Ways Phil Ivey’s Elimination Could Have Been Better

When Phil Ivey was eliminated from the 2009 WSOP final table, there was a minor explosion because Phil Ivey…left the building. Ivey gave a couple of interviews then he, we’ll assume, drove home. That’s when the WTF’s started. Interviews are part of tournament coverage and it can be uncomfortable asking a player about a recent upset. But complaining a player left after a huge upset? So. Would it have made a difference in the world had Ivey stuck around to decline 50 people? Did Ivey owe his mourning time because the media created a job for Ivey or did Ivey create jobs in media? Or did he owe it because that’s what everyone else does, it’s standard procedure, it’s the norm. If that’s the case then that makes sense because everyone should do what everyone else is doing.

Maybe Ivey was in a hurry to beat traffic, maybe he wanted Daniel Negreanu to have an exclusive blog post or maybe, and this is kind of out there, maybe he was upset and wanted a break. I know, crazy isn’t it? Here’s a few ways Ivey could have made things better:

1. A painful career moment, equivalent to a national televised job termination, should’ve been given to anyone who wanted a piece of him. It’s more important to get a downtrodden AK interview than allow a human a little wound licking. I guess Ivey was unaware of the tournament elimination rules. Wait, do they have tournament elimination interview rules for players? Who cares, everyone should follow all non-law-breaking rules at all times whether they’re experiencing pain, humiliation, sadness or whatever. Human feelings should come second to media. In fact, Larry David might even be able to prove Moses said this to his people.

2. Living in Vegas, Ivey might show up for some interviews but didn’t he know Confucius say “He who hit enter first have big traffic.” And when it comes to traffic…well, first things first. Had Ivey given interviews, others could have benefitted from his night of gloom which might have turned around the economy. The fact that reporters were getting paid regardless of Ivey’s behavior shouldn’t matter. It’s more important to help the this-is-what-I-want-to-say-about-it-all rat race.

3. Ivey could have boosted his ego by stopping the tournament or at least taken precedence over any hands conducted at that time. Who cares about the other players pivotal hands, eliminations, chip counts when Ivey has been eliminated. The rest of the world should be a little more patient because hey, it’s Phil Ivey.

4. WSOP final table adrenaline is exhausting. Exhaustion causes people to think unclearly (hence this post on early Sunday morning). Ivey had the most final table experience, he should have written a memo on his hand that said… If you bust, make sure you bond with your teammates in the locker room before interviews. Wait, no team mates? You mean every move he made will remain in his own head forever?

5. Ivey should have used brutal honesty for a good story by saying something like “Hey, I know everyone wants to talk to me because I’m the biggest upset but I’m tired, need some space plus I’ve been talking to media for three months… so, I would prefer to be with people who don’t want anything from me.” Or at least, Ivey should’ve given one of those bs self-seeking humble statements like “I will interview tomorrow but for now let the other guys shine.” Seriously, that would have been sufficient… not many can see through lip service disguised as kindness. You know, attention-seeking, praise demanding statements that are actually ways to get a pat on the back. While it might take a stronger person to walk away while risking negative attention due to misunderstood higher intentions, no one cares about that crap when they’re just trying to do their job.

First Could Have Been Better Poker post.

My Pick Of 2009 WSOP November Nine

The 2009 WSOP Final Nine are officially playing. James Akenhead, Steven Begleiter, Eric Buchman, Joe Cada, Phil Ivey, Darvin Moon, Antoine Saout, Kevin Schaffel and Jeff Shulman are playing the first final table, IMHO, that has the most hype. While last year was the first final table delay, there was so much speculation on whether the delay was OK… it sort of deflated some of the hype. It was like no one wanted to come out of the closet and admit they liked the idea until a cool person gave a stamp of approval.

Anyway, my pick of the 2009 WSOP litter is Eric Buchman. Buchman and I became friends after we made a final table together at the 2006 WSOP. Actually, it was more like… when I made him lose his tough poker face and smile. In fact, Phil Ivey came close to making that final table with a 21st place cash. I didn’t play with Ivey very much but I did play with Eric quite a bit. And I can tell you… Eric is a very good player.

Of course, Ivey is a great player as well. If he had more chips, I may have picked him (sorry Eric). However, if there is anyone who can turn a short stack around… it would be Phil Ivey so I’m not exactly convinced Ivey won’t win. Sadly, all it takes is an underdog to hit his hand and if you don’t have the chips…well…you know. Either way, I’m happy to see both players at the final table and excited for today’s coverage here, here and here.

