I want to be in my sweet little Sleep Number bed, tucked under the covers, toasting off to sleep.  Instead I’m still sitting in the ‘press box’ with 7 players left at the WSOP Main Event Final Table.  I could load up everything and walk across the street to the Gold Coast and tuck under the covers on a bed that is pretty damned comfortable, and I may be forced to if 5 of these people don’t give up their quest for the title before 2 or 3 a.m.  My trusty writer Jennifer Newell is here recording the action and will write updates for the main page of PokerWorks so my butt is covered.  Problem is, it’s my brain that is feeling bare right now, not my butt.

I used to live the life of a dracula-ette, going to bed around the time the sun came up and waking as it was going down, now my sleep pattern is so varied it makes even me craz-e-e-e-e-i-e-r, but my wake-up time the last month or so has been anywhere from 5 to 6 a.m.  I’m out of steam right now.  But the game of poker goes on.  Seven hopefuls are still battling it out.  Phil Ivey has never gotten an opportunity to take off.  He’s maintained his chip stack but not improved it.  Every time he’s gone all-in, everyone else folds.  He’s even gotten a few walks on his big blind.  He doesn’t appear to be fidgeting or stressed, even though I can eyeball his movements directly because I’m too far away but IMHO, if he catches any hands at all, he’s definitely the favorite to take the bracelet home.

Mike Sexton was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame tonight and I went to the ceremony.  I captured most of it on video.  The food was really great, the tables were filled with poker stars and legends, and it was a lot of fun for me since Karen Sexton was in the audience and I got a hug from her and there were others that I got to see that I haven’t seen in some time.

A few pictures:

Dan and JJ Lieu:

The lovely Mrs. Mike Sexton AKA Karen:

Bellagio’s Card Room Manager Doug Dalton and Kamell (ex shift boss at Bellagio due to family illness and moving out of the area):

While I was standing up to take pictures from my eagle’s perch in the Press Box, this little gal was seated behind me visiting with someone:

This is my last post tonight.  I’ll be here trying to stay awake and sweat the 7 and back tomorrow with news.