Pocketfives Open

The Pocketfives.com Open will be held June 7th on PokerStars. This event offers fantastic value for the online player as there will be at least $20,000 worth of added prizes, including one WSOP main event entry.

To read more about, visit Pocketfives.com here

UltimateBet report released

The report on the UltimateBet superuser scandal was released today.

Great job by Nat Arem in compiling info.


You can read Nat's post at Pocketfives.com here

You can visit Nat's blog here

Online Poker Legend Cliff Josephy joins UB

Online poker legend, World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and former Number 1 ranked online player Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy has been added to lineup of poker pros at online poker site UlitmateBet.com.

UltimateBet has added a great asset to the company and look for this to really help UltimateBet increase the prestige of the company.

Read more about it at Pocketfives.com

Bill to Block Implenmentation of UIGEA gains support

From PokerPages.com comes a story about a bill in the House of Representatives intended to block implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

Hopefully Washington will reverse the mistake that was the UIGEA.

Read more at PokerPages.com

WoW

Guest on FoxNews jokes about knocking off Obama. Youtube video of Liz Trotta

While I had never heard of this lady, the site newscorpse.com said she is a FoxNews contributor and a member of the Washington Times

Interesting situation with QQ from the $109 rebuy

Attached via link is an interesting discussion of a hand played by online poker fiend Wretchy in the $100+9 rebuy on PokerStars yesterday.

There are definitely different points of view about how he played his QQ after a re-raise all-in and a second re-raise all-in.

To read what happened, visit Pocketfives.com here

How would you have played this?

Only had been at the table for a few hands so I didnt really have a read on anyone.

What do you put him on and do you do anything differently here?

PokerStars Game #17705031521: Tournament #89644731, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/05/26 - 13:15:29 (ET)
Table '89644731 295' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: SluggerWV (3040 in chips)
Seat 2: Tiguan66 (2910 in chips)
Seat 3: dribblefish (2520 in chips)
Seat 4: Stefan031083 (6080 in chips)
Seat 5: dielichtung (2980 in chips)
Seat 6: Emmapeel9 (2510 in chips)
Seat 7: ERIC36 (6410 in chips)
Seat 8: fathead603 (8620 in chips)
Seat 9: Jackdaw (3060 in chips)
dribblefish: posts small blind 15
Stefan031083: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Qh Qd]
dielichtung: folds
Emmapeel9: folds
ERIC36: folds
fathead603: raises 60 to 90
Jackdaw: folds
SluggerWV: raises 150 to 240
Tiguan66: folds
dribblefish: folds
dribblefish is sitting out
Stefan031083: folds
fathead603: calls 150
*** FLOP *** [7s 6c 2h]
fathead603: checks
SluggerWV: bets 360
fathead603: calls 360
*** TURN *** [7s 6c 2h] [4h]
fathead603: checks
SluggerWV: bets 2440 and is all-in

fathead603: calls 2440
*** RIVER *** [7s 6c 2h 4h] [4s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
fathead603: shows [5h 3d] (a straight, Three to Seven)
SluggerWV: shows [Qh Qd] (two pair, Queens and Fours)
fathead603 collected 6125 from pot
dielichtung said, "wow"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6125 | Rake 0
Board [7s 6c 2h 4h 4s]
Seat 1: SluggerWV showed [Qh Qd] and lost with two pair, Queens and Fours
Seat 2: Tiguan66 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: dribblefish (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Stefan031083 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: dielichtung folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Emmapeel9 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: ERIC36 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: fathead603 showed [5h 3d] and won (6125) with a straight, Three to Seven
Seat 9: Jackdaw folded before Flop (didn't bet)



Let me know what you think.

Play a Micro Sattelite Tournament with Me

In my never ending effort to get better, I decided not to multi-table tournaments for awhile so I can concentrate on the key hands in the tournaments I do play and try to set out why I played hands in a particular way and if in hindsight I was right or wrong.
Below are some of the key hands from a recent micro satellite I played on PokerStars.

PokerStars Game #17617488534: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/05/22 - 17:30:54 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1200 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 2: Benat974 (1280 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1490 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (1660 in chips)
Seat 5: genide (1460 in chips)
Seat 6: coolman656 (1660 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (1500 in chips)
Seat 8: jasas6369 (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1710 in chips)
coolman656: posts small blind 10
SluggerWV: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [8d 9h]
Dr Luknee: calls 20
bullyne: calls 20
coolman656: calls 10
SluggerWV: checks
*** FLOP *** [6h 7s Ks]
coolman656: checks
SluggerWV: bets 60
Dr Luknee: calls 60
bullyne: folds
coolman656: folds
*** TURN *** [6h 7s Ks] [Tc]
SluggerWV: bets 140
Dr Luknee: folds
Uncalled bet (140) returned to SluggerWV
SluggerWV collected 200 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 200 |
Board [6h 7s Ks Tc]

I’ve been working on being more aggressive. Here with the flop giving me an open ended draw I decided to bet thinking that if anyone put me on a draw, it would be the flush draw. If a spade hit, then I could lay down to a bet depending on read. With the one caller in position, I got the card I wanted. I bet out to make the flush draw pay. I felt a check hoping for a check raise would give the draw a free card.

PokerStars Game #17617539427: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/05/22 - 17:33:10 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1200 in chips)
Seat 2: Benat974 (1270 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1490 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (1640 in chips)
Seat 5: genide (1460 in chips)
Seat 6: coolman656 (1720 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 7: SluggerWV (1610 in chips)
Seat 8: jasas6369 (1460 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1610 in chips)
Dr Luknee: posts small blind 10
chrigu65natu: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [8h 8d]

CRAISY: raises 60 to 80
bullyne: calls 80

SluggerWV: calls 80

*** FLOP *** [7c Qh 4h]
CRAISY: bets 270
bullyne: folds
SluggerWV: folds
Uncalled bet (270) returned to CRAISY
CRAISY collected 270 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 270 | Rake 0
Board [7c Qh 4h]

This tournament hasn’t had too many hands, so I can’t be real sure of my reads, but there hasn’t been a lot of re-raising. So even with an early 4xbb raise, I’m set mining after the first caller. I don’t hit my set and Im not going to put him on something like AK here and try to go over the top because it’ll pot commit me.

