We’ve got a new poll up on the right — go ahead and start your ballot-stuffing as we try speculate wildly on who is most likely to win the WSOP main event. Should be fun, albeit different than our last one, which was actually useful.

For the past week we’ve been unscientifically asking Pokerati readers which site — other than Pokerati, of course — was most essential to their understanding of the summertime poker fun that gives them so much jolly. You can see the complete results here. Nearly 200 of you went through the effort of actually clicking an extra button, and to that extent, amongst the geekiest most intelligent of poker geeks, the sites that matter most, in order of their finish:

Tao of Poker
Pauly’s whole purpose in life is to make me look bad, and hey, it seems to be a worthy pursuit. He wins this poll by a landslide.

Hold’em Radio
I’m scratching my head, too, as I haven’t really seen the folks based at Binion’s paying much attention to the WSOP, but hey, they apparently know how to motivate a portion of the “pirate” web community to outvote PokerRoad, so we’ll give them the props.

PokerNews
They paid a hefty price for the privilege of hiring bloggers to slave away write up hands and keep official chip counts, and it’s clearly worth something to people who care about big-tourney action.

More…

The poker recessions/squeeze continues to show its reality face … podcast junkies have probably already noticed that Hold’em Radio is down. But is it done? We’ll see. I saw Wade, the HER chief, at Binion’s just yesterday … he was chit-chatting with some people during one of the daily tournaments there … but there was no broadcasting going on, and no signage left up on their studio/booth in the Binion’s poker room.

For all its problems with audio quality, Hold’em Radio was first when it came to giving poker ramblers a home for their voices. Beyond the Table got its start there, as did Lou Krieger’s Keep Flopping Aces. While the BTT crew has been independent for about a year and will presumably stay that way, other passionate podcasters may likely follow in Lou’s footsteps and defect to Rounders Radio. I’ll be personally curious to hear the difference. Because while we’ve enjoyed doing BTT on our own, can’t say that we have fully mastered the audio process yet. Just last week we recorded probably the funniest “Angry Julie” segment in audio history … only we didn’t. I mean the new software said it was recording, but …

Internet radio is hard!

I’m off to Vegas in a few hours to play in Jen Harman’s charity event tomorrow. The Bellagio Main Event starts Saturday and I will head over to see what’s going on. I have to say…I’m looking forward to a stress-free trip with no tournament worries. Just good old fashioned cash play.

On a lighter note for Pauly, he will be on Holdem Radio tonight with Lou Krieger and Amy Calistri. Thanks for the update, Dan. And stay off of Pokerati’s myspace or you will never get anything done.

As we’re messing with newfangled audio contraptions, I finally listened to our own Fresh Princess’s inaugural foray into the poker podcastosphere. Michele, I had no idea you were such a rookie! I mean in poker, not radio.

Check it out, as she appears on the Women’s Poker Hour (hosted by Maryann Morrison and Amy Zupko) a few weeks ago.

Women’s Poker Hour - 3/22/07[display_podcast]

If you happen to be online this lovely Saturday early eve/right now, you may want to tune in to Naughty Poker Angels, live right now on Hold’em Radio. Sharron and Angie will be interviewing Scotty Nguyen. If any of you happen to know two of the three principals involved, you’ll know what sorta good naughty trouble they are sure to get into.

NOTE: Scotty Nguyen has a new website. Click the lovely flash intro (nyuk nyuk!) and you’ll see he has trademarked his signatureâ„¢. So if you had any designs on stealing it … now you can’t. Damn. Or perhaps I should say Danmâ„¢?

More…

Bundas in Dallas writes in wondering about how sponsorship and backing works for big events … and also has me wondering if Pokerati should open up a forum. (Any volunteers to moderate?)

Perhaps looking for someone to rip him a new one, Bundas says:

OK Dan I’m sending this to you and hopefully you can pass on to all the pokerati writers or create a post and get each of there thoughts.

There is no way for me to post and have them respond but I would love to see what how each would answer.

