...button flats. turn is the 7s...mp fires out $100...gets popped by button ...to which mp player snap shoves his whole stack and button donk snap calls his shove...you know what these 2 Einsteins have??? MP player tables Ac-9h...button donk table 5d-7h....river is the 2s...Dave and Mike Steagall are both getting a kick out of my facial expressions where I am looking around like ...WOW...WTF???

I say..."OK...so thats how this game is going to play...all right then"....several hours in to the session I call a $15 raise into a 4 way pot from the sb with Qs9h. The guy on my left (UTG) has made more terrible plays in a hour that I saw my whole last cash session. flop comes out Qh6d3s...I knuckle...donk on my left fires $20 and gets a caller from the button ....and I call from sb....turn is the 9s. I check and utg fires $50...button folds and I call. River brings a very pretty 9c....I check...UTG immediately fires out a hundo....I do a little acting and raise it up to $230 for a value raise hoping he has something....he tanks hard....reaaaaaal hard....he is in agony...he just cant seem to be able to fold this hand...he eventually says, "Damn...I will have to let you have it"...and fold 7h6s face up letting me off the hook.....Yeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I want to say Happy Birthday to my lovely wife....and thanks to all the comments about Ivey...he is something else.

Hope to see you guys in Tunica at some point...

Come on John Dolan.....ONE TIME BABY....ONE TIME!!!!!!!!!!.....

"You gotta have two things to win. You gotta have brains and you gotta have balls" Paul Mewman as Fast Eddie Felson in "Color of Money"

WSOP Blues...runnin good in cash

It becomes a daily task...everyday that the World Series of Poker is going on...for every passionate poker player who just can't make it out to Vegas for the premier event...

Wake up everyday...get a cup of Coffee...and check which of your buddies has made money in the WSOP ...hoping to see one of them sporting new wrist wear. Sometimes it's only been hours and their still playing the same session as you only just went to bed at midnight about 7 hours ago. Your hero was in the top 100 in chips...now their down to 2 tables and he is 5th...etc

So goes another day ...wash ...rinse...repeat

It can sometimes be depressing...but it is...what it is

I am still trying to figure out a way to get out there this year, but it looks bleaker everyday that passes. It will be a "long weekend" if I make it, and I will probably only be able to play one event. I will leave on Thursday....and come home Monday night/Tuesday morning. Its just tough in a job where there is alot of pressure to out perform as well as having a 7 month old at home. I just cant find the time...the bankroll is fine...I feel i am playing good...I just have to "pull the trigger" and say "lets go"...and do it. I have always been very impulsive in my life and I would thrive on doing things "on the fly"...with a family things have changed ;-)

I have been running well in the cash games this past week as i made it up to the Belle of Baton Rouge for a session...and then slid in to Shorty's on Wednesday.

BoBR- First time I saw Bryan “maravichlsu” Lanoix in the 2-5nl game as I walked in. Chatted about...what else...Shared stories about what were hearing from the WSOP. The cash game was very good that night...and crazy. Its been awhile since I have played at such a crazy table with drunks...calling with anything..."Im all in and I haven't even looked at my cards yet"...etc. Im in the game for $300 and cash out for right under $700.

Shortys-Got in the 5-5 game with all the regulars...Timmy, Phil, Mrs Lorna. I get in the game for $300 and out when the tournament started for $450. I made one terrible play when in a 5 way pot after everyone knuckled the flop...I fired a 3/4 pot sized bet with "8 high air" from the button and Timmy calls on a 2s3h9d-Js board. River is a Q and Timmy checks...I knuckle/muck like a scared rookie...Timmy drags the pot with "higher air"...he missed his flush draw....all I had to do was "Breath on the pot"...and it was mine.

From there I noticed there was a seat open in a limit Omaha-High game with 3-6-12...and I jumped in it for an hour...It was probably one of the easiest poker games I have played in some time. It was a bunch of older people...I was the only one that ever raised PF...you knew right where you were at with a bet after the flop ...and you also knew right where everyone else was. I picked up another $150 ...for a $300 score on the day

What else is happening...Congrats to Gabe Costner...Most of my close poker playing buddies know that I have always thought Gabe as one of the best players in the South...and "One of the Good Guys" in poker. I played for most of the day with Gabe on my left in the 6 handed event several circuit events ago...and we talked almost the whole time...and got to know him better...and Several weeks later I played with Claudia on my left for several hours (See my Feb 20th blog)

Gabe is one of those guys that "you can't keep down"...even with the rumors flying about his downward swing...I always knew he would win something else big and pull himself out of it...and I had a feeling that the poker couple from the Gulf Coast ...would most likely reunite...as playing and talking with them both in those sessions...I kind of sensed there was still feelings that weren't put to rest...Congrats Gabe...now get some wrist wear!!!!

Listen to Paul Wasika on Poker Road Radio recently and I had no idea he was going to tattoo "420" across the top of his forehead. That's right folks...Wasika basically told the world he "Hits the Cheeba". I don't think that there is anything wrong with that at all, and I would debate the "pros and cons" on it being legal with any knucklehead that thinks that its bad...I just didn't put Wasika on owning up to investing in a "Medical Marijuana" company...and standing up to his products quality.

Another "420" note...word is spreading that the massive amounts of "concentration" that goes on in the Rio parking lot during breaks...will come with stiff penalties if busted. The security at The Rio is spreading the word that anyone caught indulging in the "green...leafy substances" on breaks in the parking lot is looking at a LIFE TIME BAN from the WSOP...YIKES!!!!...lets see...stealing someones chips gets you banned ....now on the opposite end of the spectrum...taking a rip of a bong in the parking lot will get you tossed also...for life.

To all the people involved in us getting "screwed out of the house" Julie wanted...Karmas a Bitch!!!

"Choices. Life is nothing more than an extended string of them. Some have little impact, and others can change your life entirely. While we are free to make our own choices, both good and bad, were not free to choose the consequences" Opening line in the movie Karma Police

On a positive note...here are some pics of Ivey

OK...Back to posting about poker

I am going to spare you guys the brutal details of my last 2 blogs. I had typed up 2 blogs that will never see the light of day...as they both were typed very "emotionally"...I decided not to post them.

1) Was 8 paragraphs on how Julie and I got screwed on a house because the seller "agreed verbally" to sell us the house at "x" amount...and then 3 days later...after we were prepared to do/give him what he wanted...the guy sold the house to someone else....and cost us a total of
over 7 large. (we got screwed out of the $6500.00 tax break/Appraisal/Home Inspection)
-8 Paragraphs...you could only imagine....
-The guy is a good person deep down...he knows he did Julie and I wrong...and I know that he is praying for forgiveness....enough said

2) Was about a "Bizarre" incident that happened at Shorty's several weeks ago. Some of you reading this may have been there...I will let that one be also

So back to poker and back to keeping my blog updated more. I made it over to play in the Louisiana State Poker Championship in Lake Charles a month ago. I like the concept (I actually tried to talk 2 other Casinos in the past 2 years to have one....and you can read my blog from several years ago where I talk about it)...and the location. LC is right on the Texas border and there were lots of players. The staff did well...and they were definitely "conforming" to what the players wanted. When they saw something not working...they tried to fix it. I think the staff and TD learned alot...and this event will get bigger and better.

