Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs of Apple died yesterday. I'm not entirely sure why, but this is having a strong effect on me. I'm not a Mac user. For most of my younger years, I was firmly on the PC side of the PC vs Mac wars (though now I would switch if it wasn't for the cost). However, Apple's iPods have really changed my life. They have moved me away from computers, in general, and introduced me to podcasts. Podcast have had a big impact on my life. For this invention alone, Steve Jobs has affected a big change in my life.

I'm also a big Kevin Smith fan now. And without podcasts (named after the ipod) he doesn't move from movies to Internet.

Thank You Mr. Jobs. You will be missed!

Week 1: vs. the Pats.

I'm going to start off by saying that I don't hate Brady.  I think he may be the best QB to ever play the game.  He just has such control of his offense.  When you watch him, you have to be in awe... even if they're playing your team.  Anytime you're watching him can be a historical game. 

 

OK... enough of that.  He's a jerk and I hate him!

 

This game left me with mixed emotions concerning the Dolphins.  First, kudos to Chad Henne.  I hope last night stops the complaining.  He showed he can lead this team.  He was far from perfect, having a handful of overthrows, but showed that he can throw and they don't need to run all the time.  I also have to tip my cap to Sparano for changing his mentality from run to throw.  The fact that they had no big back to run in from inside the 5 yard line killed them.  Could have added 2 touchdowns in there.  The Dolphins always had a defense, they just didn't show any offense.  It looks like that has changed.

 

Speaking of the defense... I'm REALLY hoping this game was indicative of the Patriots offense and NOT the Dolphins defense.  They were just MANHANDLED!  Brady had them sucking wind the entire game and they could not stop them at all.  I love Cameron Wake and was glad to see him get to Brady, but Solder owned Wake all night long.

 

All-in-all, this game has given me some hope for the Dolphins.  I'd be surprised if they could win the AFC East, barring any injury to Brady (or other key Patriots players), but if they can focus on their defense, and get their bigger backs healthier (can they beg Polite to come back?), I think the Dolphins have the opportunity to snag a Wild Card spot.

 

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Are You Ready For Some Footbaaaaaaaaalllllll!

As I'm not playing as much poker recently, I'm going to start sprinkling the blog with football tidbits.

 

Some of you may know, I'm a Dolphin fan.  I have been for a long time.  I have Dan Marino to thank (or blame) for that.  When I first started to get into football, I had no loyalties and wanted to find a team to follow.  I didn't want to be the typical New Yorker and pick the Giants, Bills or Jets, but still felt I needed a reason for my loyalties.  I was born in Miami and figured that's a good place to start.  I watched Marino play and was hooked.  Now mind you, at this time, I was probably 10 or 11.  I've been a fan ever since.  I'm not a "die-hard" fan, but I am a loyal fan.  I've liked other teams in the past (Cowboys, Rams, Cardinals), but always the Dolphins first (notice those are NFC teams).  I start each season with hope, but I'm realistic.  And I can't find the ability to root for any AFC East team, except the Bills (my wife's favorite team) last few seasons but only because they've been at the bottom for some time and not a threat (looks like that may be changing).  If they are competitive, I won't be able to root for them at all.  Super Bowl XLII, I was such Giants fan.  I always like to see the Pats lose, but had the added factor of keeping the 72 Dolphins with the only perfect season.

 

Anyway, all that is just pre-amble to say I'm a Dolphins fan and why I have this affliction.  I don't have Direct TV, so I can't watch every Dolphins game.  There will be at least 4 televised Dolphins games.  Two Monday Night Footballs games (Patriots, Jets), they play the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, and then their 2nd Patriots game.  There are a few other potential games that will be aired: Week 7 vs. Broncos (but will probably be the Jets game) and Week 8 vs. Giants. 

 

I'll try to post my thoughts on the game the next day.  I know... you're holding your breathe.

 

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Way The Fuck Off Base

For years, online poker players (yours truly included) have been saying that the Absolute and UB scandals were anomalies and that we can put our trust in the bigger sites.
"There's no profit in them stealing our money. They can make plenty of money off the rake."
"This is poker, they're word is what they have, if they were to cheat us, they'd lose everything."

Well as it turns out, there are even less companies to trust. Apparently there is profit in stealing from poker players... Profit, to the tune of $300,000,000 (or $400,000,000 in distributions to owners). Oops.

