We’re the mass. Let me back track for a moment. I haven’t been to the Rio since Wednesday, I believe. That was the day after the Vanilla doodlie-doo on Tuesday. I survived all that and just couldn’t find the energy to drag myself out into the heat. But that’s all I’ve done this week, is drag myself out into the molten lava air that swirls around me when I step outside. Ugh! I don’t know how day time people deal with getting up every day and going out into the hot car, fade the traffice, and then climb back into the damn hot car to make their next journey in the game plan of the day. Just think, they could be sitting in an air conditioned room, playing poker.

Today I started out by having to visit the DMV. What a major pain in the butt…especially in Las Vegas. Get in line to get in line. It always takes a minimum of two hours, sometimes more, and normally I renew by mail/internet but I had to have other matters settled. After the DMV, I headed for Hyman Place, a few chores there to accomplish, and no it hasn’t sold, and I took it off the market. It’s still mine! Then I was scrapping for time. Shower and head for the Rio to see if I could make the Media Event, as fast as possible without running over someone or having them try to run over me. (Don’t think for one second that these drivers of little, tiny piece of shit cars don’t try to run into the Steed…they are on a death wish…and they still can’t figure out that big trucks aren’t going to just disappear into thin air.) I made the Rio parking lot without a scratch or an ‘oh my’ and headed inside. The molten lava air was still out there, threatening to choke me with the heat before I ever made the convention center steps.

Whew! Inside, shade and air conditioning galore, only the place was slamming with a zillion or so bodies. Here’s where the mass marketing part comes in, instead of being able to waltz down the wide aisle of the hall, there were rope barriers and guards to make sure we filtered off – out of our way – through the trade show of poker gimmicks, ideas, news, and more, that was set up in a large ballroom. This was the only way – in and out – of the tournament area and live game action. Ugh! While I have nothing against trade shows, it should be my choice whether or not I want to attend, especially when I’m on my way to a poker game.

I made it to registration and was told to pick up my seating arrangements in the Masquerade Village Show Room…a million miles from where I was. I foundCraig at his computer in the media room and we made the trek together, with a stop along the way at Starbucks where I inhaled a venti Caramel frappachino with extra caramel. Yummy! We had plenty of time to kill so we sat at Starbucks and watched a hoarde of poker players moving by – and I met Ray – a blogger that almost made it to the WPBT tourney. Nice!

We finally moved off, heading for and finding the showroom. The line started for seating assignments. As the line grew and time ran out, we were told we could get our seating assignments after the press release butCraig and I opted to go ahead and stand in line. (You can read more about this debacle on Michael Craig’s Journal.) Craig got a picture of a guy that’s famous in some sports thing…hell if I know what it was but I knew that he played poker. We got ourseating assignments and took a seat in the showroom.

I found it all to be more interesting from the marketing aspect. We were there totell the world about the WSOP and everything it’s doing for the community and the players. *sarcasm runneth over here* While some of the information was newsworthy and two players were being inducted in the Poker Hall of Fame, I didn’t care for the part where the WSOP – Harrah’s – was giving back to the player. They’ve already given back $6M in the form of the TOC. Whoopee-tee-do-dah-day! What does the average joe get out of it? And why is it- always – that whenever a free big money tournament is hosted, or a giant TV event is on where money is being given away to players, they are always name brand players. Excuse me while I tell you the mass of the poker playing world is not made up of ‘name brands’. I don’t remember the actual wordage but something was said about CardPlayer being the official WSOP magazine.Hello MONOPOLY! Like it already isn’t? CardPlay has all the rights, all the time, for moving thru the crowds, the final tables, picture taking, etc., etc., etc. And everyone that was introduced, in the first half hour to 45 minutes was so damn proud to be there and honored to be part of the WSOP. I think I’d better leave this leaf unturned because the WSOP is there because it’s a tradition not because Harrah’s is busting their balls to make it great, if they were, they’d start with staff…oh yeah…I’m going to leave this leaf alone and let it dry out and blow away in the desert wind. Back to the marketing thing, we were bascially forced/asked to sit through this in order to play in the media tournament.