PokerStars Game #17617633595: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/05/22 - 17:37:24 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1335 in chips)
Seat 2: Benat974 (1690 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1615 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (1530 in chips)
Seat 5: genide (1010 in chips)
Seat 6: coolman656 (1720 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (1530 in chips)
Seat 8: jasas6369 (1460 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1570 in chips)
bullyne: posts small blind 15
genide: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Kd Ad]
coolman656: calls 30
SluggerWV: raises 90 to 120
jasas6369: calls 120

*** FLOP *** [4d 6s 2d]
SluggerWV: bets 210
jasas6369: folds
Uncalled bet (210) returned to SluggerWV
SluggerWV collected 315 from pot
SluggerWV: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 315 | Rake 0
Board [4d 6s 2d]

I was surprised to get the caller after I raised the limper. I really loved the flop. In that position with the two overs and the nut flush draw, I am probably calling an all in or putting him in if he goes over the top.

PokerStars Game #17617713032: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/05/22 - 17:40:58 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1155 in chips)
Seat 2: Benat974 (1570 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1765 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (1800 in chips)
Seat 5: genide (950 in chips)
Seat 6: coolman656 (1645 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 7: SluggerWV (1695 in chips)
Seat 8: jasas6369 (1310 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1570 in chips)
SluggerWV: posts small blind 15
jasas6369: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [As Jc]
Dr Luknee: folds
chrigu65natu: calls 30
SluggerWV: calls 15
jasas6369: checks
*** FLOP *** [9c 9d Kh]
SluggerWV: checks
jasas6369: checks
chrigu65natu: checks
*** TURN *** [9c 9d Kh] [Ad]
SluggerWV: checks
jasas6369: bets 90
chrigu65natu: calls 90
SluggerWV: calls 90
*** RIVER *** [9c 9d Kh Ad] [9h]
SluggerWV: checks
jasas6369: bets 1190 and is all-in
chrigu65natu: folds
SluggerWV: calls 1190
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jasas6369: shows [5d 3c] (three of a kind, Nines)
SluggerWV: shows [As Jc] (a full house, Nines full of Aces)
SluggerWV collected 2740 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2740 | Rake 0
Board [9c 9d Kh Ad 9h]

Seat 7: SluggerWV (small blind) showed [As Jc] and won (2740) with a full house, Nines full of Aces
Seat 8: jasas6369 (big blind) showed [5d 3c] and lost with three of a kind, Nines

I couldn’t put him on a nine there. It’s probably the right move to make if he has one, either that or a small bet to get some action. Put I really expected to be splitting the pot with him.

PokerStars Game #17617731475: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/05/22 - 17:41:48 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1035 in chips)
Seat 2: Benat974 (1570 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1765 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (1800 in chips)
Seat 5: genide (950 in chips)
Seat 6: coolman656 (1645 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3125 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1570 in chips)
Dr Luknee: posts small blind 15
chrigu65natu: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [7h 7d]
Benat974: calls 30
CRAISY: folds
bullyne: folds
genide: raises 30 to 60

SluggerWV: calls 60
chrigu65natu: calls 30
Benat974: calls 30
*** FLOP *** [2s Kh 6c]
chrigu65natu: checks
Benat974: checks
genide: checks
SluggerWV: checks
*** TURN *** [2s Kh 6c] [9d]
chrigu65natu: checks
Benat974: checks
genide: checks
SluggerWV: checks
*** RIVER *** [2s Kh 6c 9d] [Ah]
chrigu65natu: checks
Benat974: checks
BuMbLeBear1 is connected
genide: checks
SluggerWV: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
chrigu65natu: shows [Tc 8h] (high card Ace)
Benat974: shows [Qd 9c] (a pair of Nines)
genide: mucks hand
SluggerWV: mucks hand
Benat974 collected 255 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 255 | Rake 0
Board [2s Kh 6c 9d Ah]

I entered the hand hoping to hit a set or get out. In retrospect, I should've bet the flop to try to pick up the pot or at least find out if the baby raise meant strength looking for action or a hand that the raiser wasn't confident in at that time. Because I play more conservatively I tend to put other players on good hands when they make moves of any type. I give them credit for being a step ahead. I really need to address this to improve.


PokerStars Game #17617842389: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/05/22 - 17:46:50 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1845 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1620 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (5375 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3065 in chips)
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (1460 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1555 in chips)
SluggerWV: posts small blind 25
BuMbLeBear1: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Kc Tc]
Dadissimo is connected
Dr Luknee: folds
chrigu65natu: calls 50

bullyne: calls 50
SluggerWV: calls 25
BuMbLeBear1: checks
*** FLOP *** [9h 8h 6c]
SluggerWV: checks
BuMbLeBear1: checks
chrigu65natu: checks
bullyne: checks
*** TURN *** [9h 8h 6c] [7s]
SluggerWV: checks
BuMbLeBear1: checks
chrigu65natu: checks
bullyne: checks
*** RIVER *** [9h 8h 6c 7s] [Jd]
SluggerWV: bets 100
BuMbLeBear1: folds
chrigu65natu: folds
bullyne: calls 100
*** SHOW DOWN ***
SluggerWV: shows [Kc Tc] (a straight, Seven to Jack)
bullyne: mucks hand
SluggerWV collected 400 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 400 | Rake 0
Board [9h 8h 6c 7s Jd]
Seat 1: chrigu65natu folded on the River
Seat 4: bullyne (button) mucked [Jh Qs]
Seat 7: SluggerWV (small blind) showed [Kc Tc] and won (400) with a straight, Seven to Jack
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (big blind) folded on the River


Was going to mix it up and check-raise the turn after hitting the straight with the four flush on the board. No one bet so I had to lead at the river. Seems I have played aggressively enough that he wanted to look me up with top pair and a huge straight draw on board. Another benefit of aggressive play I've been missing is getting my hands paid off when I value bet the river. Players have too often known that I was betting the goods that I missed out on bets.