As many of you know, the Southern District of New York has amended their original complaint against FTP, what is known as Black Friday in the online world. Wicked Chops Poker has a good breakdown of the highlights.

• As of March 31, 2011, Tilt owed players from around the world over approximately $390,695,788 but had only approximately $59,579,413 in its bank accounts. (page 72)


• Howard Lederer received approximately $37M in distributions as well as another $4M in profit sharing (page 72).


• Chris Ferguson received approximately $25M in distributions. (page 72)


• Rafe Furst received approximately $11.7M. (page 73)


• In all, it claims there are 19 owners of Full Tilt Poker. (page 73)


• An owner, named as “Player owner 1″ but clearly Phil Ivey, is alleged to have received at least $40M in distributions, “as well millions of dollars characterized as loans,” of which $4.4 million have not been repaid. (page 73)


• On that note, interestingly no other Full Tilt Poker owners where named in the amendment.


• Owners continued to receive approximately $10M/month even though beginning in the summer of 2010, management/the board of directors were aware of issues in collecting funds from U.S. players. (page 73)


• Approximately $130M in U.S. player funds were never collected due to payment processing issues. (page 74)


• The amendment claims that Tilt was “extremely insolvent” by March 2010, however owner distribution payments continued as late as April 1, 2011. (page 74)


• After 4/15, Tilt continued to accept funds although it had worldwide liabilities of over $300M. (page 75)


• In an internal e-mail on June 12, 2011, Ray Bitar expressed concern that a company announcement regarding lay-offs and the Board (including himself) being replaced would be seen as bad news (which we find unbelievable–as most would’ve considered it great news), which in turn would cause a “new run on the bank,” adding that “it could be a huge run” and that “at this point we can’t even take a five million run.” (page 75)


• Any property, including money, used in [an illegal gambling business] may be
  seized and forfeited to the United States–or better put–the accounts assets of Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Ray Bitar, and Rafe Furst would be gonzo. (page 77)


• Also, ownership percentages for the four Board members were listed as Ferguson (19.2%), Lederer (8.6%), Bitar (7.8%), and Furst (2.6%).

They are calling it a Ponzi Scheme. While there are those that are going to show, "LOOK! AT THIS! THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WERE REGULATED!" I think this will put a huge delay into any kind of regulated online poker. It is going to scare the casual players away from playing anywhere. They're not going to see it as an issue of regulation vs the Wild West. They're going to see it as more evidence that these companies are just going to steal from you and that they should stay away.

With Full Tilt added to the list of untrustworthy poker sites, it starts to make you wonder, how clean is Pokerstars' closet?

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

A Recap of the League

Sorry for not posting the results of the final week of the league.

The seating for the final week of the regular season was beneficial for the Host. He had Tilty to his left, followed by Stevie and Myself. A perfect spot to do a lot of re-raising. And it worked for him. He got a lot of folds when he was in cutoff and we were small blind and big blind. Host was still fighting. He could win the whole thing, but there had to be a specific order of me busting, followed by Stevie, and then Host winning the final week. For me it was about playing tight and hoping Stevie busted. It was unlikely, but Gus Hansen did it in the 2nd or 3rd Poker Superstars.

The guy on my immediate left (my heads up opponent in week 13), was pushing me around if I got into a pot. Finally, I took a stand. I had 77. He had limped in, and I was on the BB. I raised. He called. The flop came with 2 clubs, all under my 77. The turn is a J of clubs. I didn't put him on a jack, so when I bet, and he raises, I push all in. I have the bigger stack. He looks at me like "Really?" and then calls with the nut flush. I honestly didn't see the flush. I'm crippled and Stevie and Host are thrilled. Blinds are still low at this point, but I'm hurtin'. I just fold hoping for some big hands to clash. Not much happens. I believe, Drunky busts while I'm still low. I keep waiting and with about 6 BB left, UTG+2, I get AA. I shrug and shove. The Kid calls, and host, in the BB calls without looking. Neither are thrilled when they see my Rockets. I triple up and am in good shape. Especially since Stevie has less chips than I do.

The Kid is crippled here as well, and busts shortly after. The guy who took all my chips earlier, busts next. Stevie, can't recover and busts next. I'm estatic as I clinch the overall 1st spot. It's 3 handed and I'd LOVE to collect the first spot for the week as well. However, Tilty has been massively accumulating chips and the blinds are getting up there. Stevie is hanging around hoping Host busts, because that means he wins 2nd place overall (25% of the pool), but Host has to bust next. Blinds are too high and I push with KJ, but called by Tilty's A5. I don't improve and I'm out, Host is guaranteed 2nd overall, and Stevie goes home. The heads up lasts a while, but the chip count is too massive for Host to overcome. Finally, it all ends with Tilty winning the week.

