Borgata Summer Poker Open Quickie: 6/17/08

Is this the End of Live Poker as We Know It?

According to a recent Pokernews.com “Bluebox” report, electronic poker table manufacturer PokerTek has supplied the tables for New Jersey’s first electronic poker room. Located at the Trump Taj Mahal, the 12-table room is the first “sans-dealer” room in the state. To promote the new venture, the new tables will have a reduced rake with a max of $3.

 

I used to drive down to the Taj to play low-limit Hold’em back in the day, but I stopped going there because it was like paying to bang your head against a wall. Despite the “new toy” feel of the room, it will take more than a reduced rake to get me to play there. Although it is an interesting concept, I much prefer playing with a live dealer at Borgata.

 

One last thing on this subject: When it comes to having electronic tables in casinos, I’m not in favor of it. If casinos move to completely electronic rooms, dealers will be out of a job and I’m not down with that. I know dealers make mistakes, but I don’t believe in putting people’s livelihoods in jeopardy just so a casino can make more money.

 

Soft Fields at Summer Poker Open

This year’s Summer Poker Open has something I haven’t seen before at Borgata: soft fields. With the majority of the East Coast’s top players seeing action in the middle of the desert, the Borgata has become a “home-game hero” paradise for the moment. For a $300 buy-in, yesterday’s players got a shot at winning a little over $39,000. Think about that. For finishing first, a player gets a value of 130 times their buy-in. That’s pretty sweet for those of us that can’t afford bigger buy-ins.

 

Tropical Steve

Last year, when I got approached by Borgata to work the Winter Poker Open, I decided to hire some new staff. I first approached Dr. Pauly, because he was the original Borgata blogger, but he couldn’t do it due to other commitments. I asked him who he would recommend and he mentioned current Borgata tournament reporter Steve Horton’s name. Since I trust Pauly, I made the hire right away and I have been thrilled with my man’s performance since. A veteran tournament reporter and a skilled poker writer, Steve has the skills to get the job done and I don’t have to hold his hand. In other words, it was a major score for me.

 

As I continued to work with Steve, I learned that he is a successful author and a comic book content master. Currently being pursued by comic book giant Marvel, Steve is considering his options as he waits for the release of his up-coming book, Professional Manga: Digital Storytellin with Manga Studio EX. You can currently buy Steve’s first book Webcomics 2.0 An Insider’s Guide to Writing, Drawing, and Promoting Your Own Webcomics at Amazon.com.

 

As a comic book fan, I think it is pretty cool that I get to work with one of the guy’s who makes stories come to life. As a professional writer, I know that it takes a creative person to do what he does and I have a lot of respect for that.

 

Kayne West Manages to Piss Off Bonnaroo

Image details: HOT 97 Summer Jam Presented By Boost Mobile served by picapp.com

Rapper Kayne West has managed to do the unthinkable while at Bonnaroo. In a setting where the most a person usually gets pissed at is the crappy weather, West infuriated concert-goers by going on almost 1.5 hours after his scheduled appearance. Midway through the delay, fans began throwing glowsticks at the stage and yelling, “Kayne sucks.”

 

According to Bonnaroo spokesperson Ken Weinstein, the delay occurred because it took longer than expected to switch from Pearl Jam’s set to Kayne’s. Alternative rockers Pearl Jam played an hour past their scheduled time. Originally scheduled to perform as one of the main acts at 8:15 p.m., Kayne asked for a late-night spot at the last minute.

 

Apparently Kayne refused to acknowledge his delay until midway through his set which included an interplanetary landscape and a talking female computer named Jane. The crowd was so pissed off that they continued to chant “Kayne sucks” throughout the day. Guitarist and jam band singer Robert Randolph even led one of the chants.

The Rock Band Music Store Continues Jamming

One of the big reasons why the video game Rock Band has found enormous success is the selection of songs that players can download to use in the game. The game continues to have strong sales and the Rock Band Music Store has reached a new milestone with the site’s release of 1980s group the Pixies’ album Doolittle on June 24, 2008.

 

The addition of the Pixies’ critically-acclaimed album will push the site to 200 songs as Rock Band creators MTV and Harmonix continue to up the ante for the music video game market. Showing no signs of slowing, this release is the third “full” album release, after Judas Priest’s Screaming for Vengeance and The Cars’ “The Cars.”