OK in a recent posts I brought up the idea of Pokerati sponsoring me at the Holdem Radio live Event. I really was only kidding as that event is only $310.00 and I know there are no real funds at Pokerati for sponsorships.

I was listening to Holdem Radio last night and the subject of sponsorships for tournaments came up. Susie Isaacs brought up the point that she does not use her own money in the big events for example $5000.00 or above, she gets sponsors or backers.

Can you please have Tom Schneider or Michele Lewis our resident Pro’s explain what they do in regards to sponsorships or backers (Dan and Karridy could also give there opinions here)?

More…

“Yukon Brad” Booth makes an impromptu appearance on tonight’s live broadcast of Beyond The Table // Dan gets called out for not reading his own Blog // Brad tells us why he would have lost money on the HUC results // Brad gives acclamations and predictions for HUC Champion, Paul Wasicka.

(Download (4:10, 3.82mb))

Just sitting here “getting ready” for tonight’s episode of Beyond the Table. As always, you can tune in here to listen live. Or you can wait for the podcast to appear here. This evening Tom, Karridy, and I will be talking about … er … poker?

Quick question(s) for the four of you who do listen live, every week, at 7 pm central … do you enjoy the chat room while the show is going on in the background? Does hearing Karridy say your screen name give you the tingles inside?

And do any of you load up your ipod with poker shows to listen to at the table or in your car? Just curious about how people use podcasts and what they generally do with them.

Episode 2.4.1

It’s become too big a hassle to deposit poker funds online // Tom gets huffy about “rakeback” / Dan pshaws while defending poker affiliates // Click2Pay and NuPay / Will online poker dollars become worth more than hard American currency?

Click to listen (15 min, 14 meg)

aired live on Hold’em Radio 1-31-07

Episode 2.4.2

The European Union considers fighting American anti-online-gambling laws via the WTO / Washington State looks to undo felony online poker statute / Dan questions Poker Players Alliance lobbying strategy // Tom’s sick of the war in Iraq / Fermat’s Last Theorem in the Middle East // Chaka Khan, Chaka from Land of the Lost, and Amarillo Slim at gunpoint // Russians betting their wives away

Click to listen (15 min, 14 meg)

aired live on Hold’em Radio 1-31-07

Episode 2.4.3

The Bluff Power Rankings vs. CardPlayer’s Player of the Year // Tom prepares for “Cash Poker,” a televised $25,000 buy-in ring game at Binion’s / Dan worries that Tom may lose because no-limit cash games aren’t his specialty // Psychoanalyzing Amarillo Slim’s mental state after his latest reported armed robbery / Tom’s childhood fondness for the 1972 champ // Reliable rumors on how the media set-up will work at the 2007 WSOP / Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan on press row // Tom’s Winning Wisdom: Integrity is Key

Click to listen (23 min, 21 meg)

aired live on Hold’em Radio 1-31-07

For those who don’t know, I’m a mild-mannered programmer by day. Okay, I’m actually an Internet Applications Developer. But lately, I’ve been earning the title of C.P.O (Chief Poker Officer). It’s not a bad gig, either. And since I don’t do football or fantasy versions thereof, I can rest easy knowing that I’ve still got a little cooler-speak always on deck. Sure, I might be a lacking conversationalist on almost all other topics, but if you want to debate ways of playing small pairs in early position, well… I have very open-door policy. As I said, It’s a great gig if you can get it.

I do, however, have a word of caution to any person considering treading this rung of the corporate social ladder. Make sure you can back it up. I would like to believe that I can, however a certain recent event proved anything but.

Still fairly new to the company, I accept the task of co-hosting our IT department’s newest team-building exercise. A company sponsored, multi-table freezeout. It truly says something about the perception of poker when a well-to-do, finance-based company kicks in for prizes for such an event. No red tape. No talking to legal to ensure that cash games would not break out. For that matter, I should also mention that we were kindly greeted with a keg of beer for what was intended to be a two-table tourney. Not a bad ratio of beer to player.