OVERVIEW

At the end of the night, people were rooting against me. Not the overall win, as that would have been hard to prevent, but mostly they didn't want me to take down another double week. Which is bittersweet. I just hope it's not a game killer.

While I still maintain that I was extremely lucky in that I didn't often get UNlucky, a third season, in a row, says something, at least in my mind. It gave me confidence in my game. Three individual tournaments is one thing, but winning three, 16 week seasons goes beyond luck.

The league has been around for a while. This was my fourth time playing. I've tallied a 2nd place tie, and 3 wins. That's a pretty good return there. The Host has won it three times (not consecutively). Drunky has won it. The worst player ever has won it. Plus a few other people have won as well. I really hope this threepete wasn't a game killer.

It's been a month since the league ended, and no word from Host on when it might start up again. There was definitely a dying interest in the game. This season, we started with 9 and ended with 7. Plus for most of the 2nd half of the season, as least one person was out at almost every game. I think host is thinking about re-tuning the game. There was talk about increasing the buy-ins, maybe spreading out the payouts, at least on a week to week basis. Shortening it. I've suggested just making it a regular SnG and have a cash game after. His concern there is getting enough people interested in a weekly game.

I don't know if it will start up again, but if it does, and they still want me, I'll be there.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm not SUCH a donkaholic.

We Are Back

The league too the holiday weekend off, but was back this week with the final regular week game. One no show. Unfortunately, it went almost as bad as it could have gone.

I had very few hands. The ones I played, I playex poorly. My first hand was QQ. I just limped. Now earlier there was some pre-flop raising, so I hoped I'd get one of those. No such luck. The flop was 982. Check around. The turn was a Jack. The kid bet, host called and so did I. The river was a 7. Uggg. Kid bet again, host called. I figured I might be good here since host didn't raise, but didn't want to press my luck. I had the kid beat but host had the T. My next poorly played hand was 22. Limped pot. The flop comes 2h9hTs. I don't slow play and bet 6 (1/2 blinds still). Kid insta-raises to 20. Drunky goes All-in (but it's only a few more chips. This puts me all-in. This is where the points come into play. Any other time and I'm all-in here. I figure Drunky for the flush and/or straight draw. I'm worried about the Kid. He's a tight player and not one to bluff. Plus he's been getting hit with the deck at times this season. I really put him on a set of 9s or a set of Ts. I fold my 22. I just didn't want to bust first. Drunky has the flush draw and Kid had top two. Nothing comes, drunky busts and I don't rake in a big pot.

My only other big hand was KK, in which I played OK and got a few chips there. Never enough to be dangerous and never had more than the starting stack. My last hand was UTG with A3 and less than 2 BB. I pushed. 3 callers. Flop an Ace, but Kid (In the SB) had 2 small pair. I'm out. Host loses a race with AK vs 22 to bust after me. I'm almost guaranteed 2nd place overall. Unfortunately, Kid gave a ton of chips to Steven and he took the week down. We are 5 points apart. It means more tight play from me, as he has to finish 3 spots ahead of me in a 7 handed game.


-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Weeks 13 & 14

Week 13

I tried something new. I tried Tweeting the hands I was involved in. We started off minus 2 players. So that left 5. No New Kid and no Tilty. The very first hand, I limp with 66 and flop a set. I bet out, but get no callers. I hoped this wasn't an omen for things to come. I lose a few chips with a C-bet, but other than that, I'm folding most hands. 66 again. This time I raise 2.5x and get 3 callers (5 handed). Flop is 754. I C-bet again, this time no callers. I'm about even. A while later, I get into a hand with Host. I'm in the BB with 34. I check and the flop comes out 446. Host bets 5 and I call. Turn is a Jack. Host checks and I return the favor by betting 5. I want to keep him on the hook. The river is a 7. Host checks again. I'm a little worried he's slow playing (he likes to trap), but feel I'm probably best here, and decide to value bet 10. He reluctantly calls than mucks when I show.