I ran bad for a few weeks earlier in the month, but now am doing ok in the cash games. I had a session at Shorty's where I am in for around $300.00...got my stack up to over $900.00 over 4 hours...and then 5 hands before I was fixin to rack up...All I was doing was waiting for the button to get around to me where I was UTG so I could leave...and I flop set-over set with me having bottom set against my opponents mid-set...to the only person at the table that could felt me...BRUTAL!!!!

Everybody told me, "Set over set happens...your going to busted there"...and "If you get to the point where your starting to think about folding a set with that board texture of (rainbow/no connecting cards)...you might need to think about whether NL poker is for you"

I somewhat agree...but I cant help thinking about the fact that I was leaving in 5 hands...that I did not want to play a big pot here. I could have just took my win and went home at a time when my confidence need a boost. When I flopped the set ...instead of thinking to myself, "Ok kook...lets not get too crazy here...lets play this hand very cautiously...we have a solid win here and we dont want to get nutty"...nope thats not what I was thinking...all I could think about was "How am I going to extract as much money as I can out fo my opponents". I think I played the hand bad because of the circumstances even though I could tell people, "Yea...I busted set over set" and everyone would just shrug their shoulders and say, "Your going to go busted there".

A week before this I am in the 2-5nl game at Harrahs and I got my stack up from $400.00 starting to right under $1000.00 after about 3 or 4 hours...and run Kings into Aces...I know...I know...we have all been there...it just sucks when it happens to you.

I have since busted out of the slump and have booked some solid wins these last 2 weeks. My confidence is back...I am playing better although still making mistakes...and working on plugging leaks. I seemed to find even when I am running good...I still make small mistakes that cost me money in a "value" perspective.

I have been staked in a few tournaments recently with a new backer and was able to make him some money. I "officially" got 5th place but there was a chop involved. I was a little low in chips but was very comfortable in where I was at. I only had 2 people at the table I was worried about which were Wild Bill in the 6 seat...and Ricky King on my right in the 9 seat. Hopefully...I will be able to make all my backers money soon. Our publisher John P was the bubble boy which sucked as it would have been nice to have all the Magazine Entities in the chop.

My son is finally starting to sleep through the night...he is saying "Da Da Da Da"...which is driving his momma crazy (I catch her saying "Ma Ma Ma Ma" when she thinks Im not around). The last thing I do before leaving for work is put him down...and hes the first thing I scoop up when I come in. I went drop 6 hundo on a professional camera this weekend, so I will post up a few more picks when I can. The best 15 minutes of my day is when he is just waking up and he sits there talking baby talk laying in bed with his daddy...the greatest!!!

That's the hardest part about losing that house...Me and the seller actually walked around the back yard and talked about what trees I would use to build his tree cabin. We always had a tree cabin when I was a kid, and all the newer houses were looking at ...dont have any big trees...one house we looked at...you couldnt even "see a tree" from the backyard. My wife saw our son running around the backyard, and I had already picked out where is rope swing and tree cabin were going to be...it kind of feels like it all "evaporated" before our eyes...

"You want real...everything is real...but...there's nothing more real than a mirage"
Aiden Quinn's character Henry in "Nine Lives"

Slacker city

I know...I know...I have been super slacker lately here on this blog. This will probably be choppy too.

The world of Advertising:
OMFG...what a joke this can be. I thought in my day job that people were brutal in negotiating but here...in the world of advertising...it takes the cake. "Lets see here sir...I have stripped down my ads and pricing to as low as we can go...I know what...I have a new proposal for you sir...How about its FREEEEEEE!!!!!"..."How you like them apples"

The wife and I are buying a new House:
Lets go to your imagination for a sec...lets imagine very sharp pencils...your eyes...said pencils in your hand in a stabbing like pose towards you...and an upward thrusting motion over...and over...and over.

The next edition of the Magazine:
Will be out soon...bigger...better...longer...and there is actually advertisers...(low whisper here)...Yeeaaaaaaaaa.

The advertisers in the Magazine:
Mucho thanks people...much Thanks

Welcome Shannon Shorr to our Bloggershere:
SHORR' NUFF...nuff said

My Day Job:
I am again...being transferred into a new position...this new position...the same one old I was transferred out of 4 months ago. Its a promotion into a position...that I was demoted out of.(reference previous comments bout pencils...thrusting motion)

Played a live session at Shorty's last Saturday and booked win:
Kudos to Derek S. for the 4 bet shove with 8s-7s ...and getting called by Tom's A-Ko...Thats the way to double up my brotha LOL

Watched KK get crushed in 4 separate situations in $600.00+ pots (every pot) when it all went in after the flop....YIKES!!!!

Played a live session at the Amelia Belle last night...Jackpot is over $100k:
Saw this hand...kid bets out post river a hundo on a board of 2s-3s-10d--Jh-Qs ...Vinnie on my left re-raises all in which was another $130.00 ish...Kid thinks for a second and starts to get his chips together...he stacks up all his chips...counts out the money...and then pushes all these chips in the middle and says "Call"...Vinnie turns over 2nd nuts K high...kid turns over nuts....Yeaaaaaaaaa. I say "No Snap call?...you just had to push those chips in there huh?"...to which he and his buddy look at me...then look at each other bewildered...then the kids looks at me me says, "What?...I called"....all I could do was laugh.

Another Online multi-accounting drama:
A scandal about Nick “StoxTrader” Grudzien, who created Stox Poker training site...has blown up. There has been lots of stuff posted bout it on 2+2 if your interested...and Druff and Micon have on the radio show on of the major players in posting the stuff up on 2+2...David "Viffer" Peet. Google it if your interested.

Been Watching Tom Sizemore on Celebrity Rehab and Sober House:
Wow...I watched Saving Private Ryan and Heat last week...its amazing how good of an actor this guys was...and to see him in this shape...was just mind boggling

"Well ya know, for me, the action is the juice" Tom Sizemore as Micheal in "Heat"

4 Million Guaranteed Prize pool...1 Million Guaranteed 1st place

See ya there...

Anyone want to swap a small percentage...email me at gened@gulfcoastpoker.net

PokerStars Tournament #285071112, No Limit Hold'emSuper Satellite
Buy-In: $10.00/$1.00 USD
4517 players
Total Prize Pool: $45170.00 USD
Target Tournament #285020010 Buy-In: $215.00 USD
210 tickets to the target tournament
Tournament started 2010/02/20 14:30:00 ET

Dear GCPGeneD,You finished the tournament in 1st place.
You qualified to play in Tournament #285020010 and are automatically registered for it.
See Tournament #285020010 Lobby for further details.If you choose to unregister from this tournament your account will be credited with T-USD 215.00. Tournament US Dollars can be used to buy into any tournament.

WOW...Its really been a month

Damn...It did not seem that it had been that long since I posted a blog. I must be losing readers as usually I would get emails from people hazing me about not blogging. I apologize for not blogging to the ones that do read it...and for it being somewhat boring lately...but hey...I guess thats what being a first time parent will do to you.

I have been busy at work lately and starting to get some traction. I got "transferred" into another position recently...and I have been trying to adjust but it has been harder than I thought. I am making the best of it though...and I plan on working my tail off no matter what position I am in. With the economy the way it is under the incompetent President...Im just happy to have a good paying job that provides solid insurance for my family..."It is what it is"

We have been also working on the Magazine lately. Getting ready for the 2nd run, and trying to get all the logistics together.