PokerStars Game #17617971683: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/05/22 - 17:52:47 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1545 in chips)
Seat 2: Dadissimo (1725 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1620 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (5100 in chips)
Seat 5: Penster (980 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3265 in chips)
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (1385 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1455 in chips)
SluggerWV: posts small blind 25
BuMbLeBear1: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Jc Ac]
Dr Luknee: calls 50

Dadissimo: raises 50 to 100
CRAISY: calls 100

SluggerWV: calls 75

Dr Luknee: calls 50
*** FLOP *** [2s As 7s]
SluggerWV: checks
Dr Luknee: checks
Dadissimo: bets 100
CRAISY: folds
SluggerWV: folds
Dr Luknee: folds
Uncalled bet (100) returned to Dadissimo
BuMbLeBear1 is sitting out
Dadissimo collected 450 from pot
Dadissimo: doesn't show hand
axlatthevine is connected
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 450 | Rake 0
Board [2s As 7s]


Huge mistake not re-raising here in hindsight. I try not to play hands like that because too often at my levels people will call you down with any card that completes a flush, no matter how weak. But here I should have found out if the bet was made because I was read as weak.

PokerStars Game #17617989568: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/05/22 - 17:53:37 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1545 in chips)
Seat 2: Dadissimo (2075 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1520 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (5100 in chips)
Seat 5: Penster (980 in chips)
Seat 6: axlatthevine (6440 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3165 in chips)
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (1335 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1355 in chips)
BuMbLeBear1: posts small blind 25
Dr Luknee: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [8h 8c]
chrigu65natu: calls 50
Penster: calls 50
SluggerWV: calls 50
BuMbLeBear1 is sitting out
Dr Luknee: checks
*** FLOP *** [7s 3d Jd]
Dr Luknee: checks
chrigu65natu: bets 50
Penster: calls 50
SluggerWV: calls 50
Dr Luknee: calls 50
*** TURN *** [7s 3d Jd] [Td]
Dr Luknee: checks
chrigu65natu: bets 50
Penster: calls 50
SluggerWV: calls 50
Dr Luknee: folds
*** RIVER *** [7s 3d Jd Td] [5h]
chrigu65natu: bets 50
Penster: calls 50
SluggerWV: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
chrigu65natu: shows [Js Kd] (a pair of Jacks)
Penster: shows [5s 7h] (two pair, Sevens and Fives)
Penster collected 675 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 675 | Rake 0
Board [7s 3d Jd Td 5h]
Seat 1: chrigu65natu showed [Js Kd] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 5: Penster showed [5s 7h] and won (675) with two pair, Sevens and Fives
Seat 7: SluggerWV (button) folded on the River


Should have raised here pre-flop. After limping pre-flop, should have folded to bet on flop. Too many people in pot not to be drawing slim. Set still might not have won.

PokerStars Game #17618138562: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2008/05/22 - 18:00:35 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 2: Dadissimo (1775 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1770 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (4900 in chips)
Seat 5: Penster (2910 in chips)
Seat 6: axlatthevine (4985 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3015 in chips)
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (2460 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1700 in chips)
axlatthevine: posts small blind 50
SluggerWV: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [5h 4d]

Penster: calls 100
axlatthevine: folds
SluggerWV: checks
*** FLOP *** [3c Kd 7c]
SluggerWV: checks
Penster: checks
*** TURN *** [3c Kd 7c] [6c]
SluggerWV: bets 200
Penster: calls 200
*** RIVER *** [3c Kd 7c 6c] [Ah]
SluggerWV: bets 500
Penster: calls 500
*** SHOW DOWN ***
SluggerWV: shows [5h 4d] (a straight, Three to Seven)
Penster: mucks hand
SluggerWV collected 1650 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1650 | Rake 0
Board [3c Kd 7c 6c Ah]

Seat 5: Penster (button) mucked [7s 7h]
Seat 7: SluggerWV (big blind) showed [5h 4d] and won (1650) with a straight, Three to Seven

His adherence to the “never bet a set” theory walks him into trouble. I would like to think that my being more active has gotten me paid off a couple of times here where otherwise it might not have (those times when my image is that of a much tighter player.)

PokerStars Game #17618362519: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2008/05/22 - 18:10:58 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: bandher (2591 in chips)
Seat 2: Dadissimo (3239 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1532 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (7875 in chips)
Seat 5: Penster (1173 in chips)
Seat 6: axlatthevine (4685 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3590 in chips)
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (2935 in chips)
Seat 9: jonah514 (2550 in chips)
bandher: posts small blind 75
Dadissimo: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Jc Ah]

SluggerWV: raises 300 to 450

Uncalled bet (300) returned to SluggerWV
SluggerWV collected 375 from pot
SluggerWV: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 375 | Rake 0


I hadn’t played a hand in a while and got respect w my late position raise. Good sign. If I do it again at this table and get resistance, I can expect someone to have a hand.

PokerStars Game #17618953185: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (100/200) - 2008/05/22 - 18:38:57 (ET)
Table '88687849 18' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: william61 (5722 in chips)
Seat 2: thedevilfan (12922 in chips)
Seat 3: AgentDaniel (4519 in chips)
Seat 5: elexxii (7180 in chips)
Seat 6: SluggerWV (3115 in chips)
Seat 7: Frosty480 (8657 in chips)
Seat 8: bigredone676 (2271 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 9: enchantica19 (6112 in chips)

SluggerWV: posts the ante 25

elexxii: posts small blind 100
SluggerWV: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [7s Kh]
Uncalled bet (100) returned to SluggerWV
SluggerWV collected 400 from pot

I just love getting moved to a new table after having a good image and then having one of the superstacks immediately to my left. It's right up there with being moved after being small blind and being put under the gun at my new table. At least here he folded from under the gun and I got a walkover.