Here's where I started to realize that I have a problem with the SB. Stevie is to my immediate left, so I'm SB to his BB. I ended up giving him sooo many chips that week. I played way too many SBs. I need to learn to let the hands go. Folds to me in the SB with 96. I limp. Stevie checks. Flop comes 9 high. I bet 4 (blinds are 2/4) and he calls. The turn is a low card. I check and so does he. The river is an over, and I check. Stevie bets 10. I think he might be trying to steal here, since I showed weakness. I call... he has 99. Yikes.

I won more chips with my 3rd Pocket Sixes. This time I bluffed an Ace on the turn to push Drunky off his 2nd pair. I ended up showing my bluff, which I regretted after. I tend not to show my hands anymore. After that, I didn't get much, I played the SB a bit too much and when the blinds got to 3/6, I had my original 60 chips.

I was the short stack and in danger of going out first. I had decided to stop playing my SB. It folds to me and I wake up with KK. I push into Stevie and he calls. I'm lucky enough that he has QQ. I double up and cripple him. I think he might go out first. Drunky manages this feat though, and while I don't have much of a stack, I am the second largest.

Blinds were were still 3/6. I limped with Jh9h. Stevie pushes for a total of 23. I have to call, and he shows A8. I don't catch and Stevie doubles up. A few hands later, the blinds are up to 4/8. I limp UTG with AToff. Host pushes for 30 more. Knowing Host as I do, I can't really think of any hand I am beating here. He's not one to put in all his chips without a hand. At BEST, it's a race. I think, but finally call. He shows JJ. The flop comes 235. The turn ends the drama with a 4. An additional 4 adds insult to injury. Host is frustrated, mostly since he didn't want to even have the game that night.

Stevie was still low and went out shortly after. I'm heads up. I turned up the aggression and managed to take the chiplead, and kept up the pressure. I made big flop call with 93 on a flop of 823. My opponent pushed and I called. He had 2 overs, but didn't hit. And I take down another one.

Once the math was corrected, I was 11 points ahead of 2nd place.

Week 14

Two no-shows again. It's really annoying that the games are so short handed, but not much we can do about that. The first hand was a big boat over boat hand and Drunky was giving all his chips to Stevie.

I lost 1/2 my stack in the BB with 73 when the flop was 77x. Host had a better 7. Later I lost more with top pair but a weak kicker. Also to Host. I managed to stay a live, but never got past the starting stack. I did double up to even with AJ. Flopped trips and turned Quads. Got all the chips on the river.

Managed to get 3 handed with almost no chips vs Host and Stevie. Tripped up (to 33) with JT when I rivered a T. But was still way behind. Got it in with A5 against Stevie's 33. I lose the race. A few hands later, Stevie flopped a straight and got Host to call all-in with top pair.

Because we started with only 5, the game lasted an hour. The three of us sat around for an hour and a half talking poker. That is my idea of a great time. I don't have to win, but to play poker, than talk about it with knowledgeable people; that a good time.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Four Weeks Remain

I really need to start posting right when I get home.

Week 11 sucked. I was the 2nd busted. The 3 people behind me finished in the top 3. The only saving grace was that Stevie busted Host heads up, meaning Host gained one less point on me. Overall I played poorly. Too limpy/cally. Not enough raising. I lost a large portion of my stack calling a hand that didn't get there. In the end, UTG, I limped with A4 sooted. I hit a huge flop against drunky with Top pair and the nut flush draw. I played it scared and allowed Drunky to hit a straight and bust me.

Week 12, I went in with a lot more aggression and it worked in my favor. I managed to slowly build my stack. Both Host and Stevie busted before me. I was out after Stevie when I pushed 3 handed with AQ in the BB after Drunky (Button) and New Kid limped. Drunky had trapped me with QQ and I was out.
I was happier with my play this week and look forward to the final 4 weeks.

I'm 9 points ahead of Host and 11 (I think) ahead of Stevie and Drunky. I need to stick with the tight aggressive play.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

The Main Event

Booked a side bet with Slappy. I set the line for the Main Event @ 4000. He took the over. I think it was a bad line. I think 4200 or 4300 would have been better. Just a small wager, but I'm sure I'll be paying it off.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Some Recaps

We now have Week 8, 9 and 10 in the books.