So ...last time I left off I was talking about trying to make it to the Beau for the end of the WPT event they had in January. I was able to get out there to sweat Tyler and see everyone. Wild Bill, Brian H, John P and Kai L and I all hung out and had a blast. We initially met about the next magazine edition...and then just started bullshittin and havin a good time. They moved the 2nd to last day of the Main Event into the club in the back of the beau, so it had kind of a "Barroom" atmosphere as they played down the final table. We were kind of upstairs on the left side of the room...but the real party was going on across the room from us as the pros had their section carved out...and the drinks were flowing. Gavin Smith/Amanda Leatherman/Kid Poker/Jeff Madsen/Jason Mercier...and several other big name pros were all cuttin up somethin fierce.

Played 2-5nl with Kai for a couple of hours and booked a small win...while Kai cleaned up. The play was absolutely terriable and was a good game...until the 4 donks got cleaned out and left. One guy dropped over 2k in that game in less than 1/2 hour...it was crazy.

Bill and I were staying at the IP ...so we eventually made it over that way to play in the 1-2 game. I booked a win getting in for $250.00...and out with $565.00. I also had the pleasure of having Claudia "The Claw" Crawford on my left for several hours as I was in the 8 seat and she was in the 9. I think we both felt the game was somewhat soft...I saw bad play after bad play.

Lets see...what am I going to do today?...Probably grind away online and continue to get it in good...and get smoked. I thought about posting up some of the hands here but hey...most of you know what I am talking about as it happens to all of us online. I will be playing every single $11.00 Sunday Million Satellite today with the 100 seats guaranteed...they jump off every couple of hours. Tommorrows Sun Mill is the place to be ...as they are having the big "F40" 40 billionth hand celebration with...‘Sunday Million 4th Anniversary Special’ which boasts a $4 million guaranteed prize pool and a first prize of at least $1 million...I will play every satellite I can get my hands on to get in this thing...and then will prolly buy-in if I don't win a seat.

The saints win the Super Bowl...wow...that was incredible...Mardi Gras just passed also. I didnt do much there.

(Cheese factor going up here) ...I have to admit that my wife and I did get "Sucked Into" the Jersey Shore Phenom recently. We got caught up into it in the 2nd or 3rd episode. I just think that this was "Reality"...I dont think this show was "Scripted". My wife has put my sons hair into a "Fauxhawk"...and she raises his hand and says, "Beat the Beat buddy...Beat the Beat". (Cheese factor over) LOL

The few emails I did receive about my blog in the past few months have been about posting a pic of Ivey on my blog...here he is world...sans faux-hawk

"That's why I can't say enough times, whatever love you can get and give, whatever happiness you can filch or provide, every temporary measure of grace, whatever works. And don't kid yourself. Because its by no means up to your own human ingenuity. A bigger part of your existence is luck, than you'd like to admit. Christ, you know the odds of your fathers one sperm from the billions, finding the single egg that made you. Don't think about it, you'll have a panic attack" Larry David as Boris in "Whatever Works"

A sick little one...and the Poker Blues

I am sitting here grinding online with my son in my lap getting lots of text from the Beau...I couldn't be more happier than I am right now that my son is getting better...but still fighting the poker blues.

My son came down with Bronchitis last Friday and we have been nursing him back to health. I have never in my life felt more helpless than that day with my lil man coughing up flem and unable to sleep...he was crying and feeling bad. Me and my wife had him between us in the bed and I would have rather been tortured...water board me...pull my fingernails out...anything...just let my little dude feel better. It was the worst feeling I ever had.

(sitting here grinding and typing this...I got my Ipod on shuffle...and the song "Cats in the Cradle" just jumped off ...wow I love my son)

We have been bringing him to the doctors and giving him medicine for the past week...including breathing treatments 4 times a day. He has now turned the corner and he is feeling better. Hes a trooper and enjoys watching his Dad grind online...The sounds of the MTTs will keep him calmed and mesmerized for hours. Hes such a good baby

I had put myself in the "Mindset" that my time was going to be commandeered for some time after we had the baby...but I never thought I would miss the tournament series as bad as I do. Especially on weekends. I thought I would be able to at least get to the Beau for a few events but it looks like I will just make it to sweat the Main Event...if that. We are meeting on the coast to discuss the next issue, so it looks like I may make it for a nightly ...maybe.

"The Monkey Situation" (Kinda like "The Bonnie Situation"...I feel like its right out of Pulp Fiction)...yep...It seems a little like some fiction. I feel bad for the monkster here as I feel that poker players are just common targets for these types of scumbags. I agree with Monk that there was probably 2 scumbags ...one at each casino with their eyes on Monk and Squirrel. There was prolly 4-5 accomplices...maybe more...but there was defiantly at least 2 lookouts wandering around each casino (IP and Beau)...keeping an eye on him and Squirrel. Since they both have security cameras...I bet top notch security guys could analyze those tapes and zero in on 1-2 people just casing them 2. It would be easy for them to watch Squirrel and see if anybody was just "casually" following her around...Maybe a little harder at the IP as Monk was sitting in one place...occupied with his tourney. Kind of funny that there is one ...Mr "Anonymous1" that at least posted that "there is a line to be drawn"...and from that comment...

For you toolbags out there harassing Squirrel about Monk ...WHILE SHE IS AT WORK...oh my god you are some weak... weak...just weak. She is a saint in my book. All of you who read Monks blog know he can probably be a "Handful" to deal with...It takes one hell of a person to love poker players with A type personalities...My wife falls into this category also...in fact...My wife loves/admires Squirrel for standing by her husband...and she never even met her before. Thats just how some people are/were raised...when you love someone and you run into hard times...it takes more guts/courage to stand your ground and stick with that person...its easy to run and try to hide. Me and my wife admire the love that she has for him...thats what love is all about.

I would like to make an appeal to my readers of this blog (all 10 of you ...LOL)...whether you like him or not...whether you enjoy his company at the tables or not...no matter what your feelings are about the Monkster...if your at the beau...let her know that you have compassion for what their going thru. A simple, "Hey Cheryl...even though (add your negative comment here with a little spin)...I really think that what happen to you guys was wrong and I hope things work out for the 2 of you in this unfortunate situation"...thats my appeal...have some compassion people.

I want to let our business partner and magazine publisher know how sorry me and Julie are to hear about what happened to his father...for those of who know John...his Father passed away suddenly a few weeks ago and please keep him and his family in your prayers...

John...were thinking about you buddy...I cant imagine what you are going/been thru.

Yeaaaaaaa...just busted out of a $3.30/3k-G... NLH MTT on Stars...my AK> vs AQ...i think "getting in good" can be overrated sometime LOL

GL to those in the trenches at the Beau...Do I wish I was there? Hmmmmmmm
Im now looking at my little man sitting on my lap...Nah...there will be plenty more poker tourneys where these came from...GL people

"The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug" The opening quote from Chris Hedges in "The Hurt Locker"

WOW...its 2010

Damn ...that sounds hard to believe that another year has passed. Where did it all go?

I haven't blogged lately as I haven't had much poker stuff to chat about. I have been super busy with work and taking care of my son. I know you guys are tired of hearing runner-runner stories from the multitude of online tournaments I have played recently in the $5 to $55 range...its a brutal range to run in on Stars and Tilt as there are sooo many good players that hang in this range in the MTTs.

Hope to get to the Beau at some point to play a few events...although I am curious to see the turnout they get for the first couple of events.

I have somehow became a "break even" player in 2009 also. Normally the worst I would run is "3 steps forward...and 2 backwards"...still making forward progress...2009 was more like "2 steps forward...3 backwards".