Tables are setup and chips are distributed. Poker Timer is running on the big screen and away we go. Fast forward to about 30 minutes later. I am dealt 8c8s in early position. I make a 4x raise, as I’ve been pretty inactive and hope that I have enough image as CPO to induce folds around. Two callers. Board comes 4JJ, rainbow. I bet out and find out that I am exactly where I want to be. A pot size bet is called and the turn brings trash. I am short-stacked and pretty committed at this point. I don’t want to see any more cards, so I move in. After about 30 seconds of thought, I get called by QhKd. No pair, King high. The turn brings the Queen and the CPO is the first player eliminated. My prize is a well-deserved copy of “Poker for Dummies,” which is, semi-ironically, co-authored by one of mine and Dan’s Hold’em Radio colleagues, Lou Krieger. Next up in my Amazon wishlist… “Walking the Walk - for Dummies.”

You know, it’s like we’re doing this thing every week or something. Tonight … 7 pm central … “Beyond the Table” … where we are going to talk about … er, um, uh … poker?

Best poker podcast in the world!

Listen live here.

A little Pokerati behind-the-scenes …

My distinguished internet radio colleague, “Wolfman” Karridy, tipping us off to the developing Gregg Merkow-Tunica love story:

________________________________________
From: Karridy Askenasy
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:55 AM
To: danm
Subject: RE: Merkow

Same event he won last year. Tunica’s Main event. Maybe I’m wrong… I really thought you’d know more about this than me. I’d hate to slip, but I think he’s onto something huge.

From: dan michalski
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:43 AM
To: ‘Karridy Askenasy’
Subject: RE: Merkow

Which event? Is this the same event he won last year or something like that, or did he win won last week?

More…

Don’t forget … it’s Wednesday night. That means at 7 pm central you can be listening to Beyond the Table — where Tom Schneider and I talk about what’s going on in various poker worlds. The above link will take you to the podcasty archive.

Click here to listen to Hold’em Radio live.

(And while you’re waiting for the show, click here to hear Casey Kasem go berserk.)

NOTE: The Jan. 10 podcast is up already. Hear Tom, Karridy and I discussing everything from bankroll management to tampon applicators … and while I go off for a while on the greatness of Steve Wong, Karridy rocks it like a hurricane on guitar and Tom goes into detail about how to beat Daniel Negreanu in prop bets on the golf course.

Bloggers do it all, of course, for the attention. Pokerati loves when other people talk about us — especially when the discourse is filled with beneficial distortions of truth.

Check out this discussion sparked by my absence on last week’s episode of “Beyond the Table.” Kinda intriguing stuff. Perhaps I should be off the program more often!

Unfortunately, I will be on the “air” tonight — in about five minutes, actually — so tune in live to Hold’em Radio here. Or, after the fact, you’ll be able to find the podcast here. Should be a good show tonight, as Karridy and I roll our eyes at Tom’s explanation of why and how he bubbled in the $15,000 Doyle Brunson North American Poker Classic at Bellagio this weekend.

Am gearing up as we speak … have strapped into my headphones and appropriately deployed the duct tape. Be sure to tune in to “Beyond the Table” at 7 pm central. It’s just Tom and I today — Karridy has been taken out behind the WinStar sweat lodge to pay off some major gambling debts. Meanwhile, Tom and I haven’t done shit to prepare for the show … so without our deep-voiced anchor and our attempts to just “wing it” should make for an audibly delightful crumbling.

Again, click here to listen live.

And/or click here to download the podcast(s) after the fact.

UPDATE: 59-and-a-half minutes of good football.

I’ve got nothing better to do on a Wednesday night, so once again you can hear your favorite Pokerati-er on “Beyond the Table” on Hold’em Radio. Tom Schneider can’t make it on today … he’s busy chasing losses after busting out of the WSOP-Caesar’s Indiana main event. But Karridy will be … and our guest will be the pokerpreneur behind the “poker bowl” — an experiment in professional, potentially televised collusion.

Show starts at 7 pm central. Click here to listen live.

