straight down the middle until next thursday

I’ve got a huge trip report from the WPT Invitational slipping around in my brain, but so many incredible things happened while I was there, I’m still trying to get my head around it. I scribbled down as many notes as I could when I got home, but things keep coming back to me (huge things, like Gus hansen walking up to our table with about 200K in live chips, and spilling them all across our table and all over the floor, and talking with Greg Raymer and Andy Bloch, like we were just some guys hanging out . . . it goes on and on) that I had forgotten. It’s like my memory of the event is a room, filled with things that represent each cool thing that happened, but when I look at one of the things to remember it, a flash goes off and I can’t see anything else for a while. When the blindness fades, I see something else, or maybe a few other things, and then the flash pops again.
Something like that, anyway.
My friend Chris came down and sweated me while I played. He took copious notes and as of this writing has the first two parts of what will certainly be an incredible poker story up at his website.
From Part One, and the “I wish I’d written that!” department:

I have to paint out this scene for you… the security guard opens the rope line for you, and you walk up a large decadent staircase, past marble columns and wall mural paintings. You turn the corner and make the past few steps up, and start to see people milling about. The last few feet finally reveal people conversing and hob-nobbing, and you start to realize that you recognize *everyone*. Celebrities, poker professionals, personalities… you can’t walk 5 feet without seeing someone you’ve idolized or appreciated from afar. You step through the doors into the tournament room, where you’re allowed to walk amongst the giants of the gambling world and act for just one day like you kinda sorta deserve to be there. And nobody questions who you are or sneers at your somewhat dubious manner of earning your place… they’re just happy you’re having a good time.
I do believe that if someone had told me I was dead and had gone to heaven, I would have believed them.
I mean, Jesus is right over there.

For you non-poker weenies, Jesus is Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, 2000 WSOP Champion. When I told him how much I love watching him play cards, he said to me, “Well, I really loved watching you on Star Trek.” (insert girlish squeal here)
I’ve got a Dungeon column due today, plus an audition for an Xbox game (w00t!) so I don’t think I’ll get my version of the trip report up until the end of the weekend, at the earliest.
In my audioblog, though, I have a trio of reports. They’re mostly there to jog my memory (without the flashbulbs, I hope) but they may have some entertainment value on their own.
I made the mistake of watching the last 40 minutes or so of my Hollywood Homegame last night. I actually felt sicker watching it than I did when I played. I’ll write up what was going on in that game, too, when I get some time. Short version: I never caught anything, when I finally *did* catch something (KJ) and I was clearly beaten (AJ, A on the flop) I just couldn’t throw it away. I looked like such a fucking dipshit amateur tool moran, I deserved to lose right then and there.
At least I didn’t lose my monkey, though. No matter what, I always have my monkey.

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36 thoughts on “straight down the middle until next thursday”

  1. Can’t wait for the WPT writeup. There’s been some buzz here at work about it, since the owner of the company I work for was crusing the tourney and commenting a little here about it. (the guy is always at that casino) Wondered if Chris had made it, going to go off and read his entry shortly. Saw the broadcast last night and was quite entertained that you brought the Monkey(tm)! Enjoy the weekend 🙂
    cheers

  3. Hey wil… can’t wait to read the trip report! And I have a note for you that is slightly off-topic…
    Keep June 4th open on your calendar for the 2nd World Poker Blogger Tour live event in Las Vegas. We’ve got a seat reserved for you! Details can be found here. We really hope you can make it!

  4. You looked just fine on the Hollywood Homegame. That early aggressive bet you made was awesome ( I think Phil said so, too), and you were never in with crap hands. Yeah, you got juked with your KJ, but that happens to everybody sometimes. It was great fun to watch. Our TiVo is poised and ready for CSI and the WPT event!

  5. Don’t worry about it Wil. As Katya said, you looked great in the first part of the game, and it was clear that you were just happy to have cards more than were amateurish. Obviously, had you won or had a bad beat, it would have been better, but it was clear you play a mean game of poker. It’s also clear that you’ll do better next time.