I do have alot to be thankful for in 2009 though as I had my 1st child and we kicked of the Magazine.

More good times to come....

"Lord, place the steel of the Holy Spirit in my spine and the love of the Virgin Mary in my heart"
Leo Dicaprio as Amsterdam Vallon in "The Gangs of New York"

Bayou Poker Challenge

The Bayou Poker is winding down with the 3k Main Event starting today...and I am sitting here blogging on my computer. I am fixing to head down there a little later to see what is going on and play some cash or single table satellites. I may play the $340.00 nooner tomorrow if I do well tonight.

How did my tournament series go?...well...that depends on how you look at it. I whiffed all the MTTs I played...but won all my entries in the sats and cash games. My routine was simple...win a sat or beat the cash games and burn it on a MTT. Im only a small loser thru the whole series even though I played in over 1k in tournament buy-ins. I got my money in good in every MTT except 1 ...and that brings me to the mega I played yesterday.

Speaking of getting it in good...I am in the mega yesterday and I was down to about 7-8bbs when from the BB...I looked down at AKo. limp...limp...limp...limp...and I shove. Everyone folds around to the older gentleman with a ponytail and baseball cap that goes in the tank. He has about 16bbs left, so it is going to cost him half his stack to call here. He "hmms and haws" about this and that...then says to me, "Man...I know Im suppose to fold here, but I just have this feeling about this hand...you know what I mean?"....then, "Your prolly going to be mad at me if I call here"...etc.

At this point I know Im good but I also have this feeling that if he calls...Im toast. He reluctantly puts in half his stack and tables Qs10s. Flop comes As-10h-3s...annnnnnnnnd the turn is...a spade.

Im going to just bullet points some things from here...

-Got to sweat some of the 1k final 17 yesterday...Tydean, TK, Cobra Kai, John "JRD312" Dolan, Bazeman, Wally Chambers (Fresh off a 50k 2nd place cash in Vegas), Diaz...it was a strong final 17

-Its been raining for days here...I cant wait to see the sun again

-My first $125.00 satellite I played...7th hand OTB...min raise and 5 callers...I have 55...Flop comes 6-5-2. 1 seat (who is sitting there reading our 1st issue of our GCP Magazine) puts down the magazine and shoves...I call ans say, "Flopped a set of 5's"...to which I hear..."I have 6's" and he tables 66...GG sir...WP...GL everyone

-Shout out to Brian Hempenstall and BJ McBrayer

-Fish is on one of the latest Pokerroad Radio "B team" edition...its a good listen if anyone is intrested.

"It's not a question of enough, pal. It's a zero sum game, somebody wins, somebody loses. Money itself isn't lost or made, it's simply transferred from one perception to another" Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street"

Doing the daily grind...

I have been working on my tournament game online and not super happy about my play these past weeks. I have been having a routine the last couple of weeks...I start out in the Daily 30k that starts at 1pm...I usually log in about 1:30 as I feel that there is slight edge in coming in when a quarter of the field is already busted. I then start looking for the $2.20 thru the $11.00 guarantees and usually jump in a few of them....from here...my entire afternoon is dependant what happens with the tourneys. It is what it is...

What else have I been doing besides taking care of my child...

I have never been a person to "live and breath" internet poker, and I am not one of those guys that leaves all the biggest online tournament Final Tables "Replays" on constant play on PC's and Plasmas...But I have been bitten by the Isildur1 Heads up matches that have been jumping off. I have been "Railbirding" the action and the biggest emotion I have felt is fear...complete and utter fear of how could this be happening ...and how did Durrr/Antonius/ClayAiken etc...get soooo damn good. I watch those matches from the rail...and then log into my MTTs...and I am just mystified at how degenerate one has to be to fade those swings...it is truly amazing.

I also feel that it is only a matter of time before Isildur is "out'ed" as there can't be that many people in the world that can show up in this manner and multi-table in the nose bleed sections with Durrr, Antonius and Ivey....all at the same time...simultaneously...no way...there just cant be more than a handful of players in the world that could do this.

The WSOP final table...wow. It only is a matter of time if there will be some type of feedback on whether poker is a skill game or not. Everyone that watched the FT knows that Cada and Moon both luckboxed their way to the HU...there is no doubt. I know Cada is a solid player and would have bet on him when the heads up matched started, but I believe he will admit that he got extremely lucky...how this years WSOP will effect the perception of whether poker is a skill game or not...we will see.

Speaking of Cada...I am under the understanding that it is common knowledge that Sheets and Bax were staking him in the Main Event. I just wonder whether Cada just shipped them half the 8.5 million ...or are they going thru numerous meetings with Lawyers/Tax Consultants...etc to make sure that Cada does not get screwed on the taxes. If they are going thru all these meetings, I would hope that Sheets and Bax would give us some kind of written breakdown on exactly what it takes to "Chop 8.5 million with your stakehorse"...would be very interesting to know just how complicated it could be.

Just listened to the Pokerroad Radio B Team edition pre heads up WSOP...Obviously, Gobbo and Devo ripped Moon's game apart...which they were not as brutal as some other analyzers out there... It is a good listen and I really enjoyed Gobbo's analysis on the entire FT. Obviously they were both pulling for Cada (I think Gobbo and Devo both are staked by Sheets and Bax also) in the heads up match...but just the discussion on Gobbo's input on some basic fundamentals of what each player should do in this heads up match was very insightful. He breaks it down on what chances Moon had ...and how Moon needed to play to get Cada's obvious edge from 85%...to 75%...the best Gobbo and Devo would give Moon is a 25% chance...a good listen overall.

"Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life."

Opening lyrics from Green Days "Good Riddance"
(Time of your life)

What a week...

November 9th was a great day for Poker this year as thats the date that Cada and Moon re-convened to play heads up for the WSOP Championship...It has a nice ring to it as the last few final tabelist have been called the "November 9". I think thats a cool thing that the final table has 9 players, and that the heads up battle begins on November 9th.

November 9th 2009 happens to be the greatest day of my life so far. Julie and I have brought into this world a beautiful baby boy were calling "Ivey" since he is the forth ...after the Roman Numerals "I" and "V". Wow...I cant begin to explain the rollercoaster of emotions that I experienced in that last half hour. I went from Sheer terror and fear...to absolute amazement...to unexplainable happiness and joy. It was amazing!!!!

As far as Poker goes...It has been uneventful. I have been grinding the LL MTTs and SNGs online in the $5.00 to the $35.00 range. I have been making it somewhat deep in these 5000 runner events but unable to make it deep enough for a decent score. I had to skip the IP nooners as we were set to have the baby any day. I did get by there to see everyone and say Hi! I played a nightly 2nd chance and didnt do any good. I did freeroll it though as I had a percentage of one of the choppers (Wild Bill). Some of the sicko hands that I have been losing too are below at the end of this blog...The first one plays itself, but the 2nd one I was trying to get value out of but the guy hit his 2 outer ...give me some feedback if you can

Went to Shorty's last week and went about getting smoked by terrible players...again. 12th hand in and I start with $350.00...I raise from UTG with QhQd to $40.00. I get 3 callers including "Asian Tom" from the BB. I know he would never read this so I can say that he is one of the juiciest fish that swims in that pond...terrible. Tom's range here?...Shuffle a deck for a minute...and pop of the first 2 cards. He could have anything here. Flop comes harmless with a rainbow board of Jd8s2h. I fire out a hundo...everyone folds to Tom who cautiously calls. Im thinking he has a Jack no doubt...the best he could have here is A,K,Q with a J. I feel if I can fade paint im fine. Turn brings the 5d. I shove and he tanks hard....just agonizing. I now know Im ahead. He carves out the money from his stack and puts it aside...and continues to tank. He reluctantly calls and I immediately turn over my cards as you guys know how I feel about slow-rolling...and he nodded I was good...Jack ball on the river and I just put my head down and said "NOOOOOO!!!!"...his hands are shaking...he can barely turn over his J7o. Yeaaaaaaaaa...

