CARDRUNNERS

In less than 12 hours the 2008 WSOP begins with the $10k PLH event...

Two of my favorite memories during my time with CardRunners were my two times covering the WSOP. I had joined January 1 of 2006, consulted CR that spring, and was hired in June. I flew out in early July to Vegas to meet my new bosses and meet the entire CR team of Taylor and Andrew at the WSOP. I met them and railed some of their friends like Jsup, JohnnyDrama, and Denny Lemiuex. CR was not well known and it was too late to get a press pass, so I percevered with the general public crowds and did some basic coverage of the play of CR affiliated players. I was only there a few days, but it was very eye opening to see all the TV poker stars I had seen for years in the flesh. This was the last year of the big bashes thrown by the poker sites; I recall the UB party hosted by Phil Hellmuth and company in the Voodoo Lounge at the Rio as being particularly fun.

The following year, CardRunners had grown signficantly and I suggested that I apply for a press pass and more professionally cover all CardRunners members for the entire Main Event. While every other press team had multiple members who often worked in shifts through the press room, I relished the challenge of singlehandedly providing coverage for CR. For the 17 days of play, I was at the Rio for all but a handful of hours. The typical days at the Rio started at 11 am with play beginning at noon and ending anywhere from 2-4 am. It was quite hectic managing the massive playing floor and then running back to the freezing press room to blog and post about what I had witnessed.

What I loved most was meeting CardRunners members and pros that I had only dealt with by email or IM. I've always been a natural rooter and railer. I love supporting my friends as they pursue their dreams. The atmosphere at the WSOP is like no other time of the year. It is the only time you get ALL the known characters of poker to come out. Anyone who has done anything ever in poker is present, whether they play a ton or not. It is a very lively scene and there is much frivolity that goes on inside and outside of the Rio. People come to the WSOP at a shot at fame and money. There are great highs and many, many lows. Your character and stamina is tested in ways you never thought imagined. It sure was for me, standing, walking, and reporting for those long hours each day while dealing with my painful sciatic condition. It is the time of the everyman, because everyone thinks they have a shot.

While there are many stories I could retell, I mostly just worked my tail off those 3 weeks and left the partying to others. I was there to work. I met a lot of great people and was able to watch one CR member, Lee Childs, make it all the way to the final table. I got to know Lee Childs, Robin Bergen and Sergio Rodriguez (the last 3 CR standing) pretty well during those two plus weeks, meeting their families and railing together many hours. I helped Lee get representation and sponsorships for the final table, as well as getting a CR patch on him.

This year, I will probably only fly in for a few days around the Main Event to see some friends. I need to prioritize continued progress on the site development so it can launch as soon after the series is over as possible. But I can already sense the enthusiasm and anticipation for what might happen this year at the WSOP. What dreams will be made? Good luck to those that enter.  I hope that with the much larger CR team in Vegas this year they can provide some compelling coverage to follow.

So today I had some time to finally get some hands in, went very well although I did stay up all night and all day so I could go to sleep in the evening and wake up early in the morning like 4am, rather then sleep all day and be up all night.

After todays session Im def on track to make this months goal, the Nl50 hands were played because FTP caught my rakeback account, so while I had my funds frozen I had a friend transfer me a few hundred bucks so I could keep busy the 2 days I was waiting to receive my bankroll back. Anyways turns out I might have a prop bet with a friend, he thinks I cannot make 10k in a 31 day period playing Nl50 Heads up only, I think I can and Im getting 2:1 On my money, will see if he actually go's through with it.

Anyways here's a screenshot of my Stats this month + a few hands, Def Unsustainable but lifetime at 1/2 Im a 22/100 Winner.

Seat 1: Haterade($721.90) - -
Seat 2: Todd From Wsop ($400) -


PRE-FLOP:

Haterade posts small blind $1
Todd From Wsop posts BIG blind $2
Dealt To: Haterade


RAISE Haterade($6)
CALL Todd From Wsop ($4)


FLOP:

Pot: $12


CHECK Todd From Wsop
CHECK Haterade


TURN:

Pot: $12


BET Todd From Wsop ($6)
CALL Haterade ($6)


RIVER:

Pot: $24


BET Todd From Wsop ($44)
RAISE Haterade ($709.90)
CALL Todd From Wsop ($344)
UNCALLED Haterade ($321.90)


SHOWDOWN:
Haterade:

MUCK Todd From Wsop
Haterade collected $799.5 from main pot with a full house, Eights full of Fives

SUMMARY:
Total pot: $800 Rake: $0.50

Final Board:


Seat 1: Hateradesmall blind showed [8h 8d] and won 799.50 with a full house, Eights full of Fives - Net Gain/Loss: ($399.5)
Seat 2: Todd From Wsop big blind mucked [5s 9s] - three of a kind, Fives - Net Gain/Loss: ($-400)