PokerStars Game #17619229490: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2008/05/22 - 18:52:33 (ET)
Table '88687849 18' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: william61 (5997 in chips)
Seat 2: Lokk (4433 in chips)
Seat 3: AgentDaniel (3219 in chips)
Seat 4: sined13 (8425 in chips)
Seat 5: elexxii (6009 in chips)
Seat 6: SluggerWV (2315 in chips)
Seat 7: Frosty480 (15795 in chips)
Seat 8: Dadissimo (12742 in chips)
Seat 9: enchantica19 (2112 in chips)

SluggerWV: posts the ante 50

Dadissimo: posts small blind 300
enchantica19: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Qh Qd]
william61: folds
Lokk: folds
AgentDaniel: folds
sined13: folds
elexxii: folds
SluggerWV: raises 1665 to 2265 and is all-in
Frosty480: folds
Dadissimo: folds
enchantica19: calls 1462 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (203) returned to SluggerWV
*** FLOP *** [As Jh Qc]
*** TURN *** [As Jh Qc] [3c]
*** RIVER *** [As Jh Qc 3c] [Kd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
enchantica19: shows [6c Kc] (a pair of Kings)
SluggerWV: shows [Qh Qd] (three of a kind, Queens)
SluggerWV collected 4874 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4874 | Rake 0
Board [As Jh Qc 3c Kd]


Seat 6: SluggerWV showed [Qh Qd] and won (4874) with three of a kind, Queens

Seat 9: enchantica19 (big blind) showed [6c Kc] and lost with a pair of Kings

When the river hit I was so worried about the straight draw that I thought I had lost. Funny how the mind plays tricks on us.

I missed a couple hands from late in the tourney. The thing I really like about these satellites is the that the structure allows me to avoid playing too much with the maniacs. Of course, I tend to play too conservatively late and put a lot of pressure on myself when the shortstacks are able to avoid elimination the first couple of times they are all-in.

In this tourney, with only one person to be eliminated to win the entry, I made a mistake in calculation of when the two small stacks would go through the big blind and allowed myself to be in the big blind with less than a small stack behind. Fortunately, the table folded around to me and I was safe. In the next hand from the small blind I was dealt AK and believe I would have been ok either way because an ace hit the flop. But I still am bothered too much by busting out without making the money. That's one of the two things I am focusing on now. I would love to hear your thoughts about these hands or tournaments in general. Good luck at the tables.

More on Tim Donaghy

Good article on the influence of former NBA ref Tim Donaghy on the outcome of the games he officiated.

Read more about it at Las Vegas Sun

Net Libertarianism

Attached via link is an article from The Times about the internet and whether more regulation and laws concerning content and the net are needed.

To read it, click here

Braves bounce back

The Atlanta Braves recovered from Friday Night's beating at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks and won today's game 3-1. The Braves got a second straight, albeit short, outing from pitcher Jorge Campillo and two hits apiece from Chipper and Jeff Francoeur. Unfortunately, Campillo had to leave after four shutout innings because of a blister.

Chipper is now hitting a league leading .417 and Frenchy hit his fifth home run of the year in the bototm of the ninth to win it for the hometeam. It seems that Jeff's bat is heating up. Now if Tex's will and Smoltzie will get back, it'll be go time.

To view the boxscore, click ESPN

Speaking of Smoltz, here's an article from ESPN.com Smotlz

Online site battles the fix in sports

On the front page of the web edition of today's New York Times is a positive story about the work of British online site Betfair and it's work in helping expose suspicous activities in athletic events linked to wagering.

To read more, please visit the story here: New York Times

Braves sweep Mets!

The Atlanta Braves swept the New York Mets in a four game series in Atlanta this week. Home has been the place to be for the Braves this year as they have the major's best home record this year. The Braves' bats were on fire and the pitching staff shut down the New York offense. Atlanta is now in second place in the NL East and awaiting the return of John Smoltz, Mike Hampton and closer Rafael Soriano from the disabled list. The first boost from a return from the disabled list might be around the corner as John Smoltz will start a rehab assignment at Double A Mississippi

Chipper Jones continued to swing a hot bat and Jeff Francoeur showed signs of breaking out of his slump. When Mark Texiera's bat gets going look for the offensive output to experience a surge in production.




Finally, Bobby Cox signed a contract extension to remain manager of the Braves for an additional year. Read more about it here

Great Night for Wretchy and Tranquil Chaos

A couple of final tables last night for a couple of really good guys.

After winning a seat in the $225 satellite earlier yesterday, Wretchy made the final table in the $17,500 Guarantee tourney at FullTiltPoker. He finished 6th of 360 and won $1242.00.

TranquilChaos, playing at PokerStars under the screen name Tobias Fuke, made the final table in the PokerStars $22 NLHE, $20,000 guaranteed, tournament for the second consecutive day yesterday. He finished 6th on May 19th and 7th of 1378 yesterday. For his great performance, he won $895.71.

Great job guys!

At the rail with Jennifear

Jennifear is a fantastic young poker player from Niagra Falls, New York. She is a proud Contributing Writer for Pocketfives.com and a Presto Award Winner for 2006's Most Valuable Poster, as voted by the readers of PocketFives.com Her writing and ideas on playing have won her a legion of fans. Jennifear teaches private poker lessons, and you can find the details at Jennifear's Poker Palace. A discount on these lessons is available if you support pocketfives.com by joining a poker site through one of their links.


Thanks for joining me here at the rail Jennifear

It's a pleasure! Thanks for having me!

Tell me how you got started playing?

I never planned on playing for real money, and the fact that I did was a complete accident. I watched the WPT UltimateBet Classic in 2002 and was hooked. I went to UltimateBet with the intent of playing with playchips, which I did for three months! Then, something unexpected happened. They had a "high hand" jackpot that went off every 90 minutes, and I flopped a royal! I won $4.75 real money for my good fortune, and headed right to the cashier's page to make a withdrawal.

Minimum Withdrawal: $25

I was SO PISSED! I didn't really need the five bucks or anything but the idea of getting something for nothing was really nice!

I started grinding at the cash games (.01/.02 NLH) and realized just how easy that game was. I built my roll up to $100, took out my $25, and then discovered SNGs. I've never looked back.

I got into coaching by accident too! After seeing a few bad beat posts where people complained that they "always got their chips in as a favorite", but never won, I decided to show the world how to win without always "being ahead". I offered a lesson on MSN chat with two intentions. To get as many people to sign up for sites thru pocketfives as possible, and to have some fun. I ended up playing with a full chat room of 50 people, and I was overwhelmed. It worked out great though. Everything I tried that day worked. I couldn't lose, and was able to help a lot of people. I started getting requests for private lessons, and it took of basically through word of mouth. I try to help people on pocketfives whenever I can because it's where I learned a lot of my game, and I am paying the community back.

