WSOP I
Another WSOP passed us in the blink of an eye. Jeez, it came just as quickly as it was gone. Almost feels like it didn’t happen at all. It’s funny, leading up to the beginning of the WSOP, no one can possibly imagine spending every waking moment at the Rio, and then 2 days later…it’s like we never even left the year before. The human mind is a strange, strange thing sometimes…

My WSOP was…bizarre. I played about 13 or so events, cashed my first one out of the gate, and thought I was poised for a great series. My first 6 events or so I made four day 2’s, but always seem to hit some shit luck on those day 2’s. I mean, some really gross luck. Despite that though, I was quite happy with my play and felt great, still very confident that ’10 was going to be a great year for me.

As the series wore on though, I wasn’t able to make much headway or push through on the felt in any way. It’s always difficult to tell, as a bad run goes on, just if you are running bad or beginning to play bad. I knew I was running bad during the WSOP, but I suspect I began playing worse and worse as I didn’t achieve the results I wanted to. Poker is a fickle lover though, and we all know that tune of the song…

I thought the Main Event would change things and I was poised to make another run like last year’s, but it was the same ‘ol 2010 song, as I simply couldn’t win a hand on that day 1. I always had the worst hand and my opponents just had me in trouble all day, so a deep run there was not to be.

Besides, there’s always next year…

WSOP II
On a much happier note, much like last year, there were some amazing days during the Series. Last year it was my boy Brian Lemke, Shronk’s cousin, who took down his first bracelet and I began a friendship with.

This year it was one of my oldest friends in poker, Gavin Smith, who we welcomed into that bracelet club…along with a family member, my cousin, Mike Linn. We all know Gav’s tales of chasing that elusive hardware and poker, truly the entire community, rejoiced when he took his down. It was a very special night for my friend, and I was so happy for him.

Now, the name Mike Linn most of you probably do not know…but you will. His bracelet this year was just the first of many he is going to win. He is a beast on the tables and has been online for quite some time now. You’ll be hearing plenty from him in the years to come…trust me on this one. Also, a very special night. To be able to sweat him to a late night win was so cool for me.

The combination of these two days helped erase my own frustrations about my lack of results and just celebrate with these two chaps…great stuff…

PokerRoad Radio
It seems that PRR has hit a bit of the end of the road with Gavin DEFINITELY retiring from the show. He says he won’t be back, but I know the Caveman and we’ll see him from time to time pop up on a show. He likes it more than he lets on.

Gav has been incredible over the years, working with me for nothing, staying after he busts at tournaments, and just helping build up some of my projects on his back. We will miss him terribly, but that goes without saying.

We are still figuring out what the next step is for the show. I just can’t imagine that people want to keep listening to me prattle on about nothing for another year, so we are probably going to look at a few possible options. It’s a tough job though, so not sure who wants to step up and take on the reigns. PokerRoad is a living, breathing organism though, so whoever drives the ship will have plenty of support from the team, as well as the community…

I’ve been trying to relax a bit since the WSOP, but that really hasn’t been working. With weddings and bachelor parties, not to mention simply my own personal madness rolling around in my head, rest and relaxation is a difficult thing to find. We’ll find a little somehow though, I promise you that…

Be looking for the conclusion of the “UB Scandal” piece on WickedChopsPoker.com very soon. Looking forward to getting the rest of that information out. Also, Paul owes me a few blogs (and by owe, I mean I have begged him to write them…haha) about questions regarding past/current UB employees and some of the data issues we have had with some of the hand histories as well. As always, lots to work on, lots to accomplish…

Until then…

peace,
J