Wise Hand Poker

As you might already know, Phil Ivey won this year’s WPT L.A. Poker Classic Main Event. I also might have known that he set the record for most WPT final tables with that win with eight. Did you know that he did so in eight cashes? That’s right, he has final tabled every WPT he has cashed in.

This is absolutely a remarkable feat. It took him eight times to finally pull it out, but this might show that when Ivey is determined, he gets the job done. Yes, he has blown some early and mid-tournament leads. Did he want to win those tournaments as bad as he did the LAPC. I wouldn’t doubt it. But the first place prize, while still lucrative for him, he could make in a good week in the cash games he plays in. Hell, he could make that much money in a good 24-hour session probably. Because of this, it has to be hard for him to be 100% focused during the entire tournament. But, when he hits that money, he is in for the long hall and nothing will get in his way.

Another amazing accomplishment was done by one Chris “Jesus” Ferguson. The NBC National Heads-up Championship is an event the most of the pros love. Despite people complaining about the fast structure to it, the winner is always given a lot of credit. He finished second in the tournaments inaugural year to Phil Hellmuth. The next year, he finished runner-up for again; this time to Ted Forrest. This was the fourth year of the event and once again made it to the best of three format finals. He lost the first match to Andy Bloch. It looked like he might finish second for the third time in four years. He managed to fight back and win the next two matches and the event, however.

No matter how much luck it takes to win the event with its less than perfect blinds, his dominance of that event shows that he has a ton of skill heads-up. A little luck doesn’t hurt either. When he won the 2000 WSOP Main Event, he got all-in for all the marbles with A-9 against T.J. Cloutier’s A-Q. A river 9 gave Ferguson the championship. Don’t get me wrong, I think Chris is very good and has proven it with this tournament. Don’t let my luck tangent lead you to think otherwise.

I will almost guarantee that Ivey will win another WPT before he is down. Considering the fact that he said in an interview lately that he will always play poker, that probably isn’t a brave prediction considering this man’s skills. I’m sure you will also see Ferguson do well in the heads-up. Keep your eyes on these two.

So my Mom has cancer. Don't feel bad for me - I'm actually not nervous...the universe will NOT punish me by taking her away. Partly because I have good karma, and partly because it doesn't want to risk making me the ABW (for those of you that don't know me, I've been known to morph in to the Angry Black Woman). At first it was scary, but lately...it's gotten FUN! Yes, FUN! You know why? Because Patrick Swayze is a patient at the same hospital she's at! YES, Mr. Dirty Dancing is being treated at Stanford Cancer Center along with Mrs. Christine Miller.

Now, I have this recurring fantasy that I go to walk in to my Mom's room with a DVD of "Road House", a copy of the book "To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar", while simultaniously singing "Shess Like the Wind" - only I accidentally walk in to Patrick Swayze's room. Quelle Surprise! And he gives me the face that he gave Demi Moore in "Ghost" when she gets to see him one last time - and I say, "Oh, excuse me." And he says, "No, no, no don't go...stay awhile!" and we chat about everything, just everything - and become best friends.

Then when he and my Mom are both better - we have a big dinner party for them at some sort of summer resort in the Catskill Mountains of New York, he invites Whoppi Goldberg (my lone celebrity friend invite is Charlie Steiner), and everyone dances in celebration while I repeatedly yell "Nobody puts SWAYZE in the corner!"

So, in honor of Patrick's and my impeding friendship - I present

The Top Ten Things I would LOVE to ask Patrick Swayze:

(Please note that these all reference my favorite Swayze movies, if you don't love The Swayze, I'm not sure what's wrong with you - and you probably won't get them)

10. Do you go around calling people "spaghetti arms"? and when they look at you in distain, say, "I DID call Jennifer Grey that in a liiii-ttle film called 'Dirty Dancing'!"

9. Have you ever considered making a shirt that says "I was Chosen as People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive [1991]"?

8. Can you record yourself on to my iPod saying "Is that all the gusta you can musta?" so when I get tired on the treadmill, I can play it on repeat?