Way’s WSOP Coverage Could Be Better

ESPN’s latest WSOP coverage was pretty good. Here’s my list of how to make it better:

• Jc “Just Call” Tran is really still in the tournament (let’s hope he won his last longest).

• Gavin Smith should wear this banana costume (non-paid link) while sweating his PokerRoad compadre, Joe Sebok.

• Speaking of Sebok… more coverage of the guy to his left, Fabrice Soulier.

• Speaking of more coverage… more coverage of Julie (Tom Schneider’s wife) .

• Phil Ivey doing the Running Man dance while singing Ice Ice Baby.

• Tabasco uses Prahlad Friedman’s Rap and face on the singing pepperoni pizza commercial so the commercial wouldn’t be so freakin’ freaky. See Friedman’s rap video below.

• WSOP Honchos, Jeffrey Pollack and Seth Palansky, should feed their wild side and be in a Jack’s Links Beef Jerky commercial.

• We didn’t know we could buy a Snuggie for our dogs.  I already had to buy one for my daughter.

photo courtesy PokerRoad.com

Today’s Links Brought To You By…

Today’s Links (at the bottom) are brought to you by… Google Adsense.  Google Adsense, where I’ve been making cents for never making sense.

The FTC blog post news seems to have a few feathers ruffled.  The new rules will still allow bloggers to talk trash freely as long as they disclose who paid for the trash talk.  Oops, I meant…  New rules will still allow slander blogging but require compensation disclosure for all the blog’s positive posts.  Wow, excuse me…  New FTC rules cause blog panic as  readers realize blogger isn’t actually a topic expert but in fact… just a blogger.  Is this getting old?  OK, just one more… blah, blah, blah rules… Bloggers fear readers will realize they’re actually sell-outs and only posing to be independent thinkers.

I don’t know what I’m talking about. See? I never make any sense.  And now for some high-quality links…

A Dynamite link for this Kid’s FTC post.

Mike Sexton made the WSOP Hall of Fame.  Reactions to his new poker title should be far different than Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize.  Read more about Sexton + a video over on WCP.  Pauly also has a great read posted about Sexton.

Amy Calistri posted on the sad end of PokerPages.

Pokerati Dan has a video up of Lacey Jones which made me realize that Ms. Jones and I talk a lot about talking but never get the chance to talk.

ESPN Poker Night Evelyn Event

Sure, we could talk about ESPN’s WSOP Poker Night footage of Doyle Brunson, Greg Mueller, Lex Veldhuis, Jerry Yang, Jason Alexander, Joe Sebok and so on… but truly the most important part of Tuesday’s  2009 WSOP Main Event on ESPN was the sweet reminder that Evelyn Ng is beautiful.  And a nice girl to boot.  Too bad there wasn’t any footage of her great shoes.

photo courtesy of Bodog Beat.

Eric Buchman Makes 2009 WSOP Final Table

Phil Ivey, Eric Buchman, Steven Begleiter, James Akenhead, Joseph Cada, Darvin Moon, Antoine Saout, Jeff Shulman and Keven Schaffel are locked and loaded for the 2009 WSOP Final Nine.  While I’m excited to see Phil Ivey make the November 9, I love seeing Eric Buchman final table the Main Event.  Eric and I became friends during the 2006 WSOP when I broke his tough guy act by making him smile.  Of course, we had bigger smiles when he and I ended up at the final table together.   Best part about Eric… he introduced me to Craft Steak and will always go with me during the WSOP at least twice.  He also happens to be one of the best players I know.  And trust me… I know quite a few poker players. 

As for Ivey… well, I have to say… I tried to talk Jeffrey Pollack into letting Ivey play the Ladies Event last year (although it was unnecessary due to his success in Stud).  I mean come on, why wouldn’t you want the chance to play poker with Ivey?  After all, he has the cool eyes that Daniel Negreanu imitates so well.  And Ivey has one of the most unphotographed best smiles in poker.  Seriously.  Hmmm, where is that smiley shot I took of him. 

Get your good luck here!

And read more on Shulman’s bracelet issue here.