I am in the middle of Jon Krakauers book about Pat Tillman "Where Men Win Glory". Great book and a great author. He talks about Pat being that person on baseball team that wants the position no one else wants...the catcher. I too was the catcher on my baseball teams all the way thru ...from little league to Varsity High School. I would say that I have been hit by a baseball in every known imaginable place on my body. I have never had any knee surgery's though...go figure.

I want to say Congratulations to my older sister Danna on here as she was named one of the "Top 100 nurses in the State of Louisiana". Julie and I went to the awards ceremony at the Pontchartrain Center a few weeks ago and we could not be more proud of her. She was on hand to help deliver her little nephew, and I don't know what we would have done without her. She calmed Julie and me, and helped us to understand everything that was happening. She is the Greatest!!!! ...although I think she is secretly loving the fact that I am now going to be forced to grow-up and leave behind my "Peter Pan" complex of eternal youth...LOL

"I'll always love you. Even if it takes months for you to lose this weight" John Krasinski as Burt in "Away we go" ...to his pregnant wife Verona

=================================================

To tee this one up...I decided to play some SNGs the other night while watching the baby while my wife slept. The first two I played were $11.00 ones and I got Aces cracked in both. I was going to quit ...and then decided to play one more...the hand below was the first hand in the $5.50.

PokerStars Game #35286908595: Tournament #212109173, $5.00+$0.50 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2009/11/13 0:33:17 CT [2009/11/13 1:33:17 ET]

Table '212109173 1' 9-max

Seat 1: GCPGeneD (1500 in chips)

Seat 2: dko289 (1500 in chips)

Seat 3: yankeeo (1500 in chips)

Seat 4: GreenHunger (1500 in chips)

Seat 5: pate333 (1500 in chips)

Seat 6: PLEBINI (1500 in chips)

Seat 7: Vell_Trof (1500 in chips)

Seat 8: S_Cotie321 (1500 in chips)

Seat 9: mykidneys (1500 in chips)

dko289: posts small blind 10

yankeeo: posts big blind 20

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to GCPGeneD [6h 6d]

GreenHunger: raises 60 to 80

pate333: folds

PLEBINI: folds

Vell_Trof: folds

S_Cotie321: calls 80

mykidneys: folds

GCPGeneD: calls 80

dko289: folds

yankeeo: folds

*** FLOP *** [6c 4d Tc]

GreenHunger: bets 120

S_Cotie321: calls 120

GCPGeneD: raises 320 to 440

GreenHunger: folds

S_Cotie321: raises 980 to 1420 and is all-in

GCPGeneD: calls 980 and is all-in

*** TURN *** [6c 4d Tc] [Jc]

*** RIVER *** [6c 4d Tc Jc] [8d]

*** SHOW DOWN ***

S_Cotie321: shows [Jh Js] (three of a kind, Jacks)

GCPGeneD: shows [6h 6d] (three of a kind, Sixes)

S_Cotie321 collected 3230 from pot

=======================================================

Take 2...this hand was in todays $11.00 "Daily Thirty Grand". I was trying to get Value out of my hand and got smoked when he hit his 2 outer. Should I have folded the Shove?

PokerStars Game #35354208062: Tournament #219010496,

$10+$1 USD Hold'em No Limit -

Level VIII (60/120) -

2009/11/14 14:24:36 CT [2009/11/14 15:24:36 ET]

Table '219010496 262' 9-max

Seat 1: @lennoxdog@ (10045 in chips)

Seat 2: 1suus2 (2730 in chips)

Seat 3: GCPGeneD (4780 in chips)

Seat 4: pjmolly (6020 in chips)

Seat 5: Hesekiel (2800 in chips)

Seat 6: > AKANA 06 < (4185 in chips)

Seat 7: spisa (5715 in chips)

Seat 8: klutyfingers (5705 in chips)

Seat 9: suisse zocke (16257 in chips)

@lennoxdog@: posts the ante 15

1suus2: posts the ante 15

GCPGeneD: posts the ante 15

pjmolly: posts the ante 15

Hesekiel: posts the ante 15

> AKANA 06 <: posts the ante 15

spisa: posts the ante 15

klutyfingers: posts the ante 15

suisse zocke: posts the ante 15

> AKANA 06 <: posts small blind 60

spisa: posts big blind 120

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to GCPGeneD [Kc As]

klutyfingers: folds

suisse zocke: calls 120

@lennoxdog@: folds

1suus2: folds

GCPGeneD: raises 360 to 480

pjmolly: folds

Hesekiel: folds

> AKANA 06 <: folds

spisa: folds

suisse zocke: calls 360

*** FLOP *** [Ks Qs 3s]

suisse zocke: checks

GCPGeneD: checks

*** TURN *** [Ks Qs 3s] [Kd]

suisse zocke: checks

GCPGeneD: checks

*** RIVER *** [Ks Qs 3s Kd] [4h]

suisse zocke: bets 360

GCPGeneD: raises 720 to 1080

suisse zocke: raises 14280 to 15360

GCPGeneD: calls 3205 and is all-in

Uncalled bet (11075) returned to suisse zocke

*** SHOW DOWN ***

suisse zocke: shows [4s 4d] (a full house, Fours full of Kings)

GCPGeneD: shows [Kc As] (three of a kind, Kings)

suisse zocke collected 9845 from pot

New Magazine...and ramblings

I have been touring our demographic while distributing the new magazine that we rolled out, and I have been able to play some live poker in some of the rooms around that area. I would not make it out to Tunica for the Magnolia State Tournament...too busy with work.

Some Highlights:

Amelia Belle: I cashed in the Monday donkament they have there when I lose a pot with 5 people left ...3 ways...that would have given me the CL going into 3 handed play. I have KhKd...other 2 donks have QcJc and Qh10s...I flop a set of Kings and ended the hand in last place as the board ran out Kc9c2h-Jh-4c...to min cash behind my man Rob Ratliff.

Harrahs: Played the weekly there and cashed 5th again...but this was a huge tournament and I picked up $850.00 for 5th. I was at the FT with Bo and Barron Whipple. I felt comfortable the whole way as they were the only 2 I was worried about. I even felt comfortable when I was the short stack and they all discussed that they were going to chop if they could knock me out before the dreaded 1000-10,000-20,000 level kicked in. I 3 bet shoved with 2 bbs with a weak ace...and Barron woke up with pocket 10's...of well.