I've been somewhat consistent. In the double week (8) Steve went out in 5th place. It was nice to know that I was going to end the night as the sole points leader. Host went out in 3rd and Drunky and I played heads up again. Once again, he had a bit of a chip lead against me. I battled back and managed to take him out when I limped with an Ace. Missed the flop (check/check), but turned the Ace. I thought hard about betting, but in the end decided to see if he'd bluff. He obliged and pushed. I snap called, even though my kicker was crap. He had 2 unders (not just of the aces, but of the entire board). He doesn't hit runner runner and I take the win and take over 1st place by 8 points. Steve is still in 2nd.

Week 9 continues, this time Steve busts early. Host busts in 3rd. I get heads up with last seasons New Kid. He hasn't done much this season, so I'm not too worried about him winning because he's so far back and ultimately only gaining 1 point on me. Three handed New Kid admitted to getting hit with the deck. I made a lot of bad calls with bottom pair, or ace high, figuring he couldn't keep having hands. He did. I busted 2nd. But another positive showing for me.

Week 10, I continued to play bad. So bad. I busted crippled one guy early, than bust him and Drunky a hand later when my 66 holds up against Drunky's AK and crippled dudes Q2. Another early exit for Steve after that, and I'm pretty sure he's not going to be able to recover. He hasn't shown the necessary aggression. People start calling me pretty lightly, realizing I'm bluffing a lot.

It comes down to 3 handed again, Me, Host and New kid. I'm taking too many stabs and being called light by many people. New kid is getting hit with the deck, and I stupidly keeping calling him. I'm short, he's big stack. Host is right in the middle. I have 89. Flop comes JdTd4d. It goes check-check. Turn is a nice 7s. This time he bets out, and I push. He thinks for a while and then calls. He has an Ad7x. I double up. New kids loses a smallish pot to Host, then they get into two big hands, and host ends up on top and knocks out New Kid. I sneak into 2nd place. I start to mount a comeback, when host limps with Queens and I push with A9s. I don't hit the Ace or Diamonds and I'm out in 2nd.

So that gives me, 2 firsts and 2 second in the last four games. An additional 1st in the last 6 games.

So currently I believe I'm up on host now by 10 points. It's a good place to be. If I go out first the next 2 weeks, I'm guaranteed to at worst, be tied for 1st.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Great Kid! Don't Get Cocky!

I think that is something I have to be careful of.

Week 7 is in the books. One guy quit... Surprising not Tilty, the one that missed like 4 weeks in a row. No, this was a new guy, who had only missed one week, but hadn't had a good showing yet. Though apparently the reason he quit is because he got his old job and it's Sunday nights. So now we're down to 7. And I don't see these people quitting the rest of the season. Most of us are regulars.

The tournament started out slow. I won a few small pots, but ended up losing a lot of chips on bluffs. Drunky got a run of good hands and ended up with a monster stack. The overall points does play a big part of it. Drunky was using his chip advantage to push those of us fighting for points around. If you have a bigger chipstack than the points leader, you end up folding a lot of hands you'd play because you want others to go out. I was pretty short, but had both Host (3rd place) and the points leader (We'll call him Steve) covered. Host got down to less than a big blind and was busted right before his BB. That left 4 people, including Steve. I had Steve covered, but knew I needed chips to make any kind of run. Drunky was increasing his chipstack. In my defense, I really did get a lot of crappy cards. So it's not like I could do much. I finally got it all in with KQ vs Drunky. He had been raising a lot. I was actually behind when he showed 88. I flopped a Q and was happy to get a healthy chip stack again. Meanwhile, a few hands later, Steve had 1 chip more than a big blind and put it all in. I called and so did drunky. I just wanted to bust him. Drunky ended up making a bet and I folded my nothing. Drunky won and I was glad to know that I was going to at least gain a point on him.

This left us 3 handed. I still played the points and made some tight folds 3 handed. I wanted Tilty to bust. Even if I didn't win, a second place puts me 1 point behind Steve. Drunky busts Tilty and we're heads up. We played heads up in week 3 and Drunky outplayed me every step of the way. This time I promised myself I'd play better. Despite the chip disadvantage, I showed some aggression. I managed to double up, getting all in with a King high, when I pushed all-in after he raised my BB. He called with a jx and my hand held up.

We continued to battle and I slowly gained chips. The big hand came when I had K9 and raised it to 25 with (blind 5/10). He called. The flop was 8 high. It went check-check. The turn was a 9 and I bet 50. He pushed and I called. He had an 8 and I took a big chip lead after that and he was never able to gain any ground back.