 

Loyal fans continue to download new tracks at a high rate, with the site having provided over 12 million downloads. Available for PlayStation 3 and X-Box, Rock Band continues to give its legions of fans what they want (new music) and it appears to be paying off in spades.

 

Rock Band fans can either download the new album for $18.99 or download individual tracks for $1.99. For a complete list of songs available on the site, go to: www.rockband.com/dlc.

 

World Series of Poker Quickie: 6/17/08

I Love Your Booty

I had the pleasure of interviewing Max Pescatori after he won his first WSOP bracelet and I can honestly say that he is one of the nicest guys in poker. When people say nice guys finish last, it doesn’t seem to apply to Max. I have been confident that he would win another bracelet in this lifetime and he proved me right by winning the $2,500 Pot Limit Hold’em/Omaha event last weekend.

 

His victory reminded me of something he said in the interview which seems to hold true for many of today’s successful players. When I asked how to win a tournament he said, “Even though it’s a big tournament, you still have to take it one step at a time. You have to look and see who will double you up, and make your move. Don’t worry about being the chip leader right away, and take it one hand at a time.”

 

Are You Talking to Me?

According to Patrik “The Black Lotus” Antonius’ blog, the Finnish pro is ready to take on the online poker community’s highest rollers. “I would like to issue a little challenge to a few online players who have been very successful at the biggest games online the past few months. All they do is hide behind their computer screens, scared to play anyone that they think is any good. I have not played Heads Up No Limit on Full Tilt for a long time and have hardly any experience playing it compared to these guys, yet, they refuse to play me and are dodging me in all games.”

 

Antonius then went on to call out possible opponents by their online handles. “Durrr, OMGClayAiken, trex313, Urindanger, I am looking for action and I want a chance to play against the best. I will play any of you in any game on Full Tilt, I will be waiting. Hopefully you’re up for the challenge,” said Antonius.

 

Antonius already has challenges out against several players including Doyle Brunson and Daniel Negreanu. One thing is for certain, Antonius is far from shy and he has put himself in the spotlight by taking on these grudge matches. Opposing players beware, because this former tennis pro has no qualms about letting his game do the talking once he finds a player crazy enough to sit down against him.

 

Hinkle Brothers for P.O.Y?

Granted, the above title makes no sense, because only one player can win the 2008 WSOP Player of the Year award, but I would love to hear these two guys mentioned in the same sentence as Erick Lindgren, David Singer, and Daniel Negreanu. The fact that two brothers won bracelets in the same year (this is the first time in WSOP history that this has happened) is well….sick. I can only imagine what the home-games were like when Grant and Blair battled it out against one another. Talk about sibling rivalry.

 

I case you missed it, Grant took down one of the $1,500 No Limit tournaments earlier in this year’s WSOP and Blair just took down the $2,000 No Limit tournament. Together, the brothers have taken down a total of $1,339,025 at this year’s WSOP.

 

DJ Ocean’s Debut CD: Innovate

Making a mix is all about expressing oneself through music. It speaks miles about who you are and what your soul has to say.  I have never cared if the world ever heard my music because originally, I made it just for me. I would spin records in my bedroom, content with performing for my audience of one.

 

After a while, I decided to give up DJing and ended up selling all of my records. It took a long time, but I finally started to get back into it about two years ago. Once again, I pretty-much doing it for myself, but this time around I found new inspiration in my future wife. In all honesty, if it weren’t for her, I don’t know if I would have even considered doing it again.

 

Fortunately, she loves my music and she has consistently told me that I should put it out there so others could enjoy it. So in honor of my beautiful soul mate, I am dropping my first CD.

 

Appropriately named Innovate, this funky house joint has plenty of banging tracks that I hope will make your soul want to dance. Over 70 minutes long, it was created to take my listeners on a journey by highlighting the different forms of house music that have inspired me as a DJ. I did my best with this CD to try and take my listeners on a trip the way the old school DJs used to do it.

 

I hope you enjoy band if you like what you hear, pass it on. Namaste party people!

 

To download Innovate go to:

 http://www.mediafire.com/?1ecm3e2yvt5