Category Archives: WSOP

Nov
15
2009

The Pollack Legacy: The Good, The Bad and The Silly

The dealer barely put down the deck on the 2009 WSOP when it was announced that Jeffrey Pollack, the World Series of Poker Commissioner, had resigned. In 2005, Harrah’s hired Pollack on as the Vice President of Marketing. In January 2006 he got bumped to the new position of WSOP Commish.
Pollack excelled on a number of [...]

By java | Comments (1)
Sep
13
2009

Poker and Investing: Dragons of Fortune

Last month, I wrote this article for StreetAuthority.com on casino and gambling stocks. Any way you cut it, gambling stocks are still under pressure. But I picked one B&M and one online company I thought had the edge. Both companies made the news last week, making me look smart.
Wynn Resorts received approval from Hong Kong regulators last week to [...]

By java | Also posted in Investment, Online Poker | Comments (2)
Jun
05
2009

Poker’s Old School Still Rules

“Dear Amy, thanks for the kind words and I will see you at the Rio, Tom.”
Well actually Tom McEvoy probably won’t see me at the Rio - at least not this month. Like last year, I’m feeling the double-edged sword of not covering the WSOP. I’m glad I’m not the one putting in 14 hour days in [...]

By java | Also posted in Mike Matusow, Poker Media, Professional Poker Players | Comments (4)
May
26
2009

Nominate Andy Glazer for The Poker Hall of Fame

I will be nominating Andy Glazer for the Poker Hall of Fame. Public nominations open today and will remain open until July 2nd. If you are in the poker media and were inspired by his work, I ask you to join me. If you lived for his tournament reports as a fan of poker, as I did, [...]

By java | Also posted in Poker Media | Comments (6)
May
23
2009

Another Reason I’ll Never Be a Pro

I can take a win in stride. I’ve gotten to the point where a big loss doesn’t jar me.  But I just can’t imagine being dependent on debt.  
I’ve never bought stock on margin. I’ve never had a car loan. I didn’t borrow money to go to graduate school. I keep my credit card balance at a zero [...]

By java | Also posted in Professional Poker Players | Comments (4)
May
03
2009

The Matusow Book: The Crossroads

Collaboration is powerful. When done right, the resulting sum is greater than its parts. When done badly, it can end up in a body count. 
The collaboration process with Mike was involved but surprisingly functional. We amassed hundreds of hours of interviews. Tim would draft a chapter. I would re-write it. He would edit it. I would re-edit it. [...]

By java | Also posted in Mike Matusow | Comments (5)
Jan
10
2009

The Worst WSOP Legacy: Becky or Leon?

Everyone thought that Becky Binion Behnen had a lock on the worst WSOP legacy.  She has served as the casino manager’s equivalent of Herbert Hoover. After an ugly family legal battle, Becky wrested control of Binion’s Horseshoe from her brother Jack and proceeded to milk it dry – even selling off the million dollar display with [...]

By java | Comments (6)
Nov
02
2008

Day of the Dead, Tiffany, and Profs

Is that your dorsal fin or are you just happy to see us? — Overheard at the office on Halloween.
While the boss dressed up as a man getting eaten by a shark, most of the rest of the office dressed up as the boss. It turns out that making fun of the boss was a [...]

By java | Comments (1)
Jun
08
2008

WSOP Vampires and the Man Behind the Hat

Since the WSOP began, I start each day with a bitch-slap by my cat Sammy, delivered at 3:30am.  Alarm clocks have nothing on Sammy.  Sammy has extra big paws replete with extra toes, and his swat is like no other.  Also, Sammy’s need-to-feed is timed more accurately than the CS2 atomic clock.
As I stumble through [...]

By java | Also posted in Poker Bloggers, Professional Poker Players | Comments (0)
Jun
01
2008

Being There

Chauncey Gardener: I like to watch.
On Friday afternoon, everyone in the office was quietly cranking away.  At 2:00 pm central time, I stood up at my desk and bellowed, “Shuffle up and deal.”  It’s been a number of years since I missed the WSOP first siren’s call to poker players around the world.  I sat [...]

By java | Also posted in Poker Bloggers, Professional Poker Players | Comments (0)