IP/Beau: Bounced to the coast and got some live action in at the IP...as well as played the Beau nightly last Thursday. I went out 11th when they were paying 9. I was down to 7-8bbs when I shoved from the button with K-Jo...old guy in the BB called me with A-3o. I had Kirk Flom on my left for the last 3 tables...I also met Monks wife Squirrel for the first time...good stuff

Isle of Capri in Lake Charles: I had a nice run there earlier in the week. I booked a solid cash win win I was in for $400.00 and out for over $1000.00. I hit some hands that paid off...and made moves with air/weaker hands in the right spots to take down some nice pots. They are just like Shorty's over there as they are some slowrolling mofos. Im in a hand where I call a 3 bet from the button with AKo. Flop comes out K-7-J. Everyone knuckles to me and I fire bet...get only one caller who was original 3 bettor. Now the turn is an Ace which gives me top 2...and your boy pushes out a stack of redbirds which came out to $115.00. I tank hard and ask him some questions. I say, "Damn man...I got a good hand...I just dont know if thats enough for me to fold here"...I eventually call ...and before the river cards is dealt he says, "Check Dark"...to which I immediately say "Check"...and the river card hits the board. I immediately say "Top 2" and table my 2 pair. Your boy stands up...looks at my cards to which I say, "Am i good here?" ...guy sits down and looks at his cards and I say, "Damn man...your not gonna slowroll me here are you?"...to which he calming says, "Yes...I am"...and table pocket Jacks. Not only was this guy a piece of shit slowroller...but he even admitted it to me BEFORE he showed me his cards...unbelievable.

Paragon: Made my first drive up to Paragon in Marksville...Talk about a brutal drive. I was thinking it was like Coushatta...you get off on 165 and head north...and you eventually will run into Coushatta...not here my friend. I got off on the 2nd Bunkie exit and 3 towns later with numerous turns and forks...I finally see the Paragon Casino. Now the casino makes sure that there are signs to guide you on the way through the maze of backroads and country towns...but going back...was another thing. No signs telling you how to get back to 1-49 into you get into Bunkie.

Anyhow...were looking for some feedback on the Magazine...feel free to email your input whether thumbs up ...or down...we just want to hear from you

"A wise man once said: There are no perfect men in the world; only perfect intentions."
Morgan Freeman as Azeem in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Sessions at Shorty's...and NWP Radio

I decided to stop on over at Shorty's in Cypress Bayou a few times last week for a couple of cash sessions, and I booked a loser both times...not much though. Got myself in a few situations when I had to make river calls with the 2nd best hands, but that’s how it rolls sometimes.

There’s always one thing that aggravates me about playing there is the "slowrolling" Mo-Fo's that play there. It just drives me crazy that these people cannot understand that this is Bad Poker etiquette. I saw 5 (five) "Blatant" slowrolls ...and I was a victim of the 4th one. I was in the 7 seat and when I called the guy in the 10 seat out for slowrolling me...all he did was just look at me and Roland in the 8 seat, and Roland says, "Man...they don't even know what a slowroll is". I started to believe him.

Well, once the 5th one happened, I felt I had to say something. The 9 seat and the 1 seat (another guy named Gene) get it all in on the turn on a Js-4d-2c--9h board and they are both waiting on the river. Gene shoved the turn and got called by the 9 seat. Well a Kc hits the river and they both just sit there...like neither wanted to show their hand. The dealer says, "Lets see a winner"...and Gene says, “I flopped a set of 4's” and tables his pocket 4's. At this point...seat 9 stands up...leans over the table to see Gene's hand and looked at the board again...then sits back down and turns over KhKs.

I said, "Dude...you do know you slowrolled the f*%# out of him...don't you?"… To which he says "What are you talking about?" ...I explain that what he did was bad poker etiquette, and that he slowrolled they guy. "Sir...please tell me you know you had the nuts there on that hand?"...again...a confused look...and then he launches into a 5 minute tirade about how I was using bad poker etiquette because I had asked to see a couple of hands that went to showdown as I was gathering information. I dismiss him as an idiot, and I am now laughing as the conversation has not got "comical".

Well...everybody calms down and were about 2 more hands deep from when we had the conversation, and the 9 seat says, "Well...explain to me what a slowroll is then"....I told him to go home and Google "Slowroll-Poker"...and he should be enlightened.

Neverwin Poker Radio: I am starting to really look forward to the Neverwin Poker Radio Podcast as it has morphed into a character show that focuses on poker. It’s pretty rough for anyone that runs in the "Politically Correct" arena as there are no punches pulled. There is no love lost between the folks at Neverwin and 2+2 either. They rip on David Sklansky and Mason Mallmuth with complete abandon...and their not shy about ragging on each other either.The cast of characters is below.

Bryan "The Icon" Micon: Micon is the host of the show...it is his show. He is a proud pot smoker...and you can tell by the way the show rambles sometimes. You all probably remember Micon from the Thriller Dance years ago in the Main Event. There’s not much you can say here except, "Well...Micon is Micon". I counted seven times when Druff used the phrase last episode, "There you go Micon...you shit the bed again".

Dustin "Neverwin" Wolff: The site is named after Neverwin, and he is known as one of the top limit plays on the internet...that was until he detoxed off of all the opiates/pills he was taking...now the jury's still out. He is completely clean of opiates and he opened up about his addiction on the show recently saying he was taking 5-6 Oxycontin 80 milg tablets a day. He detoxed himself for a week...then he jetted out to Turks and Cacaos for a vacation. They have a running prop bet that Micon/Druff/Drexel...can make him pee in a cup at any point to check to see if he is using. As long as there are no opiates...he is good to go...THC is to be expected. Neverwin is also the “stud” of the site as he has dated lots of the hot chicks in poker…including Jennicide…Chantel McNulty…and more.

Todd “DanDruff” Witteles: Druff is the equalizer on the site as he is the super conservative…and is also a bracelet winner… and the best player out of the crew. Druff is the man and is the most intelligent guy on the radio show.

Brandon “Drexel” Gerson: (Brandi Hawbaker’s old boyfriend) I am really starting to like Brandon as he is becoming more and more a part of the show, He is a pro gambler, who has lived in Vegas for years and has worked in many of the Casinos as a Pit Boss. He is also the “stud” behind Neverwin as he has dated some of the hottest chicks in Poker also.

Pokerpages goes “Donk-Down”: That’s right folks…it looks like one of the oldest and most notable Poker Websites is going under. They are one of the only big poker sites to not have a “Hard Magazine” to go along with the website.

Magnolia Poker Classic: There may be a chance that I head that way to play in a couple of tourneys. I know that going to Tunica is pretty brutal…I may wind up showing up on some weekends to play a few of the events.

“-I had my foot on the gas as I left the road and blew out my mind
-8 miles outta Memphis and I got no spare
-8 miles straight up downtown somewhere
-I just dropped in to see…what condition my condition was in”
Lyrics from the song “Just dropped in (to see what condition my condition was in) by Andre Previn

Poker Happenings...and other tidbits

I apologize to the folks that have been emailing about me not blogging recently, but I have been very busy with work, my pregnant wife and getting some stories out for a new venture we are pursuing here at GCP.Net. This blog is going to ramble a little bit

WCOOP:
Wow...poker is just soooooooo easy for these guys...Yevgeniy Timoshenko (known as "bballer88" on Full Tilt Poker and "Jovial Gent" on Pokerstars) snaps off the WCOOP Main Event for 1.7 million...then a couple of hours later...He takes down the $1k Monday tournament on FTP for $75k. ElkY...move over as we have another player that just runs good...in life...so sick

Sebok and UB:
I have a bad feeling that the reason that they are not naming the people (31 of them) who signed up all those superuser accounts(There has to be a name with each account) is that...there are some highly rated/respected players that are in the crossfire. I listened to Neverwin Radio last week and Detective DanDruff is "hot" on Freddie Deebs tail. I will post the link here