I took down the my second tournament of the season and the best part was that I tied Steve for 1st place in overall points. Plus, between the winnings this week at Slappy's game, plus this week's win, I have enough winnings to see me through the rest of the league. Anything more will be profit.

Next week we're finishing the 1st half of the season with our double week. Again, points will playce a big role, as Steve and I battle for 1st place. Host and Drunky aren't too far behind (about 5 points). So a poor week for Steve or I and a good week for them, can boost them into 1st place.

So that brings up the title. The point is 2 fold. One, there is still a lot of poker to be played and I won't want to assume I'm going to win them all. I continue to have my hands hold up. I need that to keep happening. Two, I don't want the game to dry up. If I were to win, that would be the Threepete. I think I would have take a season off if that were to happen. People aren't going to want to play if they don't think they have a shot at winning. I think they need to change the payouts of just the weekly tournaments. Second place should get a few more bucks. Currently 1st place gets 75% of the pool. 2nd place barely makes their money back. A little more money to 2nd place would help keep people funded. A 65%/35% would allow 2nd place to double the buy-in, paying for that week's tournament, plus the next.

For now, I'm happy with the money disbursement, as I plan on winning a few more.

Off to bed
.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Nobody at this game would call with ...

I actually went to my buddy's home game. Normally, if I go, I go after 8, after they've already played a few tournaments. Tonight I was there from the start. I was asked to start coming after 8 again.

Just a quick refresher. Starting Stack: 4000. Blinds start at 25/50 and double every 15 minutes. They are small buy-in tournaments with a $5.00 bounty on everyone's head. I finished 2nd in the first two tournaments, winning enough bounties to break even. The money for second was a small bonus each time.

The third tournament started off slow. I won a few hands. The blinds had already gone up to 50/100. I believe there was 1 limper. I limp in middle position. Another limper. The Small Blind raises it to 500, the Big Blind calls, it folds to me. I call. The other limper folds. 3 handed. Flop comes 2-3-4, 2 diamonds. SB bets (but I don't remember how much, 1000?). BB goes all-in. I reshove (though we were close in chips). The Button tanks big time. I figure him for Aces. He's tries to put both of us on hands; Flush draw... set of 4s. He comments that he doesn't think he's good enough to fold. I tell him that out of everyone, he's probably the only one who could fold here. Someone (not in the hand) sarcastically adds that no one in this home game would call a raise with 56. In the end, he couldn't fold and shows AA. SB shows KK. I sheepishly show the 56 for the nut straight and bust two players. I feel bad because the Button ends up leaving after the beat. I don't think he wanted to sit around for an hour or more for the next tournament. As he left, he shook everyone's hand... but flipped me off (all in good fun). Oh well. I spent the rest of the evening trying to "re-build" my tight image. Didn't work. I really went on a roll in this tournament, hitting big hands and having them hold up and I took down the tournament. Again with a nice supply of bounties.

A fourth tournament, but I didn't make anything happen and busted in the middle of the pack.

Week 7 in the league is tomorrow, so there may be another post shortly.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

Uneventful Poker and a Post about Recent Events

Week 6 was uneventful, poker-wise. New wise... obviously different.

I finished in 4th. Host finished in 5th. Current points leader finished 3rd. I drop one point behind the leader (3 points behind), put an additional point between myself and Host. Still a lot of poker to be played.

The news of the evening (found out on my way home from poker) was that Osama Bin Laden was killed in a US raid. It really didn't do much for me last night. I actually thought it was news that occured earlier, so I didn't rush home and turn on the news or anything. I just figured I'd find out everything on Monday.

Monday I was reading all I could. It really hit me emotionally a few times. I knew no one who died on September 11th. I was worried for most of the day because my brother would go to the Towers a few times a week for work. Later on in the day, I heard from my parents that he wasn't there. I knew people who knew people, but no one I knew directly.

The emotion that hit me was mixed. Sad for all the senseless violence in the world... but also a feeling of pride for my country. I was listening to Mike & Mike and they were replaying the clips from the Mets vs Phillies game when people were finding out. The "USA" chant that went through the crowd. It's sad that it takes something of this magnitued to unite our Nation.

I used to follow politics. But the stupid crap that Clinton pulled at the end of his presidency, followed by 8 years* of Bush, and our country has become so insanely polarized. It's scary. If your political party didn't do it, it can't be good.

