Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Saw Brian Wilson at the Rio today.

He asked me to say hello to all his friends on Blonde.

I might be jumping the gun but it seemed to a different more modest and contrite version of Brian.

He's just got married and is not gambling at the moment. I hope everything turns out well for him.

Well I wish him well, too. And if I see him out there, I'll say the same.

I liked Brian a lot. And he gave me so much happiness, he was just immense fun to be around. But honesty, or dishonesty, is everything in life, & I can't bring myself to engage with those who are not wholly honest. I just don't talk to them, I hate them. They are not scamming a faceless Corporation, they are scamming fellow players. It's unforgiveable.

He did me for a few grand, & he did others for a good deal more, I'm told. Was this dishonesty? Yes. But why? I tell you why. Because poker is so frigging addictive, so compulsive, it's as powerful as any drug, & the desire to play poker beyond one's means is all consuming. I know a score or more blondes who are hooked - hopelessly hooked - on poker addiction, & when in many years time they reflect on where the money went, they'll realise how dangerous poker can be. So many of us got in over our heads.

And that was Brian's problem, the sheer addictiveness of it. Combine that with his loose & lairy style, & an early Bracelet, & he was guaranteed to go skint, & fast. Everyone - EVERYONE - who plays poker that loose goes skint sooner or later. Usually sooner. Let's not argue about that. It's a fact.

And so he got in over his head. He did not set out to scam anyone, but he did. Awkward, or what? No matter what the cause or motive, a thief is a thief. And a friend is a friend. Reconcile that, if you dare.

It's just addiction, no different to drug addiction.

And then, a while back, he re-appeared on here, to "explain & apologise". And got torn to pieces, ripped apart, mauled.

I did not know what to think, or say. I know I hated that whole episode. Eventually, Brian yielded to the onslaught of abuse, & left blonde. Probably the right decision, on balance. I so wanted to see himself redeem himself, but the lynch mob got on his case, & that was that.

All very sad. Poker is dangerous.

[Micko]

Tikay i think the best way to redeem himself was by paying back the money he stole on his ''friends'' has he even attemped this? Prob not i'd say. As i have always found scammers are always so likeable and sweet i suppose you could say doing the groundwork and he for sure was in this category.

As i said a while back he was the biggest donk ever to win a bracelet and i think most would agree.

[husler1]

tikay,can you tell me how i can enter main event from stars,i won a seat and have monies in my account on stars so how do i transfer that to main even at wsop.thanks,pete husler1 on here(undertaker)

[maccol]

Where's your big announcement about your sky duties ?

Oops, I forgot about that.

About 6 peeps asked me about it at the weekend, too. Wish I'd kept schtum now!

It's on the list.

But it's not "big" as such, & it's certainly not interesting. It's just, like, kind of awkward, uncomfortable. Sort of like telling your Missus you've been sleeping with another woman. Or man. You never know how they will percieve it, do you?

Sigh
I think you will find your other half knew anyway.The signs have been there for all to see.

The "im popping out and dont know exactly when I will be back"
The "im working so hard, im too tired,"
The "I have got a new hobby which will take up my spare time"
The dressing up to go for a pint of milk.
The restless staring into the far distance.

Well quite frankly I  want a divorce.See you in court. Bring your cheque book.

 




PS Keep up the good work  

I feel so much better now thats off my chest
 

[The_nun]

tikay,can you tell me how i can enter main event from stars,i won a seat and have monies in my account on stars so how do i transfer that to main even at wsop.thanks,pete husler1 on here(undertaker)

Wouldn't Stars be in a better position to assist you on this?.

[GreekStein]

I tell you why. Because poker is so frigging addictive, so compulsive, it's as powerful as any drug, & the desire to play poker beyond one's means is all consuming. I know a score or more blondes who are hooked - hopelessly hooked - on poker addiction, & when in many years time they reflect on where the money went, they'll realise how dangerous poker can be. So many of us got in over our heads.

It's just addiction, no different to drug addiction.

All very sad. Poker is dangerous.

This is so true and so brilliantly written Tikay but it's just so hard for people to be told and to realise. It's really made me have a think.

I used to be one of these people who didn't appreciate anything else but poker which is why in my second year at uni I was somehow at gala at least 6 nights a week. Truly stuck in the rut. Luckily I had a good enough upbringing that if ever I borrowed money I paid it back within a week or so (unlike the things that used to go on amongst many of those around me) and whilst I wasn't accumulating debt it still took something very bad to happen (being thrown out of uni) before I realised, with the help of my parents that I couldn't continue that lifestyle.

I now have a job and play poker because I enjoy it and to make money but it's not the end of the world if I don't. It's a serious hobby more than anything. I'm still aware I kid myself a little bit because I do play out of my bankroll at times but I never allow it to become harmful and can't ever see that I'll go busto ever again. Anyway I'm rambling and deviating from the point here...

