It's Like a Kick in the Gut

On the hand that knocked me out, we got it all in on the turn. I was on a straight flush draw against David William's aces up and didn't hit the flush or the straight. It was a 250,000 pot.

Whether you got it in with the worst or the best hand, when you get knocked out it stings. This tournament was paying $3.7 million dollars for 1st place. 2nd and 3rd were over $1 million as well. I felt really good about my chances at the end of the first day, finishing with 123,000. Everyone else at my table was way behind me in chips. The only named players were Hung La and Joe Cassidy. David got moved to my table and I wasn't that worried at first... Then he started rasing about 80% of the hands. When someone like that raises all the time, you know longer give him credit for a hand. You just feel like he is always bluffing.

Natalie worked hard to get prepared for the event and to get me realxed and focused on our day off. It just didn't work out for us.

Made it Through Day 1

Well, we started with 50K in chips and I finished the day with 123,725K.... not too bad. I am 20th in chips. My friend, Ted Lawson is 19th in chips with 125,500.

I really like how the Bellagio is running this tournament. We have 7.5 hours of playing time and with all the breaks between levels, we are done by about 9pm. That gives everyone a chance to chill down and enjoy their dinner, and maybe get a few things done before having to go back to work the next day.

With so many players in this event, those of us that played yesterday get today off. So, I'll be back in action on Thursday. Maybe the crowd won't be as intense and Natalie can get some updates in for everyone.

No Good at Foxwoods

I made it to the second day at Fooxwoods and got up to about 160K in chips. There was a young kid at my table who I could tell was bringing a lot more focus to the game. We tangled a few times and he got the best of me. He ended up going to the final table and if memory serves me correctly, took second place. My friend, Victor Ramdin ended up winning the the tournament. Congratulations Victor!

Now we are getting geared up for the WPT Championship at the Bellagio. Mike and Amy are in town for the week, so we are spending some time with them as well.

The 25k at Bellagio starts on the 18th, so wish me luck everyone.

Bobblehead Preview

I just got the final images in for my new bobblehead, set to premiere at the WSOP Lifestyle Show.

Here is a sneak peak of the prototype.

If you can't make it out to the WSOP, you can purchase it from www.pokerheads.net.

Keeping the Fans Happy

We have had requests for photos from the Cardplayer Awards Gala. Natalie managed to get in touch with one of the photographers from the red carpet and get him to e-mail us a few. Here is the best one of the the lot. The rest are in the photo album.

And a big Thank You to my fans for making my episode of The Circuit with Scott Huff the most downloaded show they've ever had.

On the Road Again

Tommorow we head off to Foxwoods. I feel like we just got back from Reno the other day... Oh wait. We did. Somehow amidst the chaos of geting taxes together, unpacking from Reno and repacking for Foxwoods; I managed to have some people over for some basketball. The Grinder, Lily (Mrs. Grinder), Chino, Robert Mizrachi, and Al Ardebili (who won the Borgata tournament September 05) all came over. Natalie fired up the grill and cooked a bunch of huge hamburgers with all the fixings and some salmon. We didn't have any leftovers, so I think everyone enjoyed the food.

Everyone also really enjoyed Natalie's piano. I remember when she told me that she wanted a piano for Christmas. I thought she was crazy! Then she took me to the piano store to let me hear one of the pianos she wanted. I knew immediately that I had to get her one. Shawn Rice came over the day it was delivered and was razzing me for buying it the entire time the guys were setting it up. Then he heard it play - end of arguement. Needless to say, grinder wanted to pretend playing it while it was actually playing itself.

We also managed to make it out to the grand opening of the new poker room at the Venetian. Robin Leach was the MC of the event and Natalie made me have my picture taken with him. There was a big reception at Tao to start. And after a champagne toast, the big curtain that was enclosing the poker room was lifted to unveil all of the celebrities and poker players, ready to play a tournament for a Lotus sports car. Someone told me the car was worth as much as $250,000.The poker room is really nice. I liked that the high limit area has a lot of privacy and also has a lounge with a big tv in it. I started at a table with Phil Gordon, Rich Belsky, and Mike Matusow. I was then moved to a table with Willie Garson from the show, Sex and the City. Natalie ended up at at table with Chau Giang, Barry Greenstein, Eric Lindgren, and Morris Chestnut. Somehow, she managed to survive. Then she got moved to a table with Tex Barch and Annie Duke with a very short stack and went out soon after. She came over to sweat me, but ended up posing for photos the whole time. Everyone wanted to take a photo of her outfit and purse. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't take any photos myself to show you what she was wearing... Apparently it was spectacular. I didn't think anything of it, but then what do I know about fashion. I just wear what Natalie tells me to wear. LOL After all of the commotion, I was moved to a table with Amir Vahedi and Todd Brunson. It started getting late and I was proud when I got knocked out. Especially when I found out that the tournament went on past 4am. A woman ended up going heads up with Carlos Mortenson and won the car.