Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Back to DTD. And no, I have no vested interest, except as a player. And I still support, 100%, Grosvenor & Gala & Stanley & the Independents. There is room for them all, but DTD, & "regular" Cardrooms are completely different animals, serving different markets, & should not be compared. DTD is for poker players, pure & simple, Casinos are for Roulette & Blackjack, they make bugger all from Poker, but the Poker players do drop money on the House Games, & that's the business model. The GUKPT's, GBPT & GSPT etc are excellent, & can't be mimicked at DTD, so I ain't ever going down the "Casino-Bashing for the sake of it" road.

Anyway, back to DTD, & the subject of Banning folks. I've seen 3 or 4 marched off the Premises, they've got it off to a fine art. One, chucking chips at another member, & generally being an arse, got asked to leave, but told he COULD return once he'd sobered up. And learned to behave like a grown-up. Rob's view was that the guy was bladdered, & deserved another chance. A good decision.

Another was weeding off. Uh-oh, no thank you sirree, goodnight & goodbye.

Another was deemed an "undesirable". He was shown the Premises, then politely asked not to return. Ever.

Last week's was a classic. Big punter - HUGE raker at DTD - got himself a life ban, but not before, like, 5 or 6 "quiet word in your ear mate?" type warnings. In the last of which he told a Staff Member to go f*** himself. Now, say that to Rob, or Mother Hen, or Chubbs is one thing, man to man, but to a Staff Member who has no right of reply, it's bang out of order. I actually liked the guy, he's massive cash value, but a line has to be drawn somewhere.

He's sat at my DC table, & Rob & Chubbs are on the table, too, & the mood is terrific. But Matey Boy insists on moaning about everything, holding the game up, eff this, effing that, effing the other. Rob says "easy on the swearing mate, please". Rinse, repeat, three times. Carried on as before. So up came the giant bouncers, all smiley-wile, "like to come with us Sir? Bring your chips".......Magnifique.

It's like a big home game there, & Lob Long makes the Rules, it's his home. He don't want - we don't want - bad vibes, we wanna relax, chill, play some cards in comfort with good company & decent convo, & not feel bad for Female players who may be present, or feel threatened.

Lord Wernick described it as the best poker venue in the world. Can anyone name a better Venue for poker? Even the Car Parking is perfect, as good as Naps in Owlerton, or Grosvenor Walsall.

It was well worth the wait.

As to the Cash-Action, within days of opening, it had the biggest & best range of Cash-Action in the UK. Instantly. How neat is that?

It just so happens that many of their Tourneys don't appeal to me, I prefer £200+ & 2 days if poss, but that's just fine, something for everyone, & they have the lot. The £50 Tourney nights HEAVE with folks, ditto I gather the £75-ers, & I'm delighted that Rob & M-H have not forgotten the lower buy-in guys, who've had such a raw deal pre APAT & DTD.

I will, however, criticise DTD. If I could find something - anything - they did badly. I'm struggling so far though. And if it's a toughie, well I'll PM or e-Mail Mother Hen, or talk to him privately. Both Rob & Simon have, after all, repeated that request 5 zillion times. And it's their train set, whether we like it or not.

[tikay]

So, Fabio Capello is the new England Manager. And the gutter football press - how awful is British football reporting, in the main? - who willl eventually, destroy him - whenever they want - are baying for him to give Beckham, who's been good for English Football, his 100th Cap.

Now, Capello needs to start afresh, throw out the old guard, & get the Team to be just that - a team. And giving in to the Press's ridicuous demands for Beckham's Century of Caps will bring about his own downfall, because they'll eventually slay him if the old guard continue to perform so lamentably.

OK, I know bugger all about Football, I concede that. But I know a thing or two about Man-Management, even if I'm arrogant or pompous enough to say so. Here's my bet.

If Capello gives in, & plays Becks, the Italian will be history within a few months. But if he stands strong, & does his own thing, we'll know we've got the right man. A bit simplistic, I know, but it's not a bad litmus test.

[Ironside]

Times have changed beyond belief! Sandie Shaw - she was, really, famous because she did this amazingly edgey, attitudey thing - she did not wear shoes! Imagine, no shoes. And she was front page in all the newspapers, because of that.

hope no one invites her to Luton G, the vic or DTD i think that there would be a few confused doormen

[Pelham Boy]

So, Fabio Capello is the new England Manager. And the gutter football press - how awful is British football reporting, in the main? - who willl eventually, destroy him - whenever they want - are baying for him to give Beckham, who's been good for English Football, his 100th Cap.

Now, Capello needs to start afresh, throw out the old guard, & get the Team to be just that - a team. And giving in to the Press's ridicuous demands for Beckham's Century of Caps will bring about his own downfall, because they'll eventually slay him if the old guard continue to perform so lamentably.

OK, I know bugger all about Football, I concede that. But I know a thing or two about Man-Management, even if I'm arrogant or pompous enough to say so. Here's my bet.

If Capello gives in, & plays Becks, the Italian will be history within a few months. But if he stands strong, & does his own thing, we'll know we've got the right man. A bit simplistic, I know, but it's not a bad litmus test.

I think Capello is a big enough man not to worry about the press,but it would be a major PR disaster not to give Becks his
100th cap. I also think he respects the way Beckham came back at Madrid after Capello left him out. It's only a friendly and he doesn't have to play in any qualifiers but he should play him against Switzerland,take him off after an hour to a standing ovation. I think Becks deserves that much at least.

[Snatiramas]

So, Fabio Capello is the new England Manager. And the gutter football press - how awful is British football reporting, in the main? - who willl eventually, destroy him - whenever they want - are baying for him to give Beckham, who's been good for English Football, his 100th Cap.

