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.

The Batfaces
These guys are idiots, so you can pretty much ignore them. But still, Tiny B may be the best Blackberry tournament reporter not in the business.

Official WSOP Website
As well it should be. Not only do you get to read Jeffrey Pollack’s blog and watch Jean-Robert Bellande’s efforts to make it as a poker pro with no money, but also they’ve got all the official info you need to know.

Wicked Chops
They love boobies and hate redheads (to a near-racist extent), and they actually happen to know a whole bunch about what’s going on in poker.

There are other sites, too, of course, that merit some of your WSOP-coverage time … but these are the six that Pokerati readers say should matter second-most.

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!

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.

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]

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„¢?

EXTRA PROPS: I gotta say, I love the NPA’s interviews with pros. Not sure if it’s Sharron’s British accent or Angie’s casual drinky belligerence, but they seem to put these guys at ease — giving them the sense that they are getting to interact not with poker-know-it-alls, but true fans. With that, by the end, they get the pros to reveal their true selves in ways that the rest of us could not. Citizen Pseudojournalism at its finest.

For example, did you know that Scotty sometimes wears a red g-string? Not surprising, I suppose, but knowing so makes any appearance by him at a final table all the more entertaining. We also got to hear his wife hop on the phone, where she tells a funny tale about how when Scotty was initially chasing her skirt, she thought he was Johnny Chan. In the end … adorable couple … think American Poker Gothic.

Some other good extra-personal interviews that only NPA could do:

David Williams
Linda Johnson

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)?

Do they use there own money? Or get sponsors and backers and if they do what is the impact to there winnings if they happen to cash. Also do they play different when there not using there own money?

We all assume as poker spectators that each person is paying $10,000 of there own money to play in these big events when in actuality it sound like that may not be the case.

Thanks I hope that everyone will chime in and give us there thought and experiences on this subject. Also If i could make a suggestion in the about section you should add E-mail addresses for each of the writes.

P.S — OK by the way I’m not really Kidding about a Pokerati sponsorship for me at the Holdem Radio event at Binions in May. Where do I pick up the check Dan.

Bundas

(Download (4:10, 3.82mb))

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.

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

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

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

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.”

Best poker podcast in the world!

Listen live here.

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?

________________________________________
From: Karridy Askenasy
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:39 AM
To: danm
Subject: RE: Merkow

He’s going for back to back wins in a major, and looks well positioned to do so. You sure you don’t want to get the scoop on that?

Haven’t gotten to investigate recording.

From: dan michalski [mailto:danm@pokerati.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:26 AM
To: ‘Karridy Askenasy’
Subject: RE: Merkow

In what event? In tunica?

I don’t think he’s necessarily great to have on for this case, but I like the idea of having on. What would it take for us to do a pre-recorded interview?

________________________________________
From: Karridy Askenasy
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:18 AM
To: danm
Subject: Merkow

I can’t find anyplace that is doing good coverage, but I believe Merkow is sitting pretty. I have his cell (As I’m sure you do). Should we try to line him up or do a pre-recorded interview?

OK, upon second thought, yeah, we probably should have him on the show. “Beyond the Table” — live on Hold’em Radio at 7 pm central. If we can get Gregg on, Tom can ask him what it’s like to be a successful pro.

(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.

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.

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.

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.

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