September 16 2009 edition...
http://www.neverwinpoker.com/nwpradio/archive

and they get Sebok and Hollywood Dave in the "Hotseat" this week (Going to listen to it on the way home today)

OK...Druff is the real deal here...to quote Micon...hes "Tough but Fair". (I am going to wet your appetite a little but you all need to listed to this stuff he dug up) He dug into Freddie Deeb ...who we all know was a UB pro and friend of Russ Hamilton. Freddie's name on UB was "Kid55" (k.i.d is his initials...Kassem Idid Deeb...or something like that). Freddie has a fascination with the number 55 as that's the year he was born...Druff claims he identified several of Freddie's email addys with the number 55 in it also. Well...when you look into the superuser list...there are several superuser names that had 55 in them...including..."Crackcorn 55"...and "Dannyboy55" as well as a few others. Well UB in 2005 listed all the entrants to the Aruba Classic that won their seats online ...the one Freddie Deeb snapped off for 1 million...almost 4 years to the day. Well, "kid55" is not listed as winning their seat into the Aruba classic....BUT...you guessed it..."Dannyboy55" did in fact win his seat into the Aruba Classic...HHHHHHmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Anyhow...Listen if you want...make your own conclusions...and what other players have been on the UB as sponsored pros during this time? I can remember...The Magician?? Devilfish?? We will see how it all shakes out.

World Softball Championship in Panama City:
I have to give a shout out to my baby brother, James (I say baby but he is 6'3 ...and built like a brickhouse...cock strong) who along with his team, The "Cross Seekers", won the World Softball Championship of Class D in Panama City, FL ...2 weekends ago. There has been no other softball team from Louisiana that has ever achieved this feat...and the sponsors of the tournament and the other teams were shocked that they were not even sponsored. This group of individuals who all live in the South Louisiana area within 20 minutes of each other went there and kicked ass on teams that were pooled from entire states. The team they beat in the finals was a team put together from across the state of North Carolina and had a "Major" sponsor. (Mike Vicks little brother Marcus was also on the team).

James was voted MVP of the tournament...Julie and I could not be more proud of him.

This segways into a story I told some of my close poker buddies months ago as well as my other brother Charles. I am sitting in a poker tournament 3-4 months ago next to a guy I have played with on numerous occasions whose name is Sparky. We are friendly and we chat when we see each other and I know him as a good...solid player. Well, he knew everyone called me GeneD but didn't know my last name was Dudek. Sparky over hears someone call me by my last name and says, "Hey man...your last name is Dudek", ...to which I replied "Yes...why?". He says, "You James Dudeks brother?"... I give an affirmative and Sparky calls over 2 other guys from other tables...all softball players...and says, "Hey guys...that's James Dudeks brother right there"...to which I get stared at as someone semi-famous. One of them says, "Dude...your brother is a beast...he crushes the ball...hits harder than anybody I have ever seen"...the other says "Your brother could probably play softball for a living...people would pay him to play...hes that good".

James...if you ever read this...We are proud of you...and I want you to know that moment meant alot to me

"Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies" Tim Robbins as Andy Dufrene in his letter to Red in the "Shawshank Redemption"

Running around with my head cut off... part 2

I am here typing this out at the Beau Rivage where the Gulf Coast Poker Championship is going strong. The Main Event starts on Saturday, and we are working on getting some material for a new venture Bill and I have got into...and we may be around snapping some pics of all the Gulf Coast players.

I was all set to play in 2 of the events and wound up not playing either one. The first one was last week when I wasn't feeling all that hot, and I when I got down to sign up ...the line was huge and we would have had to go in as alternates...I passed.

The 2nd one was in yesterdays 2pm $340.00 that was pushed back because of the power outage...what a mess they had on their hands. Johnny G and company did a great job under the circumstances though. I was in line with 2 of my friends ....Jared from Lafayette and Quatersack. I gave up and decided not to play. Both of them got in after standing around for an hour or so with about 5 min left in the 100-200 level. At least they got to sit down with 10k in chips.

I had to stay at the IP as the Beau had booked all their "Poker rate" rooms...checked out the new IP poker room. I liked it. The bright purplish/bright blue felt definitely "Jumps" out at yea. They also now have those tables where they "swipe" you in for comps. Don't care much for those. If you feel I have been playing poker in your poker room...write me a comp to get something to eat...pretty simple. Well...I played for several hours and then had to go thru the, "Well...you only have enough time on here for $7.00 worth"...whatever.

I am in the 1 seat and halfway thru my session BJ McBrayer and his girlfriend come sit in the 2 seat. We chatted and had a good time...I made a sick laydown with AA when a player in LP called my preflop raise to $20.00 with Q-10o. Flop comes down 8-8-J rainbow. I c-bet up to $45.00 and villain calls. 9 on the turn and the guy grabs a hand full of chips and sticks them over the line like hes going to count them out and I grab a handfull also and say, "Im probably gonna call" and started to put my hand out over the line. The player sees this and reaches back and grabs a $100.00 bill ...and puts all the red chips he had in his hand on top of the bill. I now put down my chips and go in the tank. I ask him if he will show me if I fold and he says the standard, "You call and you can see them"...damn...hes got it. I fold face-up and he does in fact show me the Q-10o...NH sir...WP.

Watched the WSOP episode with the PokerBrat and Dandruff...WHAT??? you mean they edited out all the stuff about UB? Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa

Been staying extremely busy at my new job as I am trying to get acclimated to a new company and position.

Gotta go...

"I wonder... do we all know where we belong? And if we do, in our hearts, why do we so often do nothing about it? There must be more to this life, a purpose for us all, a place to belong" Angelina Jolie as Sara Jordan in "Beyond Borders"

Running around with my head cut off...

...Thats what I have been doing lately. It seemed to pile up...and pile up on me. This blog is going to be bullet points I have made notes about

-First...Congrats to Wild Bill and Jess for their new born. I am pretty excited for them and then nervous for me as ...I don't know. I guess I had some kind of warped feeling that I really didn't have to worry much ...kind of like parachuting as long as the guy in front of you goes out well your good...so with that analogy...Bill was going to have to "Go out first" so in all actuality...Im was kind of like "2nd in line"...well GeneD...guess what...your at the doorstep of that plane buddy...looking out at...shit...I have no idea what...but you have to jump...theres no turning back now. "But wait isn't there SOMEONE else I know having a child before early November I can get back behind?"....Uhhhh...My Cousin Julie and John have their bundle of Joy a couple of weeks ago...nope...oh well...Its me...I plan on doing a cartwheel out the door...somersault when I hit the air...followed by a backflip gainers going down.
(Side Note on my Cousin: congrats to them by the way ...funny note on how I found out....my nanny texted me "Its a Boy"...thats it ;-) ...just digging.... she knows we love her).

-My 2nd Tunica trip was sooooooo cool. I got to fly on one of my buddy's private planes in a Twin Commander where we flew out of Baton Rouge and right into Tunica airport. I got to where the headphones where we could all talk to each other and we also got to hear the interaction between the pilot/owner Dave and all the land based towers. I got to hear "echo" and "Bravo" and all the pilot lingo....as "We are November 9 Tunica tower...I have a visual...preparing for approach"....kind of stuff. verrrry cool and fun. The guys I went with were great and we had a blast. You will read about how they did in limit tourney on the main site when I update it again.