7. Can you call and ask former co-star C. Thomas Howell (and current radio show poker commentator) to teach you to play poker so I can run in to you guys together at poker events, therefore making my 3rd grade dream come true?

6. Were you jealous that it was Keanu Reeves, not you, that got to say "Vaya con Dios, Brah!"?

5. Can you really survive a Soviet invasion by hunting deer and urinating in a jeep's radiator to keep it running when there's no water around?

4. Do you have a sign over the urinal at your house that says, "Don't eat the big white mint"?

3. Do you ever wake up sweating after having a nightmare containing Keanu Reeves screaming, "I AM AN F... B... I AGENT!"? No? Ummmmm...me neither.

2. When someone calls you a cocksucker, do you always respond, "It's just two nouns combined to elicit a response."? Because I do, James Dalton.

1. Do you have Obama-Mania? Because that's a WAY better disease than this cancer thing! But while Obama-mania can't be defeated...I have faith that you and Mom are gonna overcome cancer.

Sorry to use this blog as a complaint. However I think it's this is a very valid point and I hope you all agree.

I bought two HD Direct TV boxes in December 2006 for $200.00 each. Installed them myself and began to watch my new 50 inch Plasma Tv in HD. The picture is great I do not think there will ever be a better picture than what I have.

Last month one of the boxes began to act up and I called Direct Tv and as usual they walked me through some procedures that I had already done and in the end the box was broken.

They told me they would send me another one in a few days and the problem should be solved.

The following afternoon I received my box,hooked it up and I was back watching my wonderful clear Picture.

I threw the old one away,I had no need for a broken box and it would just clutter up my garage. Last week I received a bill for 240.00 for not returning the old broken box to them. I immediately called and told them no one ever told me to return the box. I bought them at Best Buy and believed they were mine.

The representative said they are still the property of Direct Tv even though I bought them They are leased to me. I asked him why they sell them at Best Buy and Best Buy should of told me they still belonged to Direct TV.

After speaking with several people all the way up to the manager of the equipment department,they told me they were sorry but I still had to pay them even though their people never told me to send it back. I told them I would go to Dish TV and they told me they hoped I enjoy Dish and they will be billing me for my remaining balance of the whole month plus the box charge.

This is what happens to us peasants when big conglomerates do not care about the people who make them rich or the people they service. Do you really think the money is going to make a difference to them. It will to me,its a weeks worth of groceries in my house.Plus it's not only the money but the principle. They NEVER told me to send the damaged one back. I would have!!! What do they think I am going to do with a busted box?

I know I may be asking to much,but if you have Diorect TV,call them and voice your opinion or do as I am going to do,CANCEL them and go to Dish!

They also make it very hard to speak with a representative,push this button or that button,please wait for the next available representative....AUTOMATION..

Thanks For listening...By the way I won $1,000.00 last night playing a $300.00 NL game..I had KK in one hand another guy had AQ with a Q on the flop,he went all in and I called $400.00 and won. Another pot I took with pocket 5's... There is this one guy who plays all the time at San Manuel. I belive he makes his living off of cash games there. Every time he has a small pocket pair or a big suited connector he bets 3-4 times the amount of money in the pot. Last night there was $25.00 in the middle and he was on the button and he raised to $75.00. I had limped with my 5's and I called his bet only to show him I wasn't going to be intimidated by his big stack he had accumulated. The flop was 5-5-Q....Oh my...Quad 5's. I was first to act and I tried to get an Academy Award by showing disgust. I was hoping maybe he had AQ ....I said "All In" trying to get him to call thinking I was bluffing..He looked at me and shook his head and folded. I showed only one 5 to him...The rest of the table didn't believe I had 55...Thats ok I want them to think that and it cost some guy $400,00 later to see My KK when he went all in with his AQ..I grinded for a little while longer and I just got tired and decided to come home. Holy cow it was 4:30 am..No wonder I am tired...