A part of the problem is too many people kid themselves that they can make money from the game and live on it. Most of these people aren't living, they are surviving. How many pro's do you know with their own houses, mortgages, pensions etc? People think the life of a poker 'pro' (and I use that term loosely) is toasty. It's not.

This might sound bad and despite all the stick Notts gala used to get I have a lot of people I'm friends with from there and I like a lot. Whenever I go back now to Nottingham for a weekend at DTD I can't help feeling that a lot of these people are absolute losers.

[kinboshi]

You talking about me Cos?

[maccol]

I tell you why. Because poker is so frigging addictive, so compulsive, it's as powerful as any drug, & the desire to play poker beyond one's means is all consuming. I know a score or more blondes who are hooked - hopelessly hooked - on poker addiction, & when in many years time they reflect on where the money went, they'll realise how dangerous poker can be. So many of us got in over our heads.

It's just addiction, no different to drug addiction.

All very sad. Poker is dangerous.

This is so true and so brilliantly written Tikay but it's just so hard for people to be told and to realise. It's really made me have a think.

I used to be one of these people who didn't appreciate anything else but poker which is why in my second year at uni I was somehow at gala at least 6 nights a week. Truly stuck in the rut. Luckily I had a good enough upbringing that if ever I borrowed money I paid it back within a week or so (unlike the things that used to go on amongst many of those around me) and whilst I wasn't accumulating debt it still took something very bad to happen (being thrown out of uni) before I realised, with the help of my parents that I couldn't continue that lifestyle.

I now have a job and play poker because I enjoy it and to make money but it's not the end of the world if I don't. It's a serious hobby more than anything. I'm still aware I kid myself a little bit because I do play out of my bankroll at times but I never allow it to become harmful and can't ever see that I'll go busto ever again. Anyway I'm rambling and deviating from the point here...

A part of the problem is too many people kid themselves that they can make money from the game and live on it. Most of these people aren't living, they are surviving. How many pro's do you know with their own houses, mortgages, pensions etc? People think the life of a poker 'pro' (and I use that term loosely) is toasty. It's not.

This might sound bad and despite all the stick Notts gala used to get I have a lot of people I'm friends with from there and I like a lot. Whenever I go back now to Nottingham for a weekend at DTD I can't help feeling that a lot of these people are absolute losers.

Yes,good posts.
In all seriousness, as a recreational player looking in ,I sense that behind the balla testosterone-fuelled bravado lies a lot of desperation

[GreekStein]

You talking about me Cos?

Ha me thinks not. Most of the gala Notts crew probably think Sushi is a glass bottomed waterpipe that's used for smoking.

[tikay]

Tikay i think the best way to redeem himself was by paying back the money he stole on his ''friends'' has he even attemped this? Prob not i'd say. As i have always found scammers are always so likeable and sweet i suppose you could say doing the groundwork and he for sure was in this category.

As i said a while back he was the biggest donk ever to win a bracelet and i think most would agree.

It hurts me no end to agree with most of that.

But let's not give up on the guy yet. If he did drugs, & tried rehab, he'd be supported by the community. But his addiction was poker, & he dug himself a hole. He would like to get himself out of that hole - of course he would! But he can't, he can only find the werewithal by playing more poker. Which means the hole might get bigger. He's not a bad man - he's not - but the addiction was too much for him. And there but for the grace of God go you & I. And many, many, blondes.

I think forgiveness is a wonderful human characteristic, but it takes two to tango, & I agree, he has to do his bit, too.

And if I bump into him iin Vegas, how will the convo go? To be honest, in a way, I rather I did not bump into him.

I really don't know how to articulate all this. But yes, he scammed a lot of folk (me included). And I liked him a lot. Now he's a fallen idol, but I feel no urge to put the boot in.

Poker Donk? Yeah, probably. But I've seen bigger donks win more. Poker is that kind of game, it favours luck over skill. I don't begrudge him his Bracelet, not one bit.

As you can see, I find all this confusing, awkward, uncomfy. Block it out of the mind, it's better. I loathe scammers, I liked Brian.

[tikay]

tikay,can you tell me how i can enter main event from stars,i won a seat and have monies in my account on stars so how do i transfer that to main even at wsop.thanks,pete husler1 on here(undertaker)

Hi Pete,

Hope you are well, & congrats on the Seat.

I really don't know the answer.

I sort of assumed you just withdrew the cash from 'Stars, stuck it in your lucy, juimped on a jet-plane, stood in a frigging gigantic queue in the Rio, & paid in. Anyone know better?

[MANTIS01]

Where's your big announcement about your sky duties ?

Oops, I forgot about that.

About 6 peeps asked me about it at the weekend, too. Wish I'd kept schtum now!

It's on the list.

But it's not "big" as such, & it's certainly not interesting. It's just, like, kind of awkward, uncomfortable. Sort of like telling your Missus you've been sleeping with another woman. Or man. You never know how they will percieve it, do you?