Now, Capello needs to start afresh, throw out the old guard, & get the Team to be just that - a team. And giving in to the Press's ridicuous demands for Beckham's Century of Caps will bring about his own downfall, because they'll eventually slay him if the old guard continue to perform so lamentably.

OK, I know bugger all about Football, I concede that. But I know a thing or two about Man-Management, even if I'm arrogant or pompous enough to say so. Here's my bet.

If Capello gives in, & plays Becks, the Italian will be history within a few months. But if he stands strong, & does his own thing, we'll know we've got the right man. A bit simplistic, I know, but it's not a bad litmus test.

I think Capello is a big enough man not to worry about the press,but it would be a major PR disaster not to give Becks his
100th cap. I also think he respects the way Beckham came back at Madrid after Capello left him out. It's only a friendly and he doesn't have to play in any qualifiers but he should play him against Switzerland,take him off after an hour to a standing ovation. I think Becks deserves that much at least.

Didn't McLaren drop Beckham.........did him the world of good

[kenjude]

Before that, they did a quite splendid piece about how "Dark Side of the Moon" was made

That really is a great programme if it's the one I'm thinking of.  Where Gilmour sits by the mixing desk and plays live over the top the recording? Great stuff, the man is a genius as much for the space he leaves as for the space he fills.

The ripped sound track from his Albert Hall DVD is almost an ever-present in my car at the moment. It's great to hear him rock out occasionally and the Telecaster solo at the end of Fat Old Sun is my current favourite.

[boldie]

BBC4 is excellent, minority viewing but interesting

take a look at the New BBC Iplayer feature on their website

programmes from all BBC channels over the last 7 days, to watch while you are playing online etc

Excellent service, all the BBC4 programmes are on there

Agree Tighty, the little quality thats on TV is found here. I'm in the minority that loves foreign films, so much more interesting than any Hollywood tosh.

QI started off on 4..

[AndrewT]

BBC4 is excellent, minority viewing but interesting

BBC Four is the best channel on TV, but 10-20 years ago all these programmes would have been on BBC2. The fact that the BBC had to create a channel just to show programmes which expected a little effort on the part of the viewer shows what a mess the mainstream channels have become.

BBC Four has shown some fantastic new documentaries on science and the arts but if they are to do anything other than preach to the converted they really should be on BBC2. You really can't imagine something like Kenneth Clark's Civilisation or The Ascent of Man getting a big push on mainstream TV now.

[Karabiner]

I thought that BBC4 was simply the TV equivalent of BBC radio4...

[tikay]

Before that, they did a quite splendid piece about how "Dark Side of the Moon" was made

That really is a great programme if it's the one I'm thinking of.  Where Gilmour sits by the mixing desk and plays live over the top the recording? Great stuff, the man is a genius as much for the space he leaves as for the space he fills.

The ripped sound track from his Albert Hall DVD is almost an ever-present in my car at the moment. It's great to hear him rock out occasionally and the Telecaster solo at the end of Fat Old Sun is my current favourite.

That's the one! I was spellbound by him.

[tikay]

BBC4 is excellent, minority viewing but interesting

BBC Four is the best channel on TV, but 10-20 years ago all these programmes would have been on BBC2. The fact that the BBC had to create a channel just to show programmes which expected a little effort on the part of the viewer shows what a mess the mainstream channels have become.

BBC Four has shown some fantastic new documentaries on science and the arts but if they are to do anything other than preach to the converted they really should be on BBC2. You really can't imagine something like Kenneth Clark's Civilisation or The Ascent of Man getting a big push on mainstream TV now.

Well, BBC Four has a new viewer. Where have they been hiding for so long?

[tikay]

So, Fabio Capello is the new England Manager. And the gutter football press - how awful is British football reporting, in the main? - who willl eventually, destroy him - whenever they want - are baying for him to give Beckham, who's been good for English Football, his 100th Cap.

Now, Capello needs to start afresh, throw out the old guard, & get the Team to be just that - a team. And giving in to the Press's ridicuous demands for Beckham's Century of Caps will bring about his own downfall, because they'll eventually slay him if the old guard continue to perform so lamentably.

OK, I know bugger all about Football, I concede that. But I know a thing or two about Man-Management, even if I'm arrogant or pompous enough to say so. Here's my bet.

If Capello gives in, & plays Becks, the Italian will be history within a few months. But if he stands strong, & does his own thing, we'll know we've got the right man. A bit simplistic, I know, but it's not a bad litmus test.

I think Capello is a big enough man not to worry about the press,but it would be a major PR disaster not to give Becks his
100th cap. I also think he respects the way Beckham came back at Madrid after Capello left him out. It's only a friendly and he doesn't have to play in any qualifiers but he should play him against Switzerland,take him off after an hour to a standing ovation. I think Becks deserves that much at least.

It will, be a majorer PR disaster if Capello gets it wrong. Do you want England's Team to be popular, or to win things?

Becks has earned a zillion from football, & good luck to him. But sentimental tosh must have no place in Capello's plans if he's to succeed as England Team Manager. He should pick his "new" Team for Switzerland friendly, & get the job of rebuilding our lamentable National side started right away, by starting off as he means to continue, & making his mark. It's a psychological thing, & if he is to succeed, it's a trick he must not miss.

[Karabiner]

He could always have Becks on the bench and bring him on for the last few minutes.

What'd be the harm in that ? That would make everyone happy I reckon.

[celtic]

Doesn't Beckham have a role to play in the next couple of years then? Surely he can still perform at that level? What other options do England have?

[TightEnd]

Aaron Lennon


Look to the future,its only just begun-un-un