Listening to people bitch about how Obama is trying to take all the credit, how dare he get an Islamic burial, why are we rejoicing when it took almost 10 years, how now we're less safe because of it. Its petty politics. People are not happy it didn't happen under a republican's watch. Hell, I saw a post on Facebook that read, "It's the best thing he could do as president. Especially considering Clinton couldn't do that all those years ago." No mention that he eluded capture during Bush's administration, and just points out the fact that Clinton didn't authorize a predator drone to take him before 9/11 happened. And I'm not putting this on the Republicans only. Unfortunately, I feel the response would be the same if happened under a Republican presidency (shudder!).

Our country is so divided right now. I don't know if it will ever heal.

-My name is Unimpressed, and that is all.

Weeks Three-Five

Week 3 was a good week for me. The points leader busted early Host busted in 3rd and I got heads up with Drunky. Unfortunately, I played horribly and Drunky took me down in pretty easy fashion. I gained a few points on the leader but was tied with 4th.

Week 4 was uneventful. I busted early, followed by Host. Luckily, the leader busted in 3rd so he only gai ed a few points.

Week 5 "Now it's officially the League." - Me.
I was about 10 minutes late and they started w/o me. Drunky had lost 2/3 of his stack and busted a hand later. I don't remember a lot of the hands, but I built my chip stack and busted a few people. It just goes to show you that luck comes in different forms. In week 2 it was a Suckoutfest. This week, my hands held up. KK vs AQ and JJ vs AJ both held up for me, as did other hands. That takes luck too. The best hand isn't supposed to win 100% of the time. Points leader (I need to come up with a nickname for him that isn't based on points) finished third and I was heads up with Host for the first time this season. Thus the quote at the beginning of paragraph. I had a pretty big chip lead. I limped with A8 sooooted waiting for him to raise. He does and I push. He hems and haws
and decides to call with QT. I flop the nut flush. Host flops a T and turns a Q. I half expect him to river his boat since I haven't been sucked out on yet. It doesn't and I take down my first win of the season (and only 2 points behind the leader).

No poker this weekend, so Happy Easter.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

For the first time in almost years, I'm trying to follow baseball. I followed the Cardinals (loved in St. Louis for 6 years) when they made it to the playoffs and made it to a few games. But didn't really pay attention to baseball all other times.

First, to get this out of the way; Who the hell are the Nationals and what the hell are the Brewers doing in the National League. Don't worry, I know now, but about a year ago, I was really confused.

So back in the day (High School, early 90s) I followed the Mets. Bill Buckner Rules!!! I was aware of the 2000 Subway Series, but didn't follow all season, just the World Series.

I figure, after 20 years, knowing that the Mets are crap, I could get behind a new team. Living in Connecticut gives me access to the Yankees and the Red Sox.

Now, I find my old fandom popping up. How can I root for the Red Sox after the 86 World Series? How can one love and hate Bill Buckner at the same time? What about the Yankees? Well growing up in New York, you were either a Met fan or a Yankee fan. You were not both. So while I don't have that same mentality, I still find i difficult to invest in their games. Plus they're the 600 lbs Gorilla. And suddenly becoming a fan seems like jumping on the bandwagon (a la Dawn Summers and the 2007 Patriots).

In the end, some internal defect will not allow me to get behind another team. And I still feel the disappointment with each Met loss. Maybe they will invent a pill or something. Until then... There is always next season.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch

The new High Stakes Poker

For Poker Television, cash games are way better than Sit and Go's. I often fast forward through Poker After Dark regular games, especially if the participants aren't particularly entertaining. But if it's a cash game, I'm glued.So, needless to say, I LOVED High Stakes Poker. The table dynamics were always interesting and the chatter between Gabe Kaplan and A.J. Benza was entertaining. Than last season, they drop A.J. and let Gabe work solo. I really enjoy Gabe's humor and his experience playing poker, really added to the commentary. However, his humor needs the straight man. Without A.J. almost all his jokes fell flat.Than I find out that Gabe is gone and in comes Norm McDonald. Again, another funny comedian, but now they've gotten rid of any kind of high level poker commentary. I was expecting more of Season 6, without any decent poker knowledge. I was only half right.Norm McDonald, wearing more make-up than the winner on a Toddlers & Tiara's show, comes of well with his comedy. It doesn't feel forced, and while not laugh out loud hilarious, it's humorous enough to get a chuckle, and not miss any of the poker action. It works well. The biggest issue, is as I stated, no good poker commentary. He doesn't really add any real insight into what the players may be thinking based on actions.On a side note, and not really anything to do with this season specifically, but on my TiVo, it lists EACH airing as a new episode. So starting at 7pm on Saturday, my TiVo recording about 6 hours of HSP. There's only one new episode in there somewhere, and if I have to stop the actual new one, it takes a few minutes to find the next recording of it.So, while it's better than Season 6, and entertaining in it's own right, High Stakes Poker Season 7 goes to the bottom of my cash game poker watching. I'll wawtch it each week, but I'll be waiting with anticipation for the next PAD Cash Game. Or for PokerStars, The Big Game to come to my market.

