Trip to Auburn for Football game

My nephew, Joe Cope, is currently the starting center for Auburn football. The whole family is so proud of him. He was a walk-on his first year, and even though he is 6 foot & about 275 pounds, he is smaller than the average size center. But Joe put in a lot of hard work and made it to the number 1 position on the offensive line. Joe is second in command of the whole offense, next to the quarterback.

Natalie and I were visiting my family, trying to chill down a bit before the WSOP Tournament of Champions and just couldn't resist going to an Auburn home game. We rode up to Auburn with Mother, my sister, Felicia, and her husband, Lucky. Lucky's mother and father, Maryann and C.P., had a big RV parked outside the stadium; which now having experience firsthand, is the first class way to spend your time before and after a game.

We went down near the players' entrance to the stadium and lined up for the "Tiger Walk." The players walk through the crowd giving everyone high fives and taking photos. Then we watched a great game where Auburn beat Ole Miss. We went back to the RV after the game and had a great time. Thanks a lot CP and Maryann for your hospitality. We defininitely want to do it again.

US Poker Championship

Natalie and I headed up to Atlantic City directly from Aruba the other day. Mike Matusow and Gavin Smith rode on the plane with us and in our limousine to the Borgata. Once we got checked in, we all met up with Bill Gazes, John Juanda, and David Singer at the AC Bar & Grill for some eats. We watched some football and tried to stay up late since day one did not begin until 3pm. After that, we all headed over to the Taj Mahal to post our buy-ins. The boys wanted to go to John Juanda's room to play some chinese poker, but I figured it was best to save my energy for the tourney.

The next day, we arrived at the Taj and found out that I was starting my day at the feature table with my good buddies John Juanda and Brian Haveson. Brian and I played at the final table in this tournament last year. I played pretty well the first day, and on into the second day. I had gotten up to $65,000 in chips at one time. It all went down in a handbasket in the last level of the second day. A pretty conservative player made a small raise from the button. I had been paying attention to the player and had noticed that he made smaller raises with weaker hands, and thought I could get him to turn over if I raised all in. Man, did he pull one over on me. It turns out that he had a pair of Kings and I couldn't outdraw him.

Now we're on our way to Memphis to visit Natalie's family and then on to Alabama to visit mine.

One Happy Island

Bon Bini from Aruba!
I just got knocked out of the UltimateBet WPT Tournament, and I am not too terribly sad about it. Of course I was hoping to win. Everyone is when they enter a tournament. But, if I am going to get knocked out early, this is a good one to do it on. My best friend, Dennis, and his son, Landon, came down to Aruba. Dennis won his seat online and got put at a table with Phil Ivey. He was so thrilled to win a big pot againt Phil. It was good to spend time with Dennis. I don't get to see him as much as I would like since I am traveling so much.

My hand I lost with was a pair of Queens against Ace King. We got in all in before the flop, and I thought I had him, until I noticed that there was a flush out. Now, I had queen high flush, but his King out flushed me and I was set to be a beach bum for the rest of the week. I sweated Dennis in the tournament for a couple of days, and talked with poker buddies I hadn't seen in a few tournaments. Brian Haveson, his wife, Tammy thier friends, Natalie and I all went out for a nice dinner one night. I have to thank Rick Fuller, Clonie's boyfriend, for the best part of the trip. He got Natalie and me to go with him to scuba school. We spent 4 days diving in the beautiful Carribean Sea, and are now certified scuba divers. I think we will get lots of enjoyment out of this since we will be going to the Bahamas in January.

Well, today is our last day in Aruba, and I need to get me a cuban cigar, and good beer, and get back to the beach.