Joy welcome to the team...I am going to post the 10 most beautiful women in Poker soon...Keep an eye out for it....LOL

Take Care..Be Safe

So, I'm not just about "The Fluff", I'm also on the Board of Directors for a charity called The One Step Closer Foundation. It was started by a friend of mine, Jacob, whom if you've been to the World Series of Poker, you've seen whizzing by in his motorized wheelchair and thought "Did that kid steal Doyle's scooter?"

Jacob has cerebral palsy. But has always lived his life with the goal of helping others.

(Read his bio at www.onestepcloserfoundation.org )

The Houston Chronicle just wrote a comprehensive piece on the foundation that I thought was insightful, please check it out when you get a chance. He is such an amazing inspiration.

And look for us to produce a charity poker tournament later this year - that of course I'll hit you all up for!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/5543364.html

-Joy

AHEM

Gary Wise
gary@wisehandpoker.com

I LURVES me some Wise Hand Poker - so the Great and Powerful G. Wise gave me my own blog. I'm gonna try to do a Top Ten list each week...Consider yourselves warned! (Not trying to compete with Morry...his was pretty damn good, but I'm kinda the Queen of Top Ten lists)

So, this summer, we media ladies found ourselves comparing notes on whom we thought looked good (believe me, after spending hours and hours staring at hundreds of the same men they get REALLY attractive), so we decided to make an OFFICIAL LIST

This is the Official Women of The Media Top Ten Hot Guys in Poker List

As compiled by Gloria, Tiffany, Stephanie, Jennifer, Heather, and yours truly.

Please note we dont all agree on all of them but its the best we could do to get a functioning list. And Patrick Antonius is WAY too good looking so we gave him an automatic pass.

In no particular order:

1. David Williams - we voted him to the list BEFORE he won the bracelet. Hes good looking, dresses great (though, we could do without the Michael Jordan-esq new shoes every day), has a sexy smile, and loves his Mama. AND he had a cabana at the Hard Rock Hotels Sunday Rehab Party which reportedly cost $100,000 for the season!

2. Joe Hachem - the Daddy of four kids is a looker, but his appeal comes from the combination of his unabashed love for his wife Jeannie, the gorgeous kids and his brother Tony. His accent doesnt hurt either. Plus, he always remembers our names.

3. Joe Cassidy - We want him to read us bedtime stories with that sexy voice. When he talks he sounds like hes smoked a hundred packs of cigarettes on a lazy Sunday.

4. Nick Schulman - He may have been the WPTs youngest winner, but when he throws on his Clark Kent glasses, we find him all kinds of grown up sexy! Ask him to say Under the Gun with that Manhattan accent and youll see why we loves us some Nick.

5. Joe Sebok - Berkeley smarts and shys away from letting nepotism rule his career, instead choosing to work hard at becoming a good player and entrepreneur. Plus, hes a good loser (see last years costumes in his prop bet loss to Gavin Smith).

6. Phil Ivey - The End.

7. Erick Lindgren - All- American looks, but he can be goofy and has a funny sense of humor which makes him the Dane Cook of our list. Plus, just try to find a flaw on his skin.

8. David Singer- The Eyes.

9. Justin Bonomo.Brian Townsend.Jared Hamby - Three guys who made a name for themselves on the internet, but are surprisingly not that bad to look at when they appear live. Extra props to Bonono for the faux-hawk, Townsend for being a rugby player and successful business owner, and Hamby for STILL rockin that damn hat. Hes kinda like Eryka Badu, we wanna know what mystery is under the cap.

10. Paul Wasicka - Looks like he stepped out of a Banana Republic ad now that he made the Final Table two years ago. Amazing what a stylist, girlfriend, great haircut, and a couple million will do for you.

Honorable Mention went to the ESPN crew, The Poker Royalty Guys, Matt Gianetti (Mine was the lone vote, but I stand by it - that kid is haaawt. I've probably told him about 22 times already) Rick Fuller’s perfect nose, and all The PokerListings.com writers/reporters.