  6. I really enjoyed the Hollywood Home Game and I’m very definitely a non-poker weenie. I didn’t like that they didn’t mention you as a writer though. And I’m really excited that you’ll be on one of my very favourite shows later this season. I am a serious CSI junkie.

  7. Dude, err, Wil – love your work, got your book, enjoy your blog, but would you _please_ respond to the Slashdot interview questions?
    Can’t wait to see the CSI episode…

  8. Don’t worry about it Wil. As Katya said, you looked great in the first part of the game, and it was clear that you were just happy to have cards more than were amateurish. Obviously, had you won or had a bad beat, it would have been better, but it was clear you play a mean game of poker. It’s also clear that you’ll do better next time.

  9. Yay monkey!
    I almost lost my monkey man, Eatbugs, three years ago. He developed a urinary tract blockage. I didn’t know he had it until he came to me and wouldn’t leave my side. He would nuzzle up to my leg and stare up at me with a look of confusion and sadness. He looked so miserable. He was trying to tell me that something was wrong and that he needed my help.
    I rushed him to the emergency room of the vet that I take him to. They said he needed a catheter immediately, which would require putting him under, and that his potassium level was so high that his heart could seize at any moment. I said something to the effect of, “then why are you standing here talking to me? Spare no expense!”
    His heart stopped while they had him under. They were able to revive him and clear the blockage. He stayed at the hospital for three days. For all three days, I would spend an hour with him before I went into work and another hour when I got home. The little guy scared the crap out of me but I was doing everything I could to let him know that he was going to be ok and that I was there for him.
    Eatbugs has had one serious relapse with the blockage since then and I keep an eye on his behavior and how he reacts to me, which is how I caught it this last time. I also changed his diet as well as the type of litter (Feline Pine) that he uses. He

  10. A lot of people have e-mailed about the Slashdot questions.
    They are all really great, and they all deserve thoughtful answers, so I’m putting a lot of time into answering them. Unfortunately, as the weeks have turned into months, I just haven’t had time to finish them and get them back in. I’m close, and I hope to have them done very soon.
    I sincerely hope it’s worth the wait.

  11. Don’t worry about it Wil. As Katya said, you looked great in the first part of the game, and it was clear that you were just happy to have cards more than were amateurish. Obviously, had you won or had a bad beat, it would have been better, but it was clear you play a mean game of poker. It’s also clear that you’ll do better next time.

  12. I’m half ashamed to say that I haven’t a clue how to play poker, its not really big in Ireland to be honest. Is the celebrity poker broadcasted on any of the english satellite channels?
    Click here for my blog

  13. p.s I think the reason that there are a lot of double comments on this post, is cos your site seems to be very slow in loading up today for some reason and people are probably pressing the post button twice when it doesn’t load immediately.

  15. i thought you held your own pretty well, actually.
    i think we can all categorically agree that you did not look like a fucking dipshit amateur tool moron.
    a little toolish? maybe, but that’s part of your charm!
    gogo Monkey power!

  16. When I was watching the Homegame, I tried screaming at my TV to get Wil to fold with the AJ, but apparently my TV wasn’t sophisticated enough to pass the the message on.

  17. I enjoyed the Homegame, and didn’t think you sucked or anything. I really enjoyed watching it (I normally don’t watch poker), and you were a big part of that enjoyment. Thanks!

  20. Wil, as you left the table of the Hollywood Home Game, did you notice the comment about you leaving the table with monkey in hand.
    I think you were poised and REALLY tight but you could have had a bit more fun with it. But I think you were catching LeVar’s serious vibe and took that upon yourself. It was afterall, just a game. Next time buddy, believe in the purity of the joy the monkey brought to the table, order the guinness on the sly, and tip the waitress big, and the karma will do the rest. Peace

  21. Really hard to play in a game where a reckless player is being annoying “oh, its to me?” and has lady luck on his side, not to metion having a 5 to 1 chip advatage.
    Frankly Wil, you hardly ever got any cards to play with.
    THo i liked seeing you and LaVar together again.. it was a nice touch, if anything it was worth seeing the obvious connection betwen the two of you as he left. And the fact you did better then him