Did you play other card games growing up?

I've always loved games. Scrabble, Stratego, chess and backgammon were fun for me. As far as card games, I indulged in some gin rummy with the family, but that's about it.

You offer both group and individual tutoring sessions right?

I offer both, but the individual lessons is what I usually do. On occasion, someone brings a friend.

What's the most noticeable improvement your students will notice after a single session with you?

This is player-dependent. I ask a questionaire and do a full stats review of each student. With that information, and a few follow-up questions, I find their leaks. If I fail to find any, I ask for hand histories. I hunt those leaks, then I attack them relentlessly. For a beginner who is raising with A7 under-the-gun, it might be starting hands and the use of position. For the more experienced vet, it may be a deep knowledge of the Nash Equilibrium and ICM. Everyone has leaks. I've yet to turn down a student because I couldn't find anything wrong with their game.

What mistake do you see made the most often that is the easiest for you to address?

The easiest mistake to address is high blind heads-up play. So many people shove too infrequently, and it's an easy fix.

How does a group session unfold? An individual session?

I spend time with the player on Windows Live Messenger. I'll go over the questionaire and directly attack any problems that they are having. I will show them tools that will allow them to continue their education on their own. In effect, I teach people how to teach themselves.

Do you prefer sngs or mtts?

I love poker, period. I am very lucky this way. I have to admit that there's no rush like a final table of a tournament, and winning can keep me high for days better than any drug ever could.

What's your biggest MTT tournament result? Your biggest SNG accomplishment?

I don't play too many MTTs, but my best result came earlier this week, in the FTP Turbo Hundo, a $109 event that attracted 277 players. It's not the best game that I've ever played, but with a tremendous assist from the poker gods, I won the thing! It was worth $7202.

For SNGs, it didn't make me a lot of money, but my biggest accomplishment was winning nine consecutive $5.50 10-man SNGs on UB. The odds against accomplishing this are ridiculously long, even at this level. I was winning 20% of these SNGs at the time, and even at that rate, the chances of winning ten of these in a row was 1 in nearly two million. I don't know of anyone else who has won 9 in a row, and I probably never will.

That is a very impressive feat. Being able to avoid a bad beat for 9 straight tournaments of any kind is incredible.
Any interest on your part in joining on the teaching company sites and not having to do everything yourself?

I love being my own boss and doing things at my pace, so most likely I'll be on my own for a very long time. The site operators are the ones making the real dough anyway. I've got a good gig, and I most likely won't change this. Never say never though. I've been lucky enough to be approached by several sites that wanted SNG videos and articles. People who I respect greatly and never imagined would want me have offered me a chance to be part of their team. Even though I am on my own, I am forever grateful for their consideration.

Tell us about the best hand you ever played?

This was in a private tourney with a great group of people that was played every week called the Holdem Affair on UB. I had 44 in mid position with very low blinds, and I limped, hoping to set mine. The SB completed and the BB checked. The flop came K 8 4 rainbow. The SB led out a strange amount and I knew that made him, because he was a very tight player who would not lead a king here, or complete with K8 on his worst day. Also when he would hit, he would pause and then make a strange numbered bet. He would raise KK, because he's not a trapper. The only possible holding for him was 88, and I deduced that was exactly what he had from a single bet. I laid down my 44, showing it to him, and he showed me his 88, the only hand he could have that would beat me. On paper, the hand looks like complete dogshit, and a horrible laydown. My experience with this guy made me know right away what he had. I can say that I lost the minimum with set-over-set!

What's your favorite hobby away from the table?

I love professional wrestling, especially the vintage stuff. I was an actor at heart for my teenage years, and this always excited me. I loved watching the NWA with greats such as Harley Race, Roddy Piper, the Von Erichs, Ric Flair, and Dusty Rhodes. I got a videotape collection when I was younger and would watch this stuff nonstop!

Who is your favorite group/singer?

I like Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Phil Collins, and The Police. I absolutely love music.

What's your favorite movie / tv show?

The Family Guy is fucking hilarious. The Simpsons too. And wrestling. Every week, I still watch Monday Night Raw. I'm such a kid.

Which player makes you go "wow" in a good way every time you watch them?

Papoorboy. He is so sick. He isn't extremely well-known yet, but he had a great run about two years ago on UB and Stars. He won the UB major two weeks in a row, and final tabled it four times in a row, then he went on to win the Sunday big event on Stars, before it was a million guaranteed. This, to me, ranks as one of the top ten accomplishments in online tournament poker.

This guy can just flat out read people. He knows what your bets mean, and what every delay in the timing means. He pays attention and gets in your head. In addition, he is hard to read himself. He mixes so well that sometimes you are left hoping to guess what he has. Just when you think you have all the answers, he changes the questions. He is reading you with stone-cold accuracy while you are guessing what he has. He wins that war more often than not.

I've been lucky to have him as a friend, and along the way teach me a few things and recently I've been able to return the favor, and show him some of the deeper mathematical aspects of the game. Although I have good reading skills too, I am primarily a mathematically based player. He has helped to show me when to throw math out the window, and I have helped to show him when it's too expensive to trust your gut. He is even better at picking spots now.
what's the one thing you d like to say but no one has ever asked you before?
I can't think of a question that I haven't been asked!

What's the first thing you do if you win the $50 million lotto tomorrow?

I'd make sure that my family never had to work again. I might take up a few hobbies. I would probably leave poker because the object of the game is to win money, and without caring if I could win, there would be little point.

Thank you very much for your time. Best of luck at the tables.

Donaghy

Former NBA ref Tim Donaghy told federal investigators that players and coaches were involved in altering the outcome of games
Read more at ESPN
Donaghy

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Very important tournament tomorrow

At 8:30 pm (20:30) EST Monday, May 19, 2008, there will be a benefit tournament on PokerStars for Dean Poter, father of Devin "TranquilChaos" Porter. Dean was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and is now undergoing treatment.
Devin is a great player who is an even better person, which leads me to believe that his dad must be a pretty good dude to have raised such a fine son.

