Wise Hand Poker

Does it seem just like yesterday all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with the WSOP Main Event had just ended?

It is amazing how fast the days go by as we get older in life. Maybe it is because we do so much more than our parents did or because of all the hours most of us work it makes time go by light speed.

On Saturday, November 8th at 10:00 am pst, the final 9 or the November 9 reconvene at the Rio's Penn and Teller Theatre to crown a new WSOP main Event winner. Their picture will hang in the Amazon Room along side the other notables for eternity for all of us dreamers to see. Jerry Yang dreamed about it and I am sure there are 9 individuals who are dreaming about it now. I wonder how many of them as they entered this field of over 6,000 people actually looked up and said to themselves,"I wonder how I would look up there".

ESPN and the WSOP staff experimented with delaying this years final table for 117 days. We have watched for the past month on Tuesday Nights bits and pieces of the Main Event as it unfolded. Some players were shown as happy go lucky and others were not portrayed as they would have hoped for.

The controversial people have been the talk of the Internet forums more so then the actual November 9. ESPN thrived on showing the antics of some of the players, possibly for ratings. It has made some very good Internet debates and I believe it has taken away some of the final nines glory.

ESPN began to focus on some of the final 9 the past two weeks. One story was very touching and was very emotional for me also.

I have been a Deputy as you all know for 22 years. I have told you several times that I have seen things no person should ever have to see. I have seen so much death unless it's a baby or a child I am no longer affected.

I tell people do not mistake my kindness for weakness! My life has changed with the birth of my two sets of twins and I now have more compassion for people then I ever have. Life is just to precious and I do as much as I can to enjoy my days and as much as I can to help those who are less fortunate, or have been hit by tragedy in their lives.

When I was 14 years old my mother who was only 35 years old died on Valentines Day from Leaukimia. I remember going to Houston where we had lived and where my mothers hospital,St.Lukes was.We had moved to Dallas in January of 1971 for my father's job and my Mom stayed behind as she had to return to the hospital due to her blood count not being correct.

I was to young to understand what was going on with my Mother and why she lost all her hair because of Chemotherapy. I had become an altar boy at St.James in Houston because this is what she wanted and my Mom had done so much for me and I loved her as a son should so when she died on that Saturday in Febuary, I cried for the first time as a young man off in the hayfield so no one could see me.

When ESPN did the story on Kelly KIm it brought a tear to my eye and a heavy heart for him. It was the best portrayal of one of the November 9 or any Poker Player ESPN has done. I have met Kelly playing here in Los Angeles and I never knew he went through the same thing I did with his Mom. We both never had the chance to grow up as young men with are Mother by our sides pushing us in the right direction.

I had already liked Kelly from our conversations and he was and still is my choice to win the ME. He has a long uphill battle, but hopefully the support and strength he needs will come to him from up above.

Leukimia is a terrible disease and over the years Doctor's have made great strides in combating it. Hopefully someday we will be rid of all cancers.

Congratulations to the November 9 I look forward to the FT as you do and best wishes to you all.

Take care....Be Safe....