The fine part of being a poker blogger is that people read you. Some of them read because they want to know more about the world of poker. Some of them read because they want to know if you’re writing something about them, especially if you’re writing something bad. That ‘bad’ part always cracks me up. What if you’re writing about what they do, say, or how they act? It could be bad but that part is dictated by them, not by the writer. For example, Phil Hellmuth had a few stellar moments in his Day 1B showing at the $10,000 buy-in tournament. And, I heard from a reliable source, that when he went bust and the announcer told the room, everyone in the room applauded. So the truth is that his behavior is bad, it’s not that someone is writing ‘bad’ things about him. There are a zillion more stories about other players just like that one. ‘Name Brand’ players just get more press when they act like butt heads. But the best part of blogging – to me – is the people I meet through the blogging medium (and I get to express my insanities and occasional normal thoughts in writing, without an editor). I met a few of them today. Several phone calls and hits and misses later, we decided on lunch at the Rio coffee shop at 3 p.m. Craig Cunningham joined us for a few minutes, taking a break from the great writing job that he’s doing for PokerWorks and his own blog. That left four of us to graze and chat and share a bit of our lives with each other. Matt Clemente has just graduated dealing school and is looking for work in Vegas:

Alfred Poon – a little bit of a bizarre twist, we’ve been threatening to meet for a long time. Then one night, a year or so ago, I’m dealing a $4-8 H game and Scott Black is in the 1s, we were talking it up – about Table Tango, etc., a few days later, I received an email from Alfred that he’d been in the 5s in that game. Kee-rist! Who’da thunk?

And Bobby Helman, we’ve met through mutual emailsand finally met in person. So if and when I ever get out of town, and am heading through Reno, I have an open invite. Nice!

We finished lunch and went back to the Amazon Room – where the WSOP is being held. It was insane. The fact that security routes everyone through the trade show is the biggest and rudest of insanities.It is that mass marketing thingie. With quadzillion players in day 1B, and all of their friends and relatives trying to cheer them on, it’s a fire marshall’s nightmare. And it’s a nightmare of mine. I HATE crowds like that. You just get stuck in limbo and can’t move or you get knocked around by people trying to go somewhere in a hurry. The four of us parted ways outside the ‘media area’.I found Pauly – actually working:

I found these two name brands, standing in a side hallway, sharing a ‘cancer stick’. The tournament was on a break and they were hanging out together, and didn’t mind at all if I took their photo. Nice! David Williams and Evelyn Ng.

I knew Michael Craig had a book signing at PainterPoker.com. I just failed to realize what time it was and I missed him completely. But while I was off on the time he would be there, it did take me into the trade show. Some of what I found:

The overview – part of it anyway – when I walked up on the stage to peer at the booths and people:

A picture from the booth at PokerPainter.com – and the guy was so polite, he told me I had misssed Michael Craig but he could get a book for me if I wanted one. Umnhhh! Thanks! See Michael, he was still working for you after you had been gone by about three hours. The title of this picture is ‘dead money’. I’m surprised it didn’t have AlCan’tHang inscribed somewhere on it. *chuckling*

These really caught my eye. The winner of the WSOP Championship, will have a pair custom made for them by Custom Boots, located in Las Vegas.

These twofillies were advertising DoylesRoom and when I first approached the booth, one of them had ping pong balls or something stuffed in the front of her shirt Yes, you know where. Three guys were ogling the girls and one of them had struck up a conversation with the girls. I asked if they minded if I took their pictures. The one with the ping pong boobs told me to wait a minute while she removed the balls. I said she could leave them in or take them out, whatever worked for her. The guy that was inviting conversation said that he really liked me. (Wow! Mighty quick assessment on his part.) Because he liked ‘older people’ with a sense of humor. I told him that older people knew how to have fun, younger people were just practicing. And then I snapped away…I think these girls were some of the prettiest I saw around the trade show:

At the same booth, I also found Cyndy Violette and Todd Brunson – and Cyndy has her own booth there, selling Cyndy ware.

I was in the roam and stare mode. I found one of my favorite people, signing an autograph and then having his picture taken with the beauty he signed for – of course I took a picture too. Marcel Luske:

BodogPoker’s booth had an upstairs. Guys were standing in line to join the ‘pillow fight’ with some scantily clad ladies in a bed. UGH! That sort of freaks me out. I know the world is filled with ‘tits and ass’ but some things are just too much when it comes to poker.

Stick a fork in me. I was done with the noise and confusion and mess at the Rio for the day. I headed for Bellagio. My son, Dan, was in town from CA, his wife, Day, and him were playing poker at Bellagio. I wanted to say hello to them, even contemplated playing until I stepped into the room. OMG! It was just like the night I left it around 30 days ago. Mass insanity, noise, people, body heat, and way too much for me to handle. I said my hellos and, after a few minutes, said my goodbyes. I needed pictures to update my ‘Project City Center’ project anyway, and the time to fly was perfect. City Center will be in another post soon.

On my way down the strip, I found these guys hanging Tony Braxton at the Flamingo Hilton. And the damn wind was blowing, and it was hot outside, and I’m sure glad I don’t have their job.

Of course you’re wondering what the hell I’m talking about. Lower right hand corner where Tony’s left foot is/should be.

But the best photo of them all – and an exhilirating sight – on my way home through traffic when I hit a red light, was this beauty off on the horizon. It sort of appeared like an ice cream cone/confection of light and illusion that made me happy to be me.

It is true, the best things in life are free.