Week Two

Two people dropped out of the league, so we're down to 8. One person was out of town, so chips went into the air with 7 people.

It was a crazy night. Suck outs galore. I lost a huge hand when I flopped a set of 8s on a 278 board. Get it all in against J8 ("I have an 8." I have two of them."). Of course someone says "Wouldn't it be funny if a T and a 9 hit." Of course that is exactly what happened. Next had I pushed QQ hoping to look like tilt, but got no callers. A few hands later, I'm all in with 99. Two callers. QQ and AA. I flop a 9 and don't feel the least bit bad about it.

In the end, I couldn't get much going and was the third out. Host followed suit. Last weeks winner finished in 3rd. He's first overall with a three way tie for third between myself, host, and last season's new kid.

On a side note, I finally got my two trophies. I'm thebonly person to repeat. I'd love to three pete.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic

Week One

Week one is in the books and an OK start.

9 people with 1 more person who missed week one. Again, I'll go into more detail as I get better reads. Of the 10 people, there are 3 people I haven't played with and one person I played with only in the first season.

The starting stack is 60 chips. And the blinds go up after 30 minutes (we got rid of the rule where blinds don't go up until first person busts).

I built a stack early but towards the middle I couldn't get much going. Four handed, I busted Host when I played Le Dawn to Host's raise and flopped a gut shot to the wheel. Checked around and the A turned giving me the wheel. Host pushed and I called. He had AK and I busted my toughest opponent.

Three handed lasted awhile with stacks going back and forth. In the end I was dominated twice when I had a middle Ace and busted in 3rd.

I feel I did ok and am glad to be playing again.

Poker Content Coming Soon

It's been over a year now, but it looks like the League will be starting up this Sunday. This should generate some more content. I'm on huge poker dry spell. The only cards I've played is Old Maid.

So Host says we'll have 10 peolple this season. That will be a nice change of pace from the last two seasons.

Just to recap, I joined the league 4 "seasons" ago. That first one, We has 9 players and I tied 2nd place overall. I then took the next "season" off. When that finished up, I was jonesin' for more, so I joined again. I believe that season, we had 8 players, but 2 people quit half way through. I managed to win that one. In fact, I clinched it the week before because I was guaranteed 6th place points with those 2 people gone.

Then last season, we had a piddley 6 people in the league. By the last week, I could only lose if I busted first for 0 points. A few weeks before the end one guy (Muscles) stopped coming (started dating some chick). He said he quit. I told Host that we could wait a few weeks to get Muscles back in so there was at least a shot at me losing. In the end Muscles wouldn't come back, so just showing up netted me the 2 points I needed to clinch again.

I'm still waiting on my two trophies. Bastards.

The format is the same. 16 weeks. 14 regular weeks and 2 double point weeks. 1 point per where you bust. So the first person who busts gets 1 point, next person to bust gets 2 points, etc. I believe every one gets 80 chips to start. Blinds don't go up until the first person busts (blinds start 1/2). Then it increases every 30 minutes (I think). It really feels like there is a lot of play, unless some busts on the first hand and then everyone but one player goes from 40BBs to 20BBs in 2 minutes. It doesn't happen that often. Usually you get 20-40 minutes of no increases. Sometimes even an hour or more.

I'm not a fan of the payout structure per tournament. It almost all goes to 1st place. 2nd usually gets the buy-in back. Maybe twice that.

Cost is $20+$5/week (the double week it's $40+$10), where the $20 goes into that weeks prize pool and the $5 goes to the overall season pool. The $5 has to be paid, even if you don't show up a week (you don't have to put in the $20). The double weeks are mandatory and will be rescheduled if someone can't make it. The overall season is paid out 75% & 25%.

This time there should be 10 people, with 2 brand new players and on dude that has played before, but none of the seasons I've played. I'll have a breakdown of the players next week.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.