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Posted by on Jun 12, 2013 in Blog, World Series of Poker | 2 comments

A Special Moment in Remembrance of Dr. Jerry Buss

 

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There are times when I’m really proud to be a part of the World Series of Poker.

Tonight was one of those special moments.

Prior to the start of this evening’s Seven-Card Stud championship, a special tribute was held in honor of the late Dr. Jerry Buss, owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.  Seven-Card Stud was Dr. Buss’ favorite poker game and he came close to winning a gold bracelet 22 years ago when this same event was held.  He took third place that year.

As a way to remembering Dr. Buss, the World Series of Poker held a seat for him at the start of the tournament.  Here’s a photo of Dr. Buss’ chips.

Fittingly, his seat is vacant.  That’s because no one can fill the place of our long lost friend, Dr. Jerry Buss.  He is missed, but appropriately loved and remembered.

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Posted by on Jun 9, 2013 in Blog, Sports Betting | 4 comments

40 Years Ago Today

 

 

Forty years ago today, legendary racehorse Secretariat made a mockery out of The Belmont Stakes, locking up the Triple Crown, and ensuring the colt a place in history as the greatest equine of all time.

To really get an appreciation for this horse and legendary race, take a few minutes and watch the entire contest from start to finish.  What’s most impressive is seeing the first half of the race where it appears Secretariat might struggle against another horse named Sham, only to break away in the most lopsided race in memory.  I still get chills watching this race and listening how wonderfully it was called by the track announcer, Chic Anderson.

Close friend Paul Berkowitz once told me that he was there at Belmont Park that day.  Secretariat was such a huge betting favorite, that he paid almost nothing — even on a “win” ticket.  So, instead of cashing their tickets some savvy collectors decided to hang onto their prize keepsakes as souvenirs.  They became a way to validate you were there that memorable day, July 9, 1973.

 

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Posted by on May 27, 2013 in Blog, Essays, Politics | 6 comments

Next Time You Hear a Veteran Talk About the War….

 

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Next Time You Hear a Veteran Talk About the War….

.

Listen.

That’s right.  Just listen.

Take a moment.  Pull up a seat.  And honor that man or woman with your attention.  It’s the least you can do.

They deserve it.

Next time that crazy uncle in your family brings up a conflict from many years ago that left scars, listen.  Next time your co-worker mentions that he served in Iraq or Afghanistan, listen.  Next time some guy at the bar talks about Vietnam or Desert Storm, listen.  And if you’re extraordinarily fortunate to meet one of the very few remaining World War II or Korean War veterans — keep completely silent.

Just listen.

You might not see the scars.  But as sure as you can hear their voices, trembling as they sometimes might to make it through the remembrance without breaking down, those scars are there.  Sometimes, they never heal.  The pain never goes away.

And for some reason, whatever reason, he thinks you are the one worthy of hearing his tale.

Consider yourself lucky.

Consider yourself blessed.

Just listen.

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Posted by on Apr 19, 2013 in Blog, Politics | 2 comments

Names to Remember, Faces Not to Forget

 

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If there’s a downside to the capture of the Boston Marathon bomber, it’s that the world will be forced to endure hearing his name and seeing his face over and over again.

Each time his name gets mentioned or his image is shown, we’re forced to relive the horrors.  We become captives of a twisted biography.  We’re given no other option but to surrender the most precious commodity we have, which is our time, and bestow it upon someone so utterly undeserving — someone who caused so much senseless pain, misery, and death.

We all become his victims, by the millions.  By making us bear witness to his unfathomable acts which are certain garner news headlines over the next several months, we’re robbed again and again.  He steals away moments when instead we should be living and enjoying life.  He’ll distract us from very real problems and issues that demand our attention.  Perhaps worse of all, his lasting presence in media coverage forces the victims who suffered the most to relive the most horrible moments of their lives.

There are other victims, too.  While a motive still remains unclear, if indeed these bombings were motivated by political or religious ideology, his actions most certainly damage whatever cause he believed in.  Yes, some causes are worth fighting for.  Some might even justify the use of violence.  But it’s difficult to think of any cause, no matter how noble, worthy of the murder of an eight-year-old boy.  Someone please justify that.

We’ve also came to learn something about the bombers’ family.  Based on comments widely reported throughout the day on Friday, the father and mother appear to be far beyond simple bereavement.  In fact, they are disgraceful people, worthy of our universal repudiation.  Any potential for a public outpouring of sympathy for the parents of the two bombers was shattered when the mother launched into a baffling verbal attack on the F.B.I. while authorities were in the midst of a manhunt for her son.  She even alleged her two sons were “set up.”  It turns out the father was a real prince too, calling his boys “angels.”

Listening to the two parents speak and try to explain themselves was nauseating.  They don’t deserve any sympathy.  They don’t even deserve our pity.  Based on their comments, they’re way beyond any capacity to feel shame.  So let’s just call them both out for what they are — worthless pieces of shit who bred and raised two turds.

The bombers names will not be listed.  The parents names will not be listed.  They do not deserve any recognition.  Instead of posting their names, or the surname of that disgusting family, instead let’s use this space more constructively to remember some other names.

Ladies and gentlemen, those who follow are names worth remembering.  By all accounts, these are the names of four wonderful people, each with bright futures and full lives ahead of them, cut short in a senseless and selfish act of horror.  These are the names deserving of remembrance and celebration, along with more than 180 innocent victims who were seriously injured — some who lost arms and legs all because of two dysfunctional losers whose names deserve to be forgotten forever.

Here are four people with names worth remembering, and faces we should not forget:

 

krystle-campbell

 Krystle Campbell

 

martin-richard

 Martin Richard

 

lingzi-lu

Lingzi Lu

 

sean-collier

Sean Collier

 

 

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Posted by on Mar 8, 2013 in Blog, General Poker, Restaurant Reviews | 1 comment

Thought, Laughter, and Tears: My Dinner with T.K. (and Jimmy V.)

T. K. Krauss

 

There are few people in the casino business I love and admire more than Mr. T.K. Krauss.

This longtime Atlantic City poker executive is a fountain of fascinating stories and useful information, especially when it comes to the East Coast poker scene.  If passion came in bottles, “T.K.” would be the Coca-Cola of poker.

T.K. has just taken over as the new Director of Poker Operations for the Atlantic Club.  Previously known as the Atlantic City Hilton, this outdated and long-neglected property located at the southern tip of the famed Boardwalk has long been the city’s stepchild casino.

Things are about to change – big time. 

Now, the Atlantic Club is at a pivotal moment — not just here in New Jersey — but in the history of U.S. gambling.  The casino-hotel is close to being taken over by PokerStars.com — the world’s largest online poker website.  If successful, PokerStars.com could gain a critical foothold inside what’s now the first state with a substantial population base to approve online poker.  In short, this beachhead marks the start of a coming battle front between powerhouse U.S.-based casino operators and the online giant based on the Isle of Man that could very well turn into high-tech trench warfare.

Given the gravity of what’s at stake, T.K. is the ideal peacemaker– a beloved Gen. Omar Bradley figure in the grand theater of what could become online poker’s World War 2.

I’ve known T.K. for 20 years.  From his earliest days walking the floor at the Taj Majal, to the Tournament Director position at the Atlantic City Tropicana, to the Head of Operations at the Hollywood Casino in Indiana, T.K. has made a powerful impression on everyone privileged to know him inside this business.  He’s run big-time tournaments, he’s brought World Poker Tour events to the Midwest, and now he’s quite possibly on the cutting edge of the next big thing — engineering the freight train that could help Atlantic City come roaring back from the dead.

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