blonde poker forum

Like Snoops, I will also be heading off to Vegas tomorrow, though my trip will be lasting the entire series and for that purpose, I've decided I'll need something to help focus and bring some sort of customary routine to keep me from becoming too disorganised during my time off. So beginneth this blog, which I'll be updating daily on the main site and linking back on this thread. I've not ever written an actual blog before, but expect it to go like my Omaha, start off poorly, show glimpses of possible promise before getting even worse and finish with a large amount of swearing and abuse and mutterings of never doing it again.

Originally, I wanted to come up with as mundane a title as possible, simply because there's just a preponderance of wacky and clever names of blogs and I needed something to separate this one from everyone else's. It was going to be 'White Middle-Class Man Attends Card-based Convention In The Desert' but that's simply too much of a mouthful, besides everyone here seems to think I'm posh anyway, but if I hear any whisperings then I'm going to have to get my butler to go to my estate and get my Grandfather's blunderbuss...

So then, I just thought I'll call it 'Homer's Odyssey', it fits perfectly along the lines of the classic story of a man's long journey of getting home, and also there's enough odd-looking monsters in Vegas The Odyssey that makes it the ideal title.

For those of you, who have never been to the WSOP, it really is something else and I wish I could say that as a positive thing. Last year was my first experience, and, having pretty much been sheltered by the well-run EPT's and GUKPT's,  it was not a pleasant one. Within a couple of days, Jen, Snoops and I received a warning about posting more than once an hour on Blonde, and were told that if we did it again, we'd have our press badges confiscated. This rule is one of the main reasons why Blonde is not covering the WSOP this year, it negates the biggest advantage blonde has, which is our interactivity.

But to a certain extent, even without this rule, therein lies a second problem, which is access. Last year, Harrah's had a couple of people whose job was to seemingly to stop any press from doing anything that may relate to reporting whilst happily allowing 'name' players to get a perfect view inside the rail or random cute blondes of course. Now, obviously we all understand people doing their job, but it was the confrontational attitude that caused most of the problems. The ESPN cameras, who it's well known would kick out all reporters (including Pokernews) given half the chance, were even worse but, Snoops, ever the diplomat, tried to befriend them all, and was at least partially successful, though I was too stubborn to try and build bridges.

Pokernews people were much more helpful and generally passed on info when asked, their standard was pretty good last year which lead to one very funny episode where Cardplayer simply began copying and pasting all their chip counts but failed to notice when Dr Pauly (who'd gotten news of what CP were doing) began putting in random counts of famous rockstars and dead poker players.

Speaking of Pauly, if you're looking for [another] good blog to read over this summer about the WSOP, then I'd definitely recommend his Tao of Poker. It's usually a great mixture of the funny, the newsworthy and the occasional random $50 prop bet on eating chips or something. Recently though, BJ Nemeth (excellent US Poker reporter) guested on his blog, defending the WSOP Final delay. He raises a lot of good points, some of which have been countered by Brad 'Otis' Willis who has come up on the other side of the fence.

BJ Nemeth's Pro-Delay view: http://taopoker.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html#8048460502137273219

Otis' Anti-Delay View: http://www.upforanything.net/poker/archives/the-wsop-final-table-delay-is-1.html

My own personal view is undecided, but probably clouded by a strong mistrust of Harrah's and how previous ploys that they've run have generally been disasters (See 'The Tent' last year - which isn't coming back) and their utter obsession with trying strangle every last bit of money out of this golden goose. If it works, I do think it'll be a big benefit to poker, but I just fail to see how the time delay can become a positive thing. If you're not into poker, then you're not really going to know who won the WSOP ME anyway in November, final played with a delay or no. So therefore, how does a one-day delay actually make any difference in attracting audiences? I suppose though you can always argue that if it doesn't work then you don't have to do it again next year, and also, at least it has got everyone talking about the Main Event which is undoubtedly a positive side-effect.

Hmmm, I've just read through this all, and it's very downbeat. Sorry about that. I promise something more uplifting when I'm hopefully writing the first proper entry tomorrow night from my room at the Rio.

As an effective antidote to all this depressing blogging, I leave you with my song of the day, 'The Banquet' by the Deadly Snakes. An excellent Canadian band, which like many bands I seem to discover, have already split up by the time I find them. It's a bluesy-rock song that sounds like nothing else on their album but it's definitely got that feet-tapping quality that's a rarity these days.

So now, I'm all packed, complete with a Snowdonia-sized mountain of socks, (12 hours on the Rio cardroom floor is a sock's ultimate enemy), now, if I can just manage to shut my suitcase...

Have a great trip m8 look forward to reading more  :)up

Have fun Chris, I'll be in touch via email soon. Also if you're going to compete with Pauly please include a 'Last five pros' rundown, although with the title of the blog perhaps something along the lines of 'Last five pros I ate sushi with' might fit better.

Also I don't want to read about you moaning about long hours on the floor as i'm sure many blondes would give their right testicle to spend six weeks at the series even if it is in a working capacity.

And ffs I hope you're better at beer pong this year  ;D

have a great time Snoops,look forward to reading the blog

Have fun in Vegas and be sure to keep us updated. Damn, I wish I was going!

Have a quality time mate.

gogogogoogo

don't forget the day job buster, and buster's apprentice  ;slavedriver;


(p.s enjoy, have fun etc etc)

All the best chris.

Go Homer!

See you Friday imo

Have a good trip posh lad.

Safe trip, have fun and mind yerselves. 

What the Beagle said.

Have a great time Chris :)up

Looking forward to the blog....but don't use it up or wear it out.

Will your butler be writing a Vegas blog as well?

hope it's a good one for you out there chris - be good to hook up for eats when i get out there in july...if you make it that far lol

Nice one Chris, have fun with it.  I bet your birthday will be in vegas, make sure you go for it this year x

Enjoy yourself floppy, looking forward to reading about your exploits.