Please participate in the tournament if you can.

For more info, check out any of the following:

Cardplayer.com

Official tournament thread at Pocketfives.com

Devin's post about his dad

Off Topic Fundraising Thread


PokerRoad.com

TranquilChaos' Blog

To make a direct donation to the family, click here

Alfred Hitchcock poker story

Eght Belles, Tim Donaghy, Tim Montgomery and Chipper Jones walk into a blog....

The postmortum test of thoroughbred philly Eight Belles showed no evidence of steroid use.
Read more here: SI.com
Also, here is a story on the exam of Eight Belles
from the New York Times

In other sports news

Ex-Olympic Sprinter Tim Montgomery sentenced to 46 months

NBA ref Donaghy bet on more than 100 games he worked

Finally, a really nice story on Chipper Jones from ESPN Chipper is da man

Mike D'Antoni and growing up in West Virginia

Nice article in the New York Times about Mike D'Antoni growing up in West Virginia. The prosecutor referenced briefly was my boss. NY Times

Here's a link to a story in the New York Daily News about his career in Italy. D'Antoni a legend in Italy

The Olympic Spirit survives

The Olympic hopes of South African double amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius were brightened today after it was ruled he would be allowed to compete for a spot on his nation's team.

Read All About it NY Times, ESPN

The sport of Kings

Attached via link is an interview that the Times conducted of Dr. Dean Richardson. Dr. Richardson was the vet who tried to save Barbaro's life after his injury last year at the Preakness.

This is a very interesting talk especially in light of the claims by PETA that the horse racing is a form of cruelty to animals. NY Times

Attached here is a story by William Mack for ESPN about Eight Belles and the use of genetics in predicting injury for horses.
Was Eight Belles' breakdown a predictable tragedy?

Bad day for Charles Barkley

Taking the Steve Martin approach to not paying taxes on a million dollars (first get a million dollars, then pay no taxes, when the IRS comes to the door say "I forgot") and transfering it to his needs, Charles Barkley responded to a lawsuit filed by the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas today saying he forgot he owed the money and would have paid if they casino had bothered to call him before suing.

The rest of the story can be found here Barkley sued for $400K

In another interesting tale, Jayson Stark wonders what might have been had Roger Clemens had responded to the steroid allegations differently.
You can read it here:ESPN

Great perspective on the poker site cash out problem

Wein has a great post on his blog that really puts the problem the poker sites and the players have experienced since the passage of the illegal UIGEA.
To read it, click here: Wein Rules

At the Rail with Devin "TranquilChaos" Porter

Congrats on becoming a member of Cardrunners (CRs) Devin, it's a big honor.

Tell us a little about CRs
Cardrunners really is awesome! Aside from the obvious reasons, (Instructional videos) you can interact through the poker forums and even write your own blog. I think my favorite part of the site is reading Brian Townsends blog. Anything from highstakes cash games to running a marathon

Will this be your first time coaching/mentoring poker players?
It will be the first time in an official manner. I've staked some players in the past that have come to me w/ questions about how they played a hand etc..

What is the one thing you hope to accomplish while working at cardrunners?
Well, along with doing the videos, I'm also the first one to be co-sponsored by them and FullTiltPoker at this years WSOP...So, the greedy side of me would like to make another Final table and maybe win this time.

What card game was the first you payed growing up?
My dad would invite friends over to have a poker night and we played dealers choice..We'd usually play nickel-dime limits and the games would vary from 5card draw to 7card no peakie follow the bitch

How long have you played hold em?
Hmm..I remember sneaking into the casino in Wendover, NV when I was 19..so around then (5 years)

How did you decide to play your first WPT event?
I won a seat to the UltimateBet Aruba classic..So I was forced to go :)

Very fortunate that you couldn't cash out for tournament dollars then. When during that first tourney did you realize that you could really play with those guys?
I doubled up in the 2nd or 3rd hour and went over to Adam from Pocketfives.com and said "These guys are just as clueless as me!"



Most of the people reading this have never made the final table in a big live event, tell us what it was like the first time?
It truly was surreal! I was nervous, excited, pumped and everything all at once.. Its hard for me to imagine a player of my skill level back then making the FT..There was so much I didnt know.

Which was more fun, the first WPT final table or the first WSOP final table?
Thats tough! The WPT had my friends all there and was exciting..Whereas the WSOP had my family there and was about business..Making a name for myself by winning a bracelet

How did you pick the name TranquilChaos?
My dad and I were talking about my poker game and he said "Its cool, you play so calm and boring then all of sudden youre raising every pot" So, it developed from there

You are young, have a ton of talent, a beautiful wife and a great family, do you realize how much that annoys the rest of us :)
HaHa thank you!..I think

Which player does things at the table that makes you think "wow I d really like to do that?"
I'd have to say PearlJammers patience..I would love to be able to fold like he does :)

What's the best live event, whether concert, sporting event or other, that you have ever attended?
Probably the Fiesta Bowl 2005..Utah utes stomped Pitt in the first BCS bowl game for a team in a non-major conference

How can people join CRs?
One of the things I love is that you can sign up for a 24 hour period and try it out before you commit to a full membership. Cardrunners signup

Tell us about the best hand you ever played?
It was at the Mirage Poker Showdown the year I made the Final table.. I was on a sick sick table w/ Phil Ivey, Joe Cassidy, Theo Tran, Minh Nguyen, Jason Lester, John Juanda and Michael Mizrachi..We were approaching the money bubble (although I'm sure Ivey didnt give a shit) It folded to me on the button and I make it 9k w/ 88, Ivey reraises from the small blind to 30k and I call looking to use my position against the best player in the world (ha) Flop comes down AJT and Ivey bets out 30k. I raise it up to 115k thinking hes only continuing here w/ a flopped set or KQ..maybe AJ..he thinks for a couple minutes staring me down asking if I can beat QQ...(Not a fun time) then mucks...wahoo!!

Whats the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Its just poker..So many more important things out there than a silly game.