  22. Wil = Not a total moronic tool.
    Dude,
    When you made that bet early in the game, and pushed Burton out of the play, I just about lost my mind. I was very proud of you. You had the right stuff. The cards will come. Maybe not in that game, but with consistant, non-tool playing like that, when the cards do come, I think you’ll know what to do with them. Nice job. (unlike getting knocked out on the first hand, I’m not even going to say who that was directed towards)
    I am having a poker jones. I have not been able to play in a live, real money game for a few months. Sounds like you had a blast at those celeb games. **turns green with jealousy** Keep it up, and I think you will be able to retire, and play poker full time. Of course, who wants to retire?
    -Coogan

  23. Well, considering the limited information you had at the time you were acutally playing, you played a great game!
    And you didn’t need your red card.
    …And you beat out Mr. Reading Rainbow… 😛

  24. Wil, don’t beat yourself up about the Hollywood Home Game. Yeah, you misread Andrea on that one hand, and that’s what knocked you down. But everybody does that, even the biggies. And you did outplay LeVar on a hand or two, and you lasted to third place. I’m sure the EFF is quite happy with you right about now.
    I can’t wait to read about your experience at the WPT Invitational. Since I can’t wait, I am going to go read Chris’s posts about it. Still, hurry up and post yours, OK?

  25. That’s right, Wil. You will ALWAYS have your monkey(s).
    You did an excellent job.. Don’t sell yourself short!
    I taped it and still have to finish watching it, but I read the spoilers at teh.
    We are all very proud.

  26. Wow. Just, wow. I took it all in before I logged in to comment, and I’m still kinda processing it all as I type this.
    First of all, don’t sweat the Hollywood Home Game. LeVar and Mekhi’s battles would unnerve any plaer, since the winner of that kind of action would be large stack indeed, and quite formidable. And yeah, _that_ hand, but hey. Overall, third place is nothing to sneeze at! And that’s $4000 for the EFF, too, right? Right!
    Second of all… WOW! Man, that must have been So! Fuckin’! Awesome! I’d kill just to be in the same room as one of those legends! And to have Jesus himself say he used to watch you on TNG, OMG! Sounds like you had a great time, Wil!
    Gotta tell us how the cash game with Romano went, too! But take your time, we can wait! OK, no, we can’t! Still, looking forward to hearing all about the games!
    Dude. THOUSANDS of monkeys, not just Darwin!

  27. I watched you on the Hollywood Homegame last week. The only big mistake you made was the hand when you assumed the woman was bluffing. She had been playing very tight before that, so you should have played her as having the goods. Of course, it is so easy for the TV viewer who can see all the cards.

  28. “At least I didn’t lose my monkey, though. No matter what, I always have my monkey.”
    There’s something oddly philisophical about that statement, if you think about it. As I look at my monkey, Bongo, sitting atop my right computer speaker, I completely understand what you’re saying, both in the game of poker and the game of life.
    Props for hanging with the “cool kids”, Wil! 😉

  30. Wil,
    Sounds like you had a Great time in Vegas man! Wish you’d have done better too, but there’s always next time dude. Besides 4,000 for EFF is a good haul any day of the week!
    Loved the Monkey man….made the night! LOL!

  32. I watched the Hollywood Homegame episode, and I did cringe a little for you. It was a good show overall though, and the players were great. Mekhi Phifer seems to be on a roll lately.
    I hope you had a better experience at the WPT Invitational. I just drove past Commerce about a half hour ago and it reminded me to check your blog. And I love the monkey.

  34. Actually, watching the Hollywood Home Game, you did just fine. You seemed to be having fun, enjoyed playing, and that you got some good cards at the wrong time. You played to play, not to beat their heads in, and nothing wrong with that.

  36. Hey, best of luck to you, Wil. THis is my first time on your blog, and I’ve enjoyed looking around. If you’re ever in NW PA, let me know, and I can put you on my short-bus radio station. Most people call it a small-market station; the truth is, it’s short bus.
    Anyway, good luck!

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