It's not a big deal? It's just a little awkward? Like telling your Missus you've been sleeping with another woman? Is that a batchelorism?

[tikay]

Where's your big announcement about your sky duties ?

Oops, I forgot about that.

About 6 peeps asked me about it at the weekend, too. Wish I'd kept schtum now!

It's on the list.

But it's not "big" as such, & it's certainly not interesting. It's just, like, kind of awkward, uncomfortable. Sort of like telling your Missus you've been sleeping with another woman. Or man. You never know how they will percieve it, do you?

Sigh
I think you will find your other half knew anyway.The signs have been there for all to see.

The "im popping out and dont know exactly when I will be back"
The "im working so hard, im too tired,"
The "I have got a new hobby which will take up my spare time"
The dressing up to go for a pint of milk.
The restless staring into the far distance.

Well quite frankly I  want a divorce.See you in court. Bring your cheque book.

 




PS Keep up the good work  

I feel so much better now thats off my chest
 

I think you are probably right, & my "confession" will come as no surprise. But is has to be said, to clear the mind. After that, it's OK.

Divorce? I hope not. I plan to sleep with both my lovers, simultaneously. Why not?

[The_nun]

tikay,can you tell me how i can enter main event from stars,i won a seat and have monies in my account on stars so how do i transfer that to main even at wsop.thanks,pete husler1 on here(undertaker)

Hi Pete,

Hope you are well, & congrats on the Seat.

I really don't know the answer.

I sort of assumed you just withdrew the cash from 'Stars, stuck it in your lucy, juimped on a jet-plane, stood in a frigging gigantic queue in the Rio, & paid in. Anyone know better?

p://www.pokerstars.com/wsop/faq/
Will this help?

[tikay]

I tell you why. Because poker is so frigging addictive, so compulsive, it's as powerful as any drug, & the desire to play poker beyond one's means is all consuming. I know a score or more blondes who are hooked - hopelessly hooked - on poker addiction, & when in many years time they reflect on where the money went, they'll realise how dangerous poker can be. So many of us got in over our heads.

It's just addiction, no different to drug addiction.

All very sad. Poker is dangerous.

This is so true and so brilliantly written Tikay but it's just so hard for people to be told and to realise. It's really made me have a think.

I used to be one of these people who didn't appreciate anything else but poker which is why in my second year at uni I was somehow at gala at least 6 nights a week. Truly stuck in the rut. Luckily I had a good enough upbringing that if ever I borrowed money I paid it back within a week or so (unlike the things that used to go on amongst many of those around me) and whilst I wasn't accumulating debt it still took something very bad to happen (being thrown out of uni) before I realised, with the help of my parents that I couldn't continue that lifestyle.

I now have a job and play poker because I enjoy it and to make money but it's not the end of the world if I don't. It's a serious hobby more than anything. I'm still aware I kid myself a little bit because I do play out of my bankroll at times but I never allow it to become harmful and can't ever see that I'll go busto ever again. Anyway I'm rambling and deviating from the point here...

A part of the problem is too many people kid themselves that they can make money from the game and live on it. Most of these people aren't living, they are surviving. How many pro's do you know with their own houses, mortgages, pensions etc? People think the life of a poker 'pro' (and I use that term loosely) is toasty. It's not.

This might sound bad and despite all the stick Notts gala used to get I have a lot of people I'm friends with from there and I like a lot. Whenever I go back now to Nottingham for a weekend at DTD I can't help feeling that a lot of these people are absolute losers.

And that's a great Post too, Cos. Most of us are hopelessly smitten. I said "a score of blondes", but that was wrong. It's many more than that.

How many "pros" make a good living from poker? In the UK? On the Live scene, it's too few to measure. Online, I expect a few dozen do OK. We are talking "on-Table" here, of course, not off-table. Off-Table is a lot easier, & I know at least one complete donkey who does very well off-Table......

I've been as addicted as any by poker, but - financially, at any rate, I've got it under control now. If I'm at home in the Evening, & almost as part of my job at SP, I play a Tourney which costs a fiver to enter. That's £5. The winner gets maybe £120. A top 20 nets £6 or so. And it's a Deepstack, so it takes 4 hours  to cash. 4 Hours! But, I absolutely love it, look forward to it, get great satisfasction from cashing more often than not. It sates all my poker desires, at no financial risk whatsoever, I sit & chill with a bunch of like-minded pokerists, & love it. It's like a drinker going to the pub each night. I'm indulging in my hobby, at nil cost. 

This weekend, my first blank weekend all, year, I shall go play a £500 Live Poker Tourney, & I can't wait. But I can afford it, & I've earned it by working hard. But if I never played a big buy-in Event, ever again, I'd not be sad. It's taken a long time to arrive in these calm waters.

The addictive nature of poker, & the harm it causes to so many decent perople, worries me more & more. I'm very glad you have got on top of it Cos, I really am.