What's the mistake most improving need to eliminate to improve their game the quickest?
I really think when playing online people dont pay enough attention to the betting patterns of the other players..They are watchign tv, surfing the web etc..You miss out on the guy that limps every hand or the guy that raises utg+ w/ a6 etc

What's the one thing you've always wanted to say that no one has ever given you the chance to say before?
I honestly cant think of anything..I usually speak my mind even when not appropriate

Okay, you win the $50 million in the lotto tomorrow, what's the first thing you buy for your wife? for yourself?
I would finish her moms house as I know thats the thing she wants most.. For me I'd buy an oreo shake from Dennys...superstitious tradition after I winsomething big

What's your favorite singer/band
Local band in utah called The Devil Whale or Lucky Boys Confusion

I know you are a big Utah Jazz fan. Who is your favorite jazz player eva?
hahah John Stockton and his short shorts

Thanks for joining me at the rail Devin

tyvm gl at the tables

High Stakes Poker

In what can only be considered the dumbest programming move I can think of since the invention of television, the execs at the Game Show Network (GSN) have apparently decided not to bring back their highest rated program ever.
It appears that High Stakes Poker (HSP) will not be back on GSN. When GSN announced the acquirement of the World Poker Tour (WPT), the announcement spoke of how WPT was the perfect companion show to HSP. Now, it appears that GSN will produce no new episodes of HSP to televise with the new WPT events. Saying that is stupid is an insult to stupid people everywhere. I can only hope that ESPN (ESPN) will pick up the production of HSP and blow GSN out of the water. Well, I could also hope that this is an April Fool's Day joke gone horribly wrong.
Read more hereWicked Chops Poker

Doyle's Room

At this time of morning before Senator Frist sneaked an amendment into the Safe Port Act (the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act) in an attempt to stop online gaming, I often found myself up because of trouble sleeping. I often found myself playing tournaments at Doyle's Room.
Each day on an almost hourly basis, Doyle' Room would have several small and micro buy-in tournaments. These tourneys were great because under the tourney structure used on the site at the time (5 minute blind levels) and coupled with the fact that the tourneys would attract somewhere between 25-70 players, the tourneys could be played to completion in about an hour and a half.
I was surprised when Doyle's Room left the American market after passage of the UIGEA. I was very happy when Doyle's Room re-entered the market and began accepting American players again. Unfortunately, the time away has really taken away a lot of what made playing at Doyle's Room appealing.
The number of players has been down. The tourneys which offered many chances to play at the lower limits, whether in hold em, Omaha (both hi and 8b) and other forms are mostly gone. A site that had many choices for the tourney player earlier now has almost no selection now. These tourneys were offered without guarantees so I am surprised with the site's decision to cut back on the schedule drastically.
I have a lot of respect for Doyle Brunson and always root for him when he is playing. I know he doesn't run the site but it is sad to see the site he is associated with make decisions that do nothing to make the site better.

More trouble for Barry Bonds

A superseding indictment was filed today against Barry Bonds. He is now charged with 14 counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.

Read more about it

News of the World

Mike D'Antoni

Mike D'Antoni graduated from the same high school that both my mom and dad did, although he graduated several years later. His dad was my dad's high school coach. He and his dad are both really good guys and my dad was really fond of the senior Coach D'Antoni.
So I obviously will be rooting for the Knicks next year.

Here are a couple of nice articles from the New York Times about the Knicks' new basketball coach:

Expect D'Antoni to defy expectations

Better start running

Tipping during tournaments

A story I saw in the most recent Cardplayer magazine discussed a couple of points of views concerning tipping by players following a live tournament. The main issue was whether tips should be withheld as a percentage of the prize pool or whether it was proper to leave it up to individual players to leave a tip.

I do not dispute that could service should be rewarded. What bothered me about the story was the statements by tournament directors that dealers would not be properly compensated without a withheld tip. Since the story was talking about the World Series of Poker, I will direct my comments toward that tournament and this issue.

The World Series of Poker, whether viewed overall or just looking at the main event, is the largest, most lucrative poker tournament in the world. Harrah's, in addition to the revenue generated by the buy-in by the players, makes money by selling sponsorships and broadcasting rights. The money paid by ESPN to televise events is undboubedly huge. Yet Harrah's, through the tournament directors and it's spokespeople, seems to believe that the players are the ones responsible for ensuring that Harrah's employees are properly compensated for the work they do. That is insane. That responsibility lies with those running the tournament. The tournament directors do not add extra value to the prize pool. Instead, they seem to be quite intent on further removing money from the player's end while pocketing huge profits. I hope to play the World Series soon. If I were fortunate to make the money, I would be willing to tip those dealers whose work deserved. However, it is wrong for the tournament directors to try to shift an expense which is legitimatley the owners onto the players.

Great night for members of Pocketfives.com

Another great evening for members of the Off Topic section of Pocketfives.com on the virtual felt.

Agriffrod made the final table in the PokerStars 25K guaranteed $109 NLHE. He took home $916.50 for finishing 9th out of 611.

Wein, playing under his screen name of ChasingIdiot at FullTiltPoker, finished 4th of 248 in the $33K $50 + 1 rebuy +1 addon. Wein took a horrible beat when his AQ lost to A7 all in pre-flop or it is the reporter's opinion he would have won the tourney.

Mathclub final tabled the UltimateBet Bounty 10K Guaranteed. He won $850.00 for finishing 4th out of 199.

Ship it to Mathclub!

Mathclub, playing under his FullTilt alias of ktpie, took down the Fifty+Fifty tourney on FullTilt last night. He beat 973 other players to win a very nice prize of $9,555.00. Very good job by the King of New Zealand poker.



On UlitmateBet, Mathclub made the final table in the UltimateBet Bounty 10K Guaranteed, finishing 4th out of 199 for a nice score of $850.00.
Great Job sir!

TranquilChaos joins CardRunners

Online poker instruction site CardRunners announced today that Devin "TranquilChaos" Porter has joined the site as an instructor. Devin has impressive results in live tournaments in spite of the fact that he does not play the circuit full-time.
In addition to the too many to mention great performances in online tournaments, Devin made the final table in the first two World Poker Tour events that he entered. Since then he has added a World Series of Poker final table to his resume and is closing in on a million dollars in live tournament winnings.