Since I have been involved in poker for a quarter of a century, I found most of it to be interesting and informative. I thought T. J. Cloutier was the most honest and straight forward – throw in some humor – of everyone that spoke to us. T. J. was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame:

Billy Baxter was also inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame:

Having sat on the dealer’s side of the table, and dealing to just about everyone that’s anyone in the poker world, including these two, at times it’s hard for me to keep a straight face or think an exceptionally good thought about some of them. I see people at their very best and worst. Now that they are ‘stars’ or ‘name brands’ doesn’t mean anything to me. Because unfortunately, I remember WHEN! And I believe that in all the times I’ve dealt to Billy Baxter, I may have made $2 to $3 total from him in tips…that would be one at a time. Huge! NOT!

Joe Hachem was in the crowd and brought up on stage with Billy and T. J. I have dealt to Joe and he had a great smile, attitude, and is truly a gracious representative of a poker champion. I did get a chuckle from one of his comments when we entered the ‘question and answer’ period of their appearance. Someone in the audience made a comment about internet players getting a seat in the big event and the pros like Billy and T. J. When Joe had his opportunity to answer the ‘three person’ question, Joe told the questioner that he should research his facts a little better because Joe did not get his seat from playing on the internet, he bought in.

Another media questioner said he’d heard that a monkey had qualified for the $10,000 tournament and would be playing in it. “NO!” was the answer

Doyle Brunson, Jennifer Harman, and Jason Lester appeared in the audience. They were brought up on stage when Drew Barrymore appeared to talk about themovie ‘Lucky You’. I’ve dealt to these three people also.

Doyle Brunson:

Jennifer Harman:

Jason Lester:

We watched two different trailers of the movie. I’ve watched several movies that Drew has appeared in (possibly directed) and I find her to be quite fascinating (just like Jennifer Tilly is very fascinating IMHO). And in person, watching her speak and express herself, she’s very ‘cute’ in terms of personality and body language. She’s also very attractive, more so in person than I’ve found her to be on the screen:

Yes, the lighting has changed. The original light was fairly bright and vivid. During the intro of the ‘Lucky You’ people, it went to a subdued pink/purple tone. And I was having a problem with the setting on my camera which didn’t help. I figured it out but that was long after I arrived home.

The press conference was quite lengthy and I was getting ready to fidget out of the showroom about a half hour before it was over but I stayed for the duration. Mass marketing. Now go tell the world how kewl the World Series of Poker is and how great we are for letting you share it with us. *more acid drips* But in essence they accomplished what they wanted because here I am, writing about it.

THE TOURNAMENT:

I sat through two rounds of 9-4, 6-2, J-2, ugly, ugly, ugly, repeat. The 8s put a few moves on the blinds/calls and stole the chips. Ok, maybe he really had a hand, but I had the feeling he was out on a huge limb, he just didn’t get called. And of course, I ran head long into a brick wall. I was in the BB, the 8s went all-in, I looked down to Q-Q and pushed. Heads-up! He had A-K. Not to worry, he hit both of his cards, I said, “Nice hand!” and gathered my belongings. But not before a few more pictures.

This is quite unusual, Joseph Smith is usually always the photographer – at all the big tournament events – and for his website that his son Joseph runs and keeps together. They are just great people, all around, warm and wonderful. Joseph Smith:

Elvis showed up to play in the tournament, he even had the microphone stuck in his face and crooned us a tune…damn decent voice:

As I stopped to tell Craig I ‘busted’, Jennifer Tilly was in the middle of the Media Tournament area, with photographers and the TD (tournament director) was intro’ing her to the crowd. And just as I fielded my way through the masses, the TD intro’d James Garner, he was playing in the tourney. The whole world is catching the poker bug and mass marketing has a lot to do with it.

See you there!