 ;grr;>>heads of to change fantasy team>>>>

Where do you keep the good silver?

The second part of this is now up here: http://blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/19093

Monks, cheese, the internet and accents are covered. I've so much more to add, but I'll save it for tomorrow, i've been up nearly 24 hours and am quite tired.

Another great read. I hope you know your Roman numerals.  ;D

That 'The Cult of the Amateur' book sounds interesting too. Anyone else read it?

a top read mate.

Excellent stuff Floppy  :)up

Isn't it "break 'em on down"?
Have fun floppy.

Being held up by two pieces of cheese must have grated a bit
 ;marks;

Have a great time Chris, good reading so far :)

Can we have an avatar with a man sitting behind a drum kit hitting the drums and then the cymbal? Idea for these occasions.... :D

It would have made medam angry. No whey I'd put up with it.

n1 floppy, looking forward to 'ultimate balla house' trip report.

Rod runs good @ luggage imo.

n1 Chris, looking forward to 'ultimate balla house' trip report.

Have fun.

Best of luck Floppy! Looking forward to your updates.

Fingers crossed I'll see you out there in a month or so.

keep it coming,very good so far

Next part is up here: http://blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/19118

Nice job, keep it coming please.

More pictures of cheese, please.  Most entertaining. 

k cheese prop bet not welsh towns. Will try and keep my eyes open for references gromit would be proud of. See you all in a few weeks

more more





Jeeves!

indeed ..screw that Homer fella's diary (ok not really)..I want to see what Jeeves has to say :)

+1

http://blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/19133

Harrah's new stupid rule and also the comic antics of the players at Sahara's $65 crapshoot.

Two entries in a day?

Jeeves might have trouble keeping up with this...

They were separate days for me!

That new rules seems a bit mean.

lol @ Standard of play at the Sahara.

The Sahara.. ahhh the memories.

Loving this Flops.. keep it coming.

Great entry there Floppy..This thread might just knock Red's diary off the top spot on my "First to check when logging on" list.

Now do us a favour and kick that butler of yours..he's quite clearly a lazy sod.

Enjoying the trip reports.  Wouldn't want to be you lot 3 days after you've posted some pics.  What a nightmare. 

how did Jeeves get on with the air hostess? Don't let the butler slack- one of the best things written on blonde in a long time

Great read keep it coming.

Part V is up now here: http://blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/19139

I'm doing my first day of work today.

With no accreditation.

Thanks Harrah's.

As an old flame once sarcastically said, "another great entry there floppy".

Sad to hear that you didn't get your press accreditation, it's going to be a nightmare when the place fills up and you're left battling through the crowd to see just a few tables. Oh well, I guess we already knew that Harrah's take no prisoners.

For those of you who like reading WSOP accounts, I am also penning a daily diary on my blog at http://snoopy1239.blogspot.com (http://snoopy1239.blogspot.com)

Thinly veiled spam post imo.



;)

most definitely thickly veiled.

Oooh i downloaded the Mcluskey album when you first mentioned them aaagggeess ago, love Alan too!
Also mentioned were Art Brut and Dressy Bessy, cool.

Is that Clingon?

They'll both feature in Song of the Day at some point.

Can't believe ye got stuffed when it came to passes.  Ah well, gives you more time to enjoy Vegas.  Thanks for the updates and mind yerself!!!

After a short hiatus, the next entry is now up: http://blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/19187

Top stuff...but you really should drag Jeeves away from the lap dancers and roulette wheel and get him writing. Now get to it Berti!

Excellent stuff. Best entry yet. Think Ivey could make more of an effort though.

Excellent post again good to see they got the passes sorted for you.

Enjoying reading this.  Really glad you are Accredited.  I was just about to send you a long list of Ways To Survive a Month in the Rio Corridor, including such gems as 'where the power outlets are hidden,' 'which areas aren't directly under the aircon vents,' and 'how to convince people you don't know to bring you free coffee from the press room.'  No need now!  GL this week.

More moping and stuff now available here: http://blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/19258

Have been enjoying these. When's the next one?

It's here: http://blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/19412

For those of you with a PLO-based disposition, I'm about to post the Tony Phillips/Vanessa Selbst hand on the PHA board, that led to the Ginger one busting the final table.

Great post again m8 not sure how others see it but am suprised to hear of possible colluding by some players wtf not good for the game at all.

This photo should be preserved for ever.

(http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/photos/photo_6307.jpg)

 ;bump; ;slavedriver;

any more ?       :dontask:


Jeeves >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Floppy

Yeah, sorry I've not posted, the last week has been pretty busy.

Jeeves has found time to post, and he's cleaning up after your posh arse all day!...No excuses and get back to it!

Come on Floppy, this is one of the few diaries I'm reading at the moment. When's the next installment? Your fans (well, me and booder) await. ;slavedriver;

The schedule has lightened somewhat now, I think I can regularly post a bit more. Here's the latest installment.

http://blondepoker.com/?q=node/19876

you're no Jeeves.

 :'(

lol

Don't you be sad there Floppy...you're fairly talented in your own right ;)

Next bit is up here: http://blondepoker.com/?q=node/19888

I probably should've used more than one photo of Anne Hathaway though.

A Top read Floppy! I can't help but feel Jeeves would have sorted your headphone problem in no time though.

why no photo of her cottage ?

I'm thinking Floppy may get VERY well acquainted with Homeland Security and their rubber gloves on his way back through the airport.

Nice writing though ;D

I bet she has a neat Thatch on her cottage :)

correct,

(http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/gallery2/d/2870-2/Anne_Hathaways_spring_07.jpg)