Or click here to dig it up after the fact.

UPDATE: Worst show ever. Seriously, you missed nothing. Was like plucking nose hairs.

Tune in now to Hold’em Radio, where I’m on the air — oops, at the moment I’m off … technical difficulties … OK back on. Anyhow, yes, “Beyond the Table” with Tom Schneider, Karridy, and Dan. Click here to listen live.

Here’s a great listen — a Lou Kreiger interview on Hold’em Radio with poker-beloved Nolan Dalla and Howard Schwartz (from Poker Player Newspaper). Citizen Nolan is hyped! And a little pissed. With due cause, of course … the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is the topic. And while Nolan is no-holds-barred when it comes to pointing fingers — yes, really, to at least some extent, the UIGEA is your fault — this is probably one of the most intelligent conversations about the new poker landscape yet to be heard. (Assuming you can skip past the first couple minutes of smalltalk.)

Again, click here to listen — or better yet right-click and new-tab it if you’re a PC/Firefox person.

On Wednesday, I was privileged to be invited to appear on helped hold down the fort on “Beyond the Table” with Tom Schneider and Karridy. At some point I began telling a story about a sour encounter with the TSA at RDU International Airport. But in the midst of spewing my brilliance, I lost track of the story … had no idea where I was going or what we were even talking about. But now I remember … it was Tourette’s Syndrome. That’s the point I was trying to make … Getting your deoderant confiscated is the kinda thing that makes you want to tell the “agent” to fuck off and threaten an Americans with Disabilities Act violation claim (based on your Tourette’s) if they try to arrest you and/or make you miss your filight.

So with that info, the show should make sense. You can always find the latest episodes in the Hold’em Radio vault, or (right)click below to download/listen to:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Tune in now to listen to “Beyond the Table” on Hold’em Radio.

LAKE TAHOE, NV–I seem to be the utility voiceover on Hold’em Radio. Last week I joined Tom Schneider and Karridy Askenasy on Beyond the Table. And I’ll be on again tonight. Be sure to tune in as I’ll be sharing “Pokerati Bedtime Stories” on Naughty Poker Angels with Sharron and Angie.

Meanwhile, Gonz is on real radio while covering the Borgata.

Again, click here to listen live to Hold’em Radio, where I like to do my share to poison your ears.

If you missed Sharron and Angie’s internet radio devirginization, they’ve got the debut episode of “Naughty Poker Angels” up now in Hold’em Radio’s podcast vault. Good stuff. Only thing that would make it better is if they broadcast from bed, and I was in the middle.

Appeared on Hold'em Radio's "Beyond the Table" with Tom Schneider last week. Semi-interesting stuff as this WSOP final tableist and I discuss Harrah's and the corporate influences in the World Series of Poker; how Tom did; life in the $400/$800 mixed game; how I did; life in the $3/$6 mixed game; and bad beat deadbeat stories when it comes to loaning money.

Part 1
early audio troubles, WSOP sponsorships, limit hold’em shootout structure, $1,500 rookie, $50k HORSE temptation / structure

MP3 File

Part 2
high-stakes cash games fun, bad dealer tips from presumably good people / Tom, bad business decisions ==> bad service, challenges to Jeffrey Pollack

MP3 File

Part 3
the art of loaning money, high-stakes Roshambo (with Iggy), good friends and bum deals / dog poop

MP3 File

New show/Skypecast on Hold’em Radio — “Naughty Poker Angels” — hosted by Sharron Nix and her friend Angie. I’m not sure what to tell you to expect. But the show’s got Sharron, and the word “naughty” in the title … so it’s gotta be good. Sharron’s also got a strong British accent, so whatever she utters, you know it will sound sophisticated.

Looking forward to it. And good luck, Sharron. Seriously, just have some fun on the internet airwaves and you’ll do great. Howard Stern’s a pussy.

Premiere episode is tonight, at 7 pm central. Click here to tune in — unless you are on a Mac, in which case go to the Hold’em Radio homepage and follow the instructions pecifically for you difficult people.