2009 WSOP Main Event Mixes With 90210

Steve Sanders is still in the 2009 WSOP Main Event.  Is that the same Steve Sanders who drove a Corvette and was in love with Kelly Taylor?  Probably not since the 90210 Sander’s real name was Ian Ziering.  But if the WSOP Steve Sanders wins then he should be called Steve “90210″ Sanders. 

Nonetheless, it’s still an anxious roller coaster ride with Joe Sebok, Tom Schneider and Eric Buchman still in the 2009 WSOP Main Event.  Plus the guy … I mentioned last year. 

And before I forget two more things:

1.  Thank you Shannon Shorr for setting me straight on the Rock and Bock.  Apparently,  Joe Serok is a different human being than Joe Sebok. 

2.  Congrats to Pokerati Dan and Dr. Pauly team for winning their Dream in Poker.

Was this a link dump?

2009 WSOP Main Event: Day of Studs

It was not so long ago when all of my poker media friends were tweeting how they were on their way to Vegas for six weeks at the 2009 WSOP.  Those days are gone.  Forever.  And now days before the last nine players are standing (or IMHO still sitting)…I’m reading the same things I read every year “Get me out of here, only 4 more days, I can’t take Vegas anymore and so on.”  Trust me, they’re all grateful for such fun careers but Vegas wears on the soul whether you work long hours or you’re just a compulsive gambler (not… like me).

However, in those last days of the series… there are certain players who make staying worthwhile.  And a couple of those players are former Studs of Poker like… Pokerati’s favorite Tom Schneider  the Donkey Bomber  and Poker Road’s Stud Joe Sebok.  As well as Phil Ivey, JC Tran, Kenny Tran, Theo Tran, Kara Scott Tobin, Fabrice Soulier, David Levi and Houston players Jason Brice and Thai Tran.  Get your updates here.

UPDATE: And my friend Eric Buchman (who seems to cash in every event he plays).

Learn Poker Marcel Luske Style

Any poker player, fan or random person who has watched the 2004 World Series of Poker on ESPN probably thought… “When I go to the WSOP and make the final table, I hope Marcel Luske helps me like he did David Williams.”  Well, now you don’t have to wait to make that final table… Luske is offering up the goods on TockPoker. Luske, who recently signed with PokerStars,  created Tock to introduce and teach “baby steps of poker” to newbies. 

Unfortunately, some ladies willbe disappointed that Luske will not be sharing on how to be a sharped dressed man.   Ah, but this is great news for media.  After all, where would poker media be if unable to film, photograph or develop fond bonding WSOP memories of:

1. Players who hadn’t showered in a week

2. Overexposed chest hair with chains.

3. Mens shirts that look like some designer said “Hey, let’s make the loudest, ugliest shirt in the world and see who will buy it for $750.  Muahhh haaa haaa haaa.”

4. Television’s personal favorite… the high maintenance* attention seeking costumes. 

*Prop bet costumes are exempt from high maintenance label because they’re a Kool Thing (see Kool Thing video below).  Halloween (AKA National Dress Like a Stripper or Hooker Day… still open for debate).

2009 WSOP Bracelets

I’ve been busy getting back to basics so I’m out of the 2009 WSOP loop, so please… fill me in.  What year is it anyway?  Is it the Year of the Tweet?  Whatever the year of is… I’m excited to see some pros winning additional bracelets… Phil Ivey, Brandon Cantu and of course… Jeff Lisandro who has been rocking the 2009 series proving skill has something to do with poker. 

I almost flew to Vegas on Friday but… hard to be motivated to give up my frequent flyer miles without a gig or buy-in.  And like I said… I’m getting back to basics.  I went to see My Sister’s Keeper on Friday night.  I didn’t think I would want to see it (since it’s almost close to home) but I went.  I have to say I was impressed with Cameron Diaz… 30 minutes into the movie… I forgot it was Cameron Diaz, which is impressive in my book.  I also went to see The Hangover (for the second time).  That movie is so frickin’ funny.  I love the “I shouldn’t be within 200 yards of a school.  Or a Chuck-E-Cheese.” 

Also, I”m glad I didnt’ go because apparently… Lacey Jones was non in Las Vegas.  Yo Lacey… call me.   Same goes for Ho and TM.

Wish me luck… hopefully I will win a seat on PokerStars into the WSOP ME and head off to Vegas where I will take looooots of photos.  xoxoxo

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