If you want to improve your game, check out the site here: Cardrunners

To see TranquilChaos' blog, click this link: The title really doesn't have anything to do with poker

Touchin' em all

Here is a video from ESPN covering the college softball game between two Washington colleges in Division II. I wrote about it earlier here sportsmanship

This is the video:

Huge Night for Wretchy and iLLNuGwhicee

Monday night saw Wretchy make the final table of the $109r on PokerStars and iLLnuGWichee win the $30k guarantee on FullTilt and also final table the $23k guarantee Knock Out tourney there.

Wretchy finished 4th out of 261. He won a very cool $9296.00. No one should be surprised. He's so deep in that thing they ought to rename it the Wretchy Rebuy. Very nice work sir!


Nuggy won $7,200.00 for beating out 286 others in the $100+9 NLHE MTT. He followed that up by making the final table in the midnight $70 + 5 KO tourney. For finishing 8th out of 366 there, Nuggy was rewarded with $575.00. No word on how many knockouts he recorded. Another incredible night for Nuggy. Congrats!

A shameful chapter in WVU history.

I am embarrassed at the conduct of many of the high ranking officials at my alma mater, West Virginia University. It was shameful how the institution as a whole acted in awarding a master's degree to Governor Joe Manchin's daughter that she certainly didn't deserve. I hope that the people who will replace those who have been fired or resigned, will work hard to restore the University's reputation.

To read the story of the scandal, visit the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, whose reporters Len Boselovic and Patricia Sabatini should win the Pulitzer for their work, here: Story of a cover up

President Garrison should resign.

There is no place for politics in the awarding of non-honorary degrees. They waited too long to revoke the un-earned degree.

Another site with a huge amount of info is Associated Press Reporter Lawrence Messina's very interesting personal blog here: Lincoln Walks at Midnight

Here a story from the Charleston Gazette on the report issued by the panel investigating this matter Bresch scandal and finally an excellent argument for why Mike Garrison should resign tarnished president should step down

College Basketball jumps the Shark

The following is from SI.com. I can't believe it.

Kentucky wants eighth grader

Posted: Friday May 02, 2008 09:28AM ET

One day. Two games. An eighth-grader competing against players 15-years-old and younger. Those factors made for perhaps the most surprising commitment in the history of Kentucky basketball. UK Coach Billy Gillispie noticed Michael Avery, an eighth-grader from Lake Sherwood, Calif., while attending a youth basketball event sponsored by LeBron James last weekend in Akron, Ohio. Less than a week later, Avery accepted Gillispie's offer of a scholarship to play for the Wildcats ... beginning with the 2012-13 season.

Link to the rest of the story:
Kentucky recruits Junior High player

Reviews

I was reading through the latest Cardplayer Magazine today during lunch. It contained a review for a book that I had recently bought but haven't started yet. I started to read the review when it dawned on me that I could not remember ever reading a review in that magazine which was less than favorable. I love the magazine but I can't read it the book reviews because they have lost their credibility with me.

I understand that people want to talk about things they like. When I read a really good book, I get a lot of enjoyment telling others and talking about it with others who have already read it. But how can I ever trust their review when they never say anything bad? Are the books chosen for review selected because someone is advertising with the magazine, is the reviewer trying to help out a friend or is something else other than merit driving the review? The magazine holds a position of trust with its readers. When they only recommend books, am I supposed to believe that any book not specifically recommended is implicitly panned? The best example from my life was Doyle Brunson's online poker book. I grabbed it on a quick visit to the bookstore solely because it was written by Doyle. He had earned credibility with me from who he is and what he had previously written. I only scanned through it because there was a long line at the register. I am so glad I did. It was so superficial that it could only be beneficial to someone who was interested in starting to play poker. It would have been a horrible waste of money for anyone with any prior experience to pick up. Yet I don't recall Cardplayer or any other poker publication reviewing it and doing a service to their readers.

It's important to speak out truthfully if you ever want people to believe you. I encourage all print and online sites which offer reviews to keep their integrity by publishing reviews whether they be positive, negative or neutral.

TranquilChaos and Mathclub roll through tourney fields!

Friend of the blog Tranquilchaos cut through the field in the UltimateBet Sniper 10K Guaranteed on yesterday. He won the tournament and earned $2350.00 for beating the field of 628.
As many of you know, TC is Devin Porter who has made multiple final tables on the WPT and a final table at the WSOP. Don't let this picture fool you, he is definitely a threat to take down a bracelet at the WSOP this year.
Congrats on a fine effort Devin!

You can read his blog here: TranquilChaos

Our New Zealand friend, Mathclub, had another great evening on the virtual felt. On PokerStars under his screenname jakehekejnr, he won Tournament 86799589 in the early hours of 05-02-2008. For outlasting 156 other players, Mathclub won $1083.31. He also made the final table in the $33 and $5rebuy on FullTilt. Another great evening for a really good guy! Awesome job sir! I wouldn't be surprised to see Mathclub take some expensive jewelry home from Las Vegas this summer. However, he may have a disadvantage since he'll only be able to play one tournament at a time.

Smoltz and Sportmanship

Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz told the Atlanta Journal Constitution today that when he returns from the disabled list it will be as a reliever.
Read more about it here: Smoltz to finish season in the bullpen and read Bobby Cox's view on the injury Cox'Injury could have been worse' and Smoltz's role on the team: Bullpen an option for Smoltz says Cox


Below is a link about a great tale of sportsmanship in College Sports. It involves a Division II women's softball game in which two members of the fielding team stepped up to help the batter after she hit her first career home run in what turns out to be her last game. The trip around the bases takes an unexpected twist. There are too many places where the actions of the fielders and the reactions of those rooting for the fielders would very likely have been different. That is unfortunate because their small act of courage in doing the right thing shows us what sports is all about.
A Touching Gesture of Sportsmanship

Kentucky Derby

I have always been a fan of horseracing even though I know very little about how to handicap races well. I had started a concerted effort to learn more about it the day my dad had his stroke. He died on the day of the derby so I haven't really started my education on the ponies again, but I still love watching them run.
I ran across this story in the New York Times about horse racing and handicapping and thought others might like to read it. New York Times and the Derby


and They're OFF!