….Ken Lambert.
Split personality here in Las Vegas this week. Half of me will soon miss the World Series of Poker, which is just about to conclude for the summer. This year’s series has consumed most of my time and energy during the past six weeks. All of it, in fact. What was left, was spent on the launch of the new television show on CBS Sports Network, “Poker Night in America.” Between these two major events, I haven’t had much time to follow current events, see movies, go to restaurants, or get fed up with the world. Beware, people! Major bitch fest coming in a week or so when I’ll launch into a major tirade. So many things on my plate right now, I’m already preparing for leftovers.
Is anyone else sick and fucking tired of the Lebron James Network that ESPN has become? Wait a minute. Didn’t those posers LOSE the NBA championship series to the San Antonio Spurs? Where’s the “decision” for Tim Duncan, or any of the other Spurs, who won the championship yet AGAIN? Notice they don’t create a media circus in the off-season. They just play as a team and stick together, something “King James” just doesn’t get, and never will get – sort of like an NBA championship in Cleveland. Not happening, people. All you front-running frauds who burned your “23” jerseys in Cleveland a few years ago should be ashamed of yourselves for becoming little more than trained seals in the James suck-off fest cheering the traitor for abandoning all the fans he professes to care so much about. As for Miami fans – good luck with what will amount to a new franchise next season. All your players in the championships were hired guns who couldn’t give two rat’s asses about your city. Now that Miami is about to go 30-52 next year, let’s see how many bozo’s are wearing Miami Heat gear around when it starts looking like the Washington Generals playing against the Globetrotters every night. Heat gear will become about as popular as herpes in a whorehouse.
Getting back to ESPN, the coverage of the James signing has been NAUSEATING. Haven’t the Spurs won like FIVE FUCKING CHAMPIONSHIPS? How many has “LBJ won? Two? By the way, referring to James as “LBJ” is about as insulting as I can imagine. There was only one “LBJ,” and he did more for civil rights in the country than anyone in the country since Abraham Lincoln. Let’s not forget this as the entire national media fellates Mr. James. Pick some other initials jackass — don’t steal the moniker of the President who is largely responsible for so many inner-city youths now having more opportunity. #disgusting
So, another casino – or two – in Atlantic City is shutting down. Not much sympathy for Trump Plaza. Anything with “Trump” affixed to it seems like a mess. But I’m truly sorry to see the Showboat go, and don’t understand that decision to shudder up, at all. If Caesars thinks they are picking up the scraps from Showboats closing, then I have just a one-word answer to that – BORGATA. That’s the big winner as places close along the Boardwalk. Sure, some of the Total Rewards loyalists who formally played at Showboat will shift to Bally’s, Harrah’s, and Caesars. But the long-term winner here is Borgata, which is crushing the market and the only real player in New Jersey – at least until there’s a major shakeup, which is likely coming as the numbers continues to dwindle. Talk of opening a casino in Jersey City won’t help the situation. But what do I fucking know? I just used to go to Atlantic City every weekend and have watched in sadness as this market continues to evolve towards ghost town status.
Today was a wild day with the WSOP reaching almost to the final three tables. I can’t even imagine anything overshadowing that, but for me attending the Chad Brown Memorial this afternoon and then being asked to speak by Vanessa Rousso was such a privilege that I can’t even find words. All poker luminaries were there at Binions Horseshoe. So many wonderful remembrances. I felt so lucky to attend. It one of the few events I’ve ever spoken at where there were no prepared marks. Speaking from the heart truly feels almost cleansing and I marvel at speakers who can be witty and funny and poignant at a moment’s notice. Writing comes easy. Speaking in front of a crowd, especially at such a deeply meaningful event for someone who was so dear to us all, is difficult. Thank you to all those who attended and shared what Chad meant to us all, the game of poker, and the world.
Typing this fast the WSOP winds down. This was the most unusual year I’ve ever worked at the series. Lots of room to elaborate later. Still, I view this as very much a transitional year. In coming posts, I’ll explain why.
“Poker Night in America” remains a work in progress. We are on the air each Sunday night at 7 pm PST. I have yet to see a full episode, which ironically makes me the LEAST QUALIFIED person around to comment on it. But here’s what I really like about this staff and the show, based on the bits I have seen. We’re willing to take some chances, do some things wrong, and go with the flow. Watching poker frankly and be about as boring as it gets. Our show is meant to reflect much of the realism surrounding poker. I think that means getting the snippets behind the scenes. But it also means imperfections, like occasional bad sound quality, or unrehearsed chaos. I promise you this show is onto something and is going to get better. We have people who love poker and are good at what they do. Stick with us and grow with us as we try to make this game fun and attractive again, a concept that seems lost since the poker boom faded some years ago.
I love soccer, or what the rest of the non-American world calls “Football.” Always been a fan and nothing tops the World Cup. I bet on Germany today, even though my heart was on Argentina. Been to both countries. Love Germany. But Argentina is a special place I’d live in two seconds. Wonderful people. Great food. And the wine. Malbec. Argentina, be proud. You played well. As for Germany, what a classy team and a great World Cup. I honestly believe the best team won this year.
One more thing to say, which is the horrible escalation of the hostilities in the Middle East. Everyone likely knows of my sympathy for the Palestinian cause, which I’m sad to say has even cost me some friendships over the years. I’m convinced the only way to peace is a two-state solution. Even though I have always favored the Fatah wing, I was appalled that Hamas, an organization far more complex than just that of a “terrorist organization” has done some truly abominable things in the last month or so, which will make their cause far more difficult to achieve. What do they expect to accomplish by kidnapping and then killing three Israeli youths? I vomited the morning I saw they were dead. Seriously. I also know that many Palestinians, most, in fact, would never favor such brutality. But now we see force met with force as rockets land down on both sides of the conflict. Who loses? Everyone. That’s who. Anyone who thinks the IDF bombing Gaza City is going to reduce acts of terrorism is sadly mistaken. I’m not sure of the solution. No one is. I just wish the United States would get out of the entire Middle East, cut off aid to everyone, let them work out their own tribal conflicts, and start spending the money here at home. More to come on this later.
I have a shitload of things to write about. 180 columns are half-written. Another dozen in my head. Get ready for a new wave of rants and thoughts from the heart as I’m about ready to enter my third year doing daily writing.
Finally, thanks to all of you who have stood with me and come here each day. My writings have been less than stellar the last two months. Look for that to change big time in a few days.
I can’t wait.
And now, back to scatter shooting. As for what happened to Ken Lambert, the former Jack Binion associate who oversaw the World Series of Poker during the transition from the Horseshoe to Harrah’s (now Caesars) Entertainment, Kenny came to the Chad Brown tribute this afternoon. I was so happy to see him. He told me he boarded a plane last night at the last second from where he lives now, which is in Ohio. He flew all that way just to show his respects to Chad. I was glad to see Kenny back in poker where he belongs. He’s a part of the history of the game. I am proud to call him a friend.