-My Poker exploits are I continue to beat the cash games which keeps me where I need to be as far as bankroll goes as its steady climbing getting ready for the Beau. I am skipping Oklahoma obv...I have my online bankroll nice and healthy for when the baby gets here so I can start focusing on online play as I am sure my live play will take a backseat for awhile.

-To give you an idea of how bad the play was in Tunica...I witnessed the following hand in a tournament. We are on the 2nd round with the button...maybe 17th hand of the tournament.
You know where the blinds antes are so I complete from SB and see the flop with 6 other people.
Flop comes out AhKhJh. UTG old guy local with his NRA hat on with a pic of an AK-47 on his shirt fires out a 4x bet....Guy in 7 seat ....same age only with cowboy hat and a "Vietnam Veterans" pin on it 3 bets to a total of 10x of the BB....everyone pitches to the muck except gun toter...who gets all aggressive and 4 bets....Vietnam guy just decides to flat....turn was the 10h to which NRA boy fires a healthy bet...gets smoothes by Vietnam guy. Now the river brings a meaningless 2s. NOW...gun boy checks to which the Cowboy Hat Veteran says outloud, "Oh well...what do I do now....Hmmmm....how much is in there?" and proceeds to bet about 1/3 of the pot...and NRA gun guy insta-shoves...and gets insta-called. Cowboy Hat has (Duhhhh) A-Q with the Qh....gun guy who needs to shake some of that gunpowder out of his head...tables 6h2h.

Several people at the table snicker...a couple of online guys are still in shock...and I simply say, "Wow sir...you had to know you were beat", to which he says "I flopped a flush...what are talking about...you don't know shit"...I said sir..."The 7-8-9 of hearts was in his range but his range became even more polarised when he made that speech about what to do and he only bet 1/3 of the pot...he had the royal flush...I would have bet my house on it"...he says..."What are talking about kid ...range....what range...what are talking about"...I answered him..."Sir...the shooting range sir....I am talking about the shooting range...I will meet you there later and we can pop off a few rounds...and by the way...your right...I don't know shit"

"And you know what's going to happen now. You should admit your situation. There would be more dignity in it....and Let me ask you something... If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule? Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh the Homicidal Maniac in "No Country foir Old Men"...right before executing Woody Harrelson's Character Carson Wells

Chopped the Beau Nightly...Tales from Tunica...

I have been meaning to getting around to putting up a new blog, but I have been very busy lately with my job and some new business ventures as well as I got so many good comments on my last one...I wanted to "Milk" it for everything it was worth. My family also enjoyed it as we have been pounded about questions on what we were going to name our son.

I am currently in and the Beau Rivage typing this up waiting to get kicked out my room by the maids as its now 1pm and check out was noon. I left a crack in the door and came back to do some work, and put up a blog. I chopped the Beau Nightly last night night 3 ways for $1040.00, and it was probably a mistake as I know I was the best player left, but there was this one girl at the table from Tallahasse, Fl that talked just like Alabama Worley in True Romance...and she was lets say...I want to be polite here as she may read this..."still learning the game" LOL. I took the chop because this girl just got it in bad time after time and somehow she was the CL at with 3 of us left and she was just tooooooo unpredictable. You never knew what she was going to do from hand to hand so I agreed to the chop. After my payouts to the players I had deals with and towards my makeup with my backer...I walked away with over $800.00. We had a full GCP.Net crew in this one as Goondingy, SPR, Reid G, Alex and Wild Bill were in it also. Bill and I played some 1-2 after and he made a nice score.

Tunica Mississippi....yeaaaaaaaaaaa. What a place. I am going to have to start on my Tunica stories by taking a play from Monkey...and hack on Tunica.

-I counted 4 cars out in the parking lot with miss-matched fenders/quaterpanels that were different colors ...obviously junk yard parts that the owner just does not care that they have a blue car and a red front quarter panel.
-In same parking lots I counted 3 cars that had one of the side windows busted out ...and managed to stop the rain from getting in by patching the window up with garbage bags and duck tape
-In same parking lot saw 2 cars with same patch job on the Back Glass

Now the sick part about this is that these people would rather come to a casino and gamble their money away instead of fixing their windows...The thought process...lets see ...I have $75...Passenger Car Window or The Price is Right Slot at the Gold Strike???...I'll take the latter.

And to give you an idea of the attitude of the employees there...I am at the concierges desk faxing some copies for work and their is the Concierge and 2 Bell guys behind the front desk when we all witness the following interaction. Nice old lady walks up and tries to grab one of the bell carts and is stopped by the bell guy and the following conversation takes place,

Bell Guy-"Lady...you cant take the cart its a bell cart used by us Bell guys
NOL-"I need something to carry our luggage down as we have a bunch of stuff including an ice chest"
BG-"But Lady...We are the only ones who can use these carts...I can come up with you and help you if you would like"
NOL-"But I have we no money...we are flat busted from the Casino"

To which a Mexican staredown standoff ensues until the NOL walks away. I say "Incredible"...to what the Concierge says, "Yea Man...Can you believe that...we get people like that all the time"

Now at this point I realize that he mis-understood what I was implying thinking I was hacking on the NOL...and I proceeded to tell him that I felt he and the Bell Guy were as rude as hell and that they should get their asses up their and help the lady...that at least she was honest enough to tell them she was busted when in all actuality all she had to do was go to her room...call the bell desk...get them to come get her stuff...pull the car around and load up...and hit the road. That they should appreciate her honesty in not wanting to "Stiff" anyone and that in fact...you dont have to tip the bell guy at all...its a service of the Casino...which just took all her money.

Mexican Staredown standoff now commences with Me and Concierge...he says "Whatever"...and I say, "Only in Tunica MS...Karmas a bitch buddy"...and I walk away.

Anyyyyhow. ...Played the Deep Stack event and went fairly deep to around 5-6 tables left and they were paying 38 out of over 400. I get it in a 4-1 fav in a +80k pot ...with 10-10 vs 6-6 where I cruise into the money if I win...6 ball on the river...bounced but not frustrated as I played as well as I could. I played one hand bad the whole Tournament and it was in the 4th level right after the break. I had to end up folding on the river, so I dont know what the person had...but I played the hand terrible...but it had nothing to do with my results as I went on a rush after that to get up to around the 40k I had. Ben "The Destroyer" Mintz was at my table for awhile and is a nice guy...we chatted for awhile.

I wiffed 5 tournaments overall on the weekend including a couple of $150.00 buy-in 10k guaranteed events at other Casinos...but I was able to beat this new "Cash Blast" tournament and the cash games in general to cover my tournament losses...I am flying back tomorrow morning with some buddies on a private jet to play some more tournies/megas...and will be returning next week.

Sights and Sounds of Tunica...here are some quotes:

Ben "The Destroyer" Mintz to Phillip "Quatersack" Walsh on break in Deepstack event:
The Destroyer-"Dude...I cant believe that guy flatted your Kings with Queen/4...and hits a queen and a 4 on the flop...that was sick"
Quatersack-"Superusers man...Superusers"

I went chat with Jason Gladden as he was in the 2-7 lowball event as he was in the 7 seat and Robert Williamson was in the 3 seat...Jason says, "Only tournament I have played in so far and its a game I have never played before"...Classic

Songs I was listening to on Ipod when I went on my "Rush"
-"Jane Says"-Janes Addiction
-"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"-White Stripes

"Tunica Mississippi Bro...what a hellhole bro...THATS a place I never want to go back to bro" Eugene Todd Bro on a old Pokerroad Radio show