Well I went to a local casino Saturday Night because my Daughter and Wife got the itch to play some slots. Saturday Night!!! I said are you guys crazy??? the crowds will be outrageous and the machines never pay out on a weekend, I told them. Well my Nieces boyfriend is learning to play poker and has never played at a Casino. So off to San Manuel we go and yes the place was a ZOO..

We go to the newly remodeled Poker Room and it is very spacious and modern. The only problem is they do not have enough staff to run it for the amount of people who come to play. I guess its like the movie,if you build it they will come. They are coming and you have to wait about 10 minutes for chips and you can forget about getting food,its that busy.

Robert (my nieces boyfriend) played at a 2-4 limit game and I didn't get a chance to watch him but he lost $60,00 pretty quick and he got up.

I sat at a $100.00 $300.00 buy in NL game and had some success I started with $200.00 and I walked away with $1,069.00 and could have had more but I gave this one nice old man a break.. I had 5-4 hearts in the big blind and there was one raise to $15.00 and everyone at the table called. So there was already $135.00 in the pot and it was only $10.00 more to see a flop.

The flop.....7-3-6 rainbow. Flopped a straight,,,very nice...Theres a bet of $50.00 in front of me and I raise it to $125.00 and get TWO callers..One guy is all in and the turn is a 2 hearts....I go all in for $430.00 that I have left, thats not an over bet at all its pot size...This really nice old man has me covered and he goes into the tank for a bit.. He finally flashes pocket 3's for a set. I have been playing pretty solid and he knows I am not bluffing. He saw me win a big pot earlier with trip 10,s and I did not play rags at all since sitting down.. But me being the nice guy I am and one person already all in I told him to lay it down .....He looked at me and I nodded so he layed it down.. I could have taken another $430.00 from this guy because he was going to call, but I am sure it would have hurt his pocket and I have played with him before and he is a very nice individual. Now I know your thinking there is no friendships at the poker table and your absolutely right,anyone else I do not say a word,but I had a moment and its ok, there is a $500.00 profit in that pot and I was good with that. Oh,the other all in..10-10..So I leave with a grand because my wife and daughter spent all their money in about an hour. As we are leaving some lady hits a 50 cent machine for 20k and everyone is trying to get a peek.

I sit at this blazing sevens machine and toss in a hundred dollar bill and I give my wife one to. She has no luck and I hit the $1,175.00 progressive jackpot and I play it a few more spins until I have 2k...I cash it out and we are on our way home. I give my wife a few hundred and offer my daughter $50.00, but she is mad and is pouting and says the fifty isn't going to help what she lost.. I offer Robert fifty and he denies it also. But I insist and he has some more money to try and learn Poker.

Now for the title of this blog,Sposorships. I know Jean Robert Bellande pretty good. He is a friendly guy,but if you watched Survivor you pretty much know him. Smart guy,but just a tad conceited and can rub you the wrong way. This is just my opinion. I asked him the past 2 years to attend the Charity Event,but he has had other plans both times. No problem but when I see him playing cash games the day of my event,,,, I just wondered.

Bodog signs Jean Robert to be one of their spoke persons. I am dumbfounded by this. Nam Le who is one of the nicest guys I have ever met and a pretty darn good Poker Player had their logo on his shirt during the final table of the LAPC this past week. They only gave him some money to wear it and it did not include a sponsorship deal. Nam already has one WPT title and a couple of final table appearances at the WSOP too!

I would also think since Nam is of Asian descent and the Asian community plays a lot of Poker it would be a good fit for Bodog or any other On-Line Poker Site. Same with J.C. Tran, why doesn't he have a deal....I know David Pham just signed with Full Tilt and deservingly so, but I am just a little flabbergasted by the Bodog deal. There are so many Poker Professionals who are deserving of sponsorships in my opinion,but they are without them.

Joe Seboks name also comes to mind and at one point so did Chad Browns but he is now a member of the Full Tilt family,

If you have any thoughts or opinions,please leave me a comment and start an open discussion or we can start one in the forum here.. Take care all, I am off to the Dentist to have a couple of teeth